Steps taken to put a new face on Old Town
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

PICTURE THE FUTURE- City Council on Wednesday approved the sale of some downtown land to a developer. This rendering shows possible preliminary designs for the redevelopment. City officials encourage residents to share their ideas on the project.

City officials authorized a transaction that will set in motion the transformation Old Town Moorpark into an area where people converge to shop, eat out and enjoy cultural arts.

Developer Severyn Aszkenazy, who is experienced with historical restoration, plans to buy land south of High Streeto build themed commercial and retail centers that will help to revitalize the heart of Moorpark.

The City Council, at the council meeting Wednesday night, voted unanimously to sell a 1.52acre parcel owned by the Redevelopment Agency at 192 High St. to Aszkenazy Development Inc. for $1.1 million.

"The real estate transaction is only setting the wheels of redevelopment in motion but it won't be finalized until Aszkenazy secures building permits for the site," said David Moe, redevelopment agency manager.

The city has negotiated a Disposition and Development Agreement with the developer to construct two, twostory commercial buildings totaling 67,103 square feet on two parcels totaling about four acres.

The proposed retail and commercial development will be built in two phases under separate agreements.

The first phase encompasses the land east of the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce building to about Bard Street. The developer plans to construct a 39,916- square-foot building with about 10,000 square feet set aside for a restaurant.

Construction of the second phase, consisting of a 27,187square-foot building from Bard Street to the north of the Metrolink parking lot, will only begin once 90 percent of the first phase is leased, according to a city report. The Chamber of Commerce will stay at its current location.

The site is now occupied with several vacant buildings and two businesses that will have to relocate once construction of the new project begins. The businesses are not entitled to any relocation benefits but the Redevelopment Agency has the option to offer some assistance if it's needed, said Moe, adding the businesses could also be incorporated into the new projects.

Local architect Bob Gehricke expressed concerns about impacts the new two-story development will have on the view and the existing atmosphere. "What attracted me here is the agricultural funk character of High Street," he said, encouraging officials to work with the frames of the old buildings that are already there.

Aszkenazy sympathized with the speaker and he reassured him that he plans to involve the community in the designs, which are not final at this point.

The purpose of the second floor is to create entrepreneurial office space for local residents, he said.

Aszkenazy told the council that he's been coming to Moorpark for the past two years to get a feel of the town. His project is geared to define the heart of Moorpark, he said. "What we see is a unique experience. It's a main street and a train stop that is unlike any other shopping centers in the city," he said.

The developer hopes to lease space to several independent retail businesses, a restaurant and a bank to maintain the theme of the downtown area, he said.

Part of the infrastructure will include facilities that could be used by a farmers' market, he added.

The council had to make three findings to approve the sale of the property to Aszkenazy. The transaction had to assist with the removal of blight in the redevelopment project area and be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Redevelopment Agency. Also, the property has to be sold to the developer at a fair market price, said Moe.

The escrow will last about nine months as the land sale will not be complete until the developer has a building permit in his hand, said Moe. The developer only stands to lose soft costs for planning, engineering and city fees if things don't work out as planned.

"The agency purchased the land for $393,451 and is now selling it to the developer for $1,123,414," said Moe.

That property is part of a 4.77acre site that was purchased from the Ventura County Transportation Commission in 1993 for $800,000. Since it was acquired, the property has been leased to a variety of commercial tenants, according to a city staff report.