Laserfiche WebLink
Stockton <br />ponders <br />$2.75M <br />land deal <br />Council split on price <br />for property owned <br />by mayoral candidate <br />By David Siders <br />Record Staff Writer <br />STOCKTON — To rebuild <br />a ramshackle part of Airport <br />Way, the city in 2006 became <br />interested in acquiring from <br />former City Councilman Ralph <br />Lee White some 2.9 acres of <br />land and buildings, including <br />Ralph White Bail Bonds, a hair <br />salon, old Club Luna and Ralph <br />Square Mini Mart — a mod- <br />est yet highly visible piece of <br />White's expansive real estate <br />portfolio. ? <br />City Hall's initial offer, <br />based on its own appraisal, was <br />$1.5 million, White said. <br />After negotiating, the offer has <br />increased to $2.75 million, an <br />amount White said he could <br />accept. <br />"The city, with me, is getting <br />a great deal," said the landlord, <br />bail bondsman and long -shot <br />candidate for mayor. "It's worth <br />way more than that." <br />The City Council is likely to <br />vote on the deal next month. <br />It is unclear if it will be ap- <br />proved. Mayor Ed Chavez said <br />$2.75 million is a "fair price." <br />Council members Clem Lee <br />and Susan Eggman said it is too <br />much. <br />As recommended to the <br />council by the Redevelopment <br />Commission, Stockton would <br />pay $2.75 million for two ad- <br />jacent properties and White <br />would donate a third. The city <br />would raze existing structures <br />and build a fire station in their <br />place. <br />The fire house would replace <br />an old and poorly situated sta- <br />tion up the street — farther from <br />industrial buildings and homes <br />the station exists to serve — and <br />would afford the neighborhood <br />SEE STOCKTON, PAGE AG <br />