Tag Archives: Moe Ammar

Tax The Tourists! TOT Increase Discussed

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Moe says no. Less money for hotels to contribute to Chamber.

Berryman political cartoon on income tax vs sales_tax June 33

It was in February 2008, that the council approved a deal with the city’s innkeepers not to increase the TOT as long as they agreed to join the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau and assessed themselves under the Pacific Grove Hospitality Improvement District, according to Ammar.

He said that a TOT increase would result in lower spending on shopping, dining and attractions. He also pointed to the 1 percent increase in sales tax that took place in 2008, which he said has generated over $1.2 million annually to the city.

Tax The Tourists! TOT Increase Discussed

ATC Hotel At Ramming Speed

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Is there a sound of shenanigans here? Normally something this humongous would need more time and be delayed to almost infinity.

Project Bella Overhead View

Project Bella, the plan for a luxury hotel at the American Tin Cannery, is generating a lot of positive buzz in America’s Last Hometown.

That seemed to be the pervasive feeling late Wednesday as the City Council unanimously voted to hold a special election on April 19 to make an ordinance change to clear the way for the hotel. But first, the council approved a reimbursement agreement with the project’s developer, Domaine Hospitality Partners, covering the cost of holding a special election.

The question of compensation was addressed first because, as Mayor Bill Kampe explained, “We want to know we’re getting reimbursed.”

“I have a lot of faith in P.G. voters,” said Moe Ammar, president of the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, at Wednesday’s meeting. “It’s to the benefit of Pacific Grove to get that dollar in the bank as soon as possible.”

ATC Hotel At Ramming Speed

Special Election Coming For Project Bella

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Project Bella Overhead View

While a few P.G. residents did express their concerns about the effects of the project and the special election — like Pacific Grove resident Luke Coletti, who thought the special election was a “cynical attempt to lower voter turnout,”

“I have a lot of faith in P.G. voters,” said Moe Ammar, president of the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, at Wednesday’s meeting. “It’s to the benefit of Pacific Grove to get that dollar in the bank as soon as possible.”

The question of compensation was addressed first because, as Mayor Bill Kampe explained, “We want to know we’re getting reimbursed.”

For his part, Kampe has advocated moving forward in a timely manner because of the multiple hurdles involved in a development project of this size. He said he was pleased to see the city reach a point where the election has been called and a reimbursement agreement has been made. So did David Armanasco, a spokesman for the project.

Special Election Coming For Project Bella

Moe Hates The New Garbage Company

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Greenwaste’s mandatory recyclables sorting rules are not making the trash creators happy. Was he old way any better?
Dumpster Hollys cafe 071216

And what a typo – Ron Shank!

Ron Shank with St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Store said a centralized location to deal with the cardboard isn’t what the businesses are paying for.

Shank said he’s paying more money under GreenWaste for less service.

“I don’t mind paying a few more dollars, I realize costs are going up. I expected that,” he said. “I did not expect to have poor service and in my opinion, it’s poor service.”

Moe Ammar, president of the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, said a lot of work needs to be done for the sides to reach an agreement. He criticized GreenWaste’s claims of being environmentally friendly, saying some businesses will end up just driving to the dump or putting recyclables in the trash.

“The only thing that’s green about that company is money,” Ammar said.

Moe Hates The New Garbage Company

Moe Says More Tourists Will Solve Everything

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Never mind the minimum wage workers and those that prey on tourists that follow.

The Holman renovation will include four ocean-view penthouses, eight new stores, and 25 2,000-square-foot luxury condos.

The condos are expected to cost between $550 and $700 per square foot.

“We have never had condos built in this price range on the Monterey Peninsula with the exception of the Inn at Spanish Bay,” Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce President Moe Ammar said.

Ammar said he believes even though it’s a first for Pacific Grove, the development will be successful.

“We know it’s going to work because the demand is there,” Ammar said. “Everybody wants to live on the Central Coast. Everybody wants an ocean view. And ocean view development just doesn’t exist anymore.”

At the Tin Cannery, a 160-room hotel is being planned across the street from the aquarium.

Still in the early stages of the project, the development needs approval by the Coastal Commission. But first, the city’s voters will have to approve zoning changes that allow for a hotel.

The Chamber of Commerce predicts the hotel could bring in $30 million a year, or 25 percent of the city’s budget.

Moe Says More Tourists Will Solve Everything

Forest Hill Too Good, Let’s Ruin It

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Traffic Calming
Coming soon to Forest Hill. Roundabouts, bumpouts, unused bike lanes, and other “traffic calming improvements” to bring the war on cars to another Pacific Grove roadway much like Central Avenue. Just the thought is costing taxpayers $150,000.

Some of the design solutions on the table include extending sidewalks and slowing down vehicle traffic with narrower turn lanes.

Leaders charged with making Highway 68 a safer place for everyone in Pacific Grove took to the streets Wednesday to identify key problems.

Recently a $150,000 Cal Trans grant was allocated to study ways to improve all modes of transportation along Highway 68 within Pacific Grove city limits.

“We are looking at the physical corridor to see where the issues really lie and where the problems are,” Ariana Green with TAMC said.

“It’s really sad all of the accidents, all of the fatalities. Just in the last year there have been three fatalities and seven accidents with pedestrians getting hurt, so it’s pretty bad,” Moe Ammar with the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce said.

Forest Hill Too Good, Let’s Ruin It

Quiet On The Set

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T.V. show production in P.G. Moe is having orgasms.

“Some of them have been here for the past few weeks,” said Ammar. The entire crew arrives on Aug. 17 and leaves on Sept. 3.

Asilomar Conference Grounds will serve as their headquarters with any overflow going to other nearby Pacific Grove hotels. They will be using local transportation, tour, whale-watching and kayaking companies while in the area, said the chamber president.
The networks will be anchoring coverage at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessels.

Quiet On The Set

New Plan For Holman’s

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This:
Holmans Casino

Or:
Holman Bowling Lanes

Would be cool, but no. Expensive condos for weekenders.

Chamber president, Moe Ammar calls the development partners “the dream team” who he believes can do great things with the property given their collective backgrounds and intent. “We want people to come out and give their input,” said Ammar.

If approved, the lot line adjustment would split the property into two parcels. Parcel 1 would be the 120,000-square-foot Holman building being purchased by the development company. The other would be a parcel consisting of the parking lot and Grand Central Station building behind the main parcel, which is currently owned by Nader Agha.

“It’s very simple to split the property, it’s my prerogative,” said Agha. As far as the process goes, Agha said he felt the city went about it the wrong way but now that they are at this point, “let’s see what they do.”

Agha was not ready to talk about his plans for the Grand Central Station property on Thursday. He has been the Holman block property owner since 1995 and has put it up for sale many times. The last was an online auction which was canceled.

New Plan For Holman’s

Moe Wants Pacific Grove Revenue Producing Entities

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Says the man who spends his revenue on German cars.

Moe Dont Buy American

“If you get a retailer or a restaurant or you’ve got a revenue producing entity, the city really needs the revenue,” Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce president Moe Ammar.

Ammar said what this city doesn’t need more of is benefit shops. Right now the city has 13 of them including nonprofits, thrift shops and consignment stores. Ammar said those shops only pay sales tax and their business license tax is limited to only $15 a year. With that said, a prime location has just opened up on Lighthouse Avenue and with it, an opportunity. After 50 years of being in business, Trotter’s Antiques has officially shut its doors.

Moe Wants Pacific Grove Revenue Producing Entities