Category Archives: Monterey Herald

Fish Prisons And The Zoo Are Top Attractions

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Monterey has a Zoo? Oh it’s an “Animal ranch for film and television in Monterey,California with Bed & Breakfast, educational program, tours and animal training school.” In Salinas.

Cannery Row attracts over 5 million visitors per year.

While the report shows Cannery Row ranked No. 1 most frequented attraction in Monterey County, Old Fisherman’s Wharf was ranked No. 2 and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, No. 3. The top three destinations showed increases from the previous year.

Other attractions named by visitors in order of popularity were: State park or beach, 17 Mile Drive, Point Lobos State Reserve, historical attractions, any art museum or gallery, wine tasting tours, missions, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and the Monterey Zoo.

Fish Prisons And The Zoo Are Top Attractions

Who Remembers “Most Romantic Destination”?

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Propaganda piece proclaims P.G. the place for passion while the screening’s location may be a better bet.

The Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce will screen a four-minute music video, “Pacific Grove: A Love Story,” highlighting Pacific Grove as a top romantic destination, on Feb. 24 at its annual membership luncheon.

The luncheon at the Inn at Spanish Bay is $25 for members and $40 for nonmembers.

Who Remembers “Most Romantic Destination”?

P.G. Leaders Abandon Hope Of Project Bella Reimbursement

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Wednesday night, City Council members admitted the city of Pacific Grove had dropped the ball over a desired reimbursement deal with the developer of the Project Bella hotel project.

Nevertheless, the council members voted unanimously to forgo pursuing reimbursement, much to the consternation of some residents.

As a result, the developer, Domaine Hospitality Partners, LLC, will not have to repay any portion of the city’s costs associated with development of a Local Coastal Program.

P.G. Leaders Abandon Hope Of Project Bella Reimbursement

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a string of missteps concerning the development of Pacific Grove’s proposed luxury hotel Project Bella, the city has withdrawn the project’s permit application due to expiration.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

Missing Woman Recovered From Surf In Pebble Beach

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One still missing.

The female body recovered Wednesday near Bird Rock may have been one of the two people who were swept into the ocean on Saturday in that same vicinity, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

According to published reports, one person was swept off the rocks and a second apparently went in to rescue the first near Bird Rock at 17 Mile Drive and Bird Rock Road in Pebble Beach on Saturday.

Missing Woman Recovered From Surf In Pebble Beach

Waves Take Two People Away At Bird Rock

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Rough seas and big waves are best witness from the shore.

One person was swept off rocks into the surf and another is missing after apparently going into the water to rescue the first person, near Bird Rock on Saturday morning.

Tim Berget, Cal Fire San Benito-Monterey Unit information officer, said rescue and law enforcement crews searched for the missing pair for a couple of hours on Saturday after the initial call came in about 9:50 a.m. Berget said the incident occurred near Bird Rock, at 17 Mile Drive and Bird Rock Road.

Waves Take Two People Away At Bird Rock

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

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