San Bruno moves to replace ‘eyesore’ house with a park: City officials and community foundation to collaborate on converting vacant property

Following the cleanup, the focus will switch to building a park, which has been the destiny of the site since it was acquired by the city in 2014 for roughly $600,000.

Officials expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to bring the vision of the property to fruition.

“I’m really excited about this, it is long overdue,” said Councilwoman Irene O’Connell. “We haven’t added new park space in decades, so this is the first time.”

O’Connell said she was partially responsible for launching the initiative to acquire and redevelop the property, as the home at the site has been vacant for years, and neighbors have complained about it sitting in a state of disrepair while covered in graffiti.

The surrounding neighborhood, which is largely comprised of apartment buildings, is starved for open public space, added O’Connell.

The park development will partially be financed through a contribution by the San Bruno Community Foundation, the group charged with allocating the nearly $70 million in restitution paid by Pacific Gas and Electric in the wake of the Crestmoor gasline explosion.

Leslie Hatamiya, executive director of the foundation, said in an email she is excited to collaborate on the project.

“The San Bruno Community Foundation is delighted to support the city’s efforts to develop a new park on the east side of San Bruno, in a neighborhood that currently lacks playground or park space,” she said.

The foundation has identified the park, along with efforts such as starting a scholarship and grant initiative, as one of the first projects to finance since the $68.5 million was awarded in 2012.

“As one of its first initiatives to use the PG&E restitution funds to benefit San Bruno, the foundation has enthusiastically proposed providing the city with a $200,000 grant to be used toward developing this new park and looks forward to partnering with the city on this project to benefit San Bruno’s children and their families,” said Hatamiya.

The money the foundation manages is dedicated to benefiting the San Bruno community, and is separate from the settlement paid to those who were harmed in the explosion.

O’Connell said she too appreciated the joint effort on the project.

“We value their support,” she said.

Rico Medina said he voted against the project, in part because he felt the demolition contract selected was too costly and favored putting the job back out to bid for more offers.

“It’s a lot of money,” he said. “My request was to go back out to bid to have more choices and options as well as competition.”

When officials initially began seeking offers for contracts on the project, no companies expressed interest, according to a city report. Following a second solicitation for interest, officials received a proposal from Pacific States Environmental Contractors.

Despite the costs associated with the project, which according to the report is roughly $40,000 more than expected by an engineer, Rico Medina said he supported the initiative going ahead.

“We need to do right by the neighborhood,” said Rico Medina.

Marty Medina recused himself from voting because he lives near the proposed park site.

A series of community meetings with the surrounding neighborhood will be held in the coming weeks and months to develop a better sense of the amenities which should offered at the park, said Rico Medina.

He said he believed the project will ultimately be an asset for San Bruno residents to enjoy.

“If we can get a park in there that helps the community, that brings a positive spirit to the neighborhood, I think that is a great improvement,” he said.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

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