Author Archives: Admin

Project Bella Permit Yanked

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Whole project stinks.

In what seems to be the latest in a string of missteps concerning the development of Pacific Grove’s proposed luxury hotel Project Bella, the city has withdrawn the project’s permit application due to expiration.

In what seems to be the latest in a string of missteps concerning the development of Pacific Grove’s proposed luxury hotel Project Bella, the city has withdrawn the project’s permit application due to expiration.

“The city of Pacific Grove, being either big-hearted or forgetful, depending on how you look at it, was waiting for them to complete the NOIA (Notice of Incomplete Application),” said Brodeur. “We waited over a year.”

Meanwhile, Crall said Domaine has spent millions of dollars, still owes investors upward of $2 million and consultants and engineers at least $200,000.

“I’ve not been hesitant in telling anybody that Meer is sloppy and amateurish and that he cannot do this project,” said Crall.

Project Bella Permit Yanked

Project Bella. It Keeps On Giving

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Giving sketchy excuses. And Ben Harvey would love for it to be done.

Project Bella Overhead View

It is one of what has become a series of allegations by a partner in the project about financial wrongdoings and mismanagement on the part of Domaine Pacific Grove, LLC. Despite the accusations of Michael Crall, Domaine spokesman David Armanasco said the project continues to proceed.

At the Pacific Grove City Council meeting on Jan. 11, City Manager Ben Harvey gave council members an update on both the project and its development team and said the city was working to renegotiate a contract with Domaine.

Still, Harvey said that ultimately the city would love the project to come to fruition.

Project Bella. It Keeps On Giving

Project Bella Failing

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People resigning, people not paying. Sounds like a failure.

ATC Hotel mockup

 

Despite the recent exit of one of its developers and the subsequent controversy that has followed, Pacific Grove officials on Wednesday seemed willing to move forward with Project Bella while they await the project’s plan and application from its developer, Domaine Hospitality.

“The architect hasn’t been paid $100,000 and the civil engineer hasn’t been paid $12,000 — these invoices are outstanding. You cannot start a project unless you have those fundamental documents and basic plans,” said Crall. “I had no clue about their history when I invited them into my project.”

Councilman Rudy Fischer said that despite the recent problems within Domaine’s management, the rezoning of the American Tin Cannery site was the right thing to do. “I still think that it gives the city a lot of flexibility in the future no matter what happens. I think anyone who feels that P.G. is going down the wrong road on this is not looking at it clearly.”

Project Bella Failing

Mvsevm Director Arrested For Sex With Child

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Is this what we hire?

Juan Govea

Salinas police arrested a 35-year-old man on Thursday on charges of unlawful sex with a minor. The alleged victim is a 17-year-old girl.

Juan Govea was a well-liked teacher at Salinas High School until about six months ago when he wrapped up the 2015-16 school year and left for a new job at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, where he is currently the director of exhibits and education.

He taught biology at Salinas High for 11 years before going to the museum.

Govea faces two felony charges connected to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, and one misdemeanor charge of annoying or molesting a child.

Mvsevm Director Arrested For Sex With Child

Latest Wharf Evictee – Liberty Fish

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Another long time wharf shop to pack up and not come back.

wharf night

Liberty Fish Company, a seafood and fish market that’s

been in operation on Wharf 1 since 1950, will be closing by the end of January, according to both its owner Lucy Ann Higuera and Monterey officials.

Higuera who runs the business with her sisters Mary Liguori and Donna Duvall and her son Nick, said she was caught off guard when she recently received a letter to vacate.

Higuera said the businesses that made the wharf what it is are now steadily disappearing.

“We remodeled our building, we paid for the pilings,” said Higuera, noting that they hope to re-open in a different location. “After I walk off, it will be the last time I come on this wharf.”

Latest Wharf Evictee – Liberty Fish

Holman Highway Crash Kills One

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Eight feet down and 40 feet off the road? Driving too fast, maybe?

Ariel Sanchez, 38, was driving alone in a 1980 Toyota Supra eastbound on Holman Highway east of SFB Morse Drive when the traffic accident occurred.

The CHP said officers were dispatched to a traffic crash on Holman Highway about 7:15 a.m. and arrived on scene to discover the silver Toyota about 40 feet off the roadway and down an 8-foot embankment.

Sanchez’s vehicle had collided with a tree at the bottom of the embankment. Though the driver was wearing a seat belt, he was pronounced dead by medical staff at the scene.

Holman Highway Crash Kills One

Presidio Of Monterey Police Officer Popped For Child Sexual Assault

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Presidio police work both the Presidio and a portion of Fort Ord.

A Presidio of Monterey police officer was arraigned Friday morning in Santa Cruz County Superior Court on seven counts of child sexual assault in a case dating back nearly 20 years.

Barney Ramnauth is accused of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 14 in 1998. He was arrested Tuesday.

Presidio Of Monterey Police Officer Popped For Child Sexual Assault

Tax Vote Fails, What Next For Revenue?

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I still offer up the John Denver Memorial RV Park.

John Denver Rv Park

After 77 percent of Pacific Grove voters resoundingly defeated Measure P, officials are determined to find new ways to raise revenue – fast. Measure P would have levied a 5-percent tax on event and venue admissions, bringing an estimated $4.2 million annually to the city.

Tax Vote Fails, What Next For Revenue?

See Through Solar At Beach House Restaurant

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Old Bath House Story Poles

Next we will get invisible solar panels. Kind of like those glue on fire sprinklers a contractor once installed all over Monterey.

When you look out over the Monterey Bay from the outdoor patio of the Beach House at Lovers Point, you understand exactly why these are the most sought-after seats at the Pacific Grove restaurant. But managing general partner Kevin Phillips had a conundrum: How to make the 30-some patio seats usable on those foggy, drippy days for which Pacific Grove is famous.

“It turned out that there was a very elegant solution with a great side benefit,” said Phillips.

The answer was the installation of innovative solar panels above the patio — a translucent, weatherproof array that allows sunlight to filter through while also shielding patrons from the weather.

See Through Solar At Beach House Restaurant