Paladin

Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Matt Robinson [Click to enlarge]

The board members of the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency (RDA) voted on Aug. 25 to approve a $2.56 million offer made by LBCC for the purchase of property located at 1527 and 1585 Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), to expand LBCC's Pacific Coast Campus (PCC).

LBCC also will pay the $1.8 million relocation costs for College Inn Motel and $710,000 for the storefront church and gift shop. However, the RDA still is in negotiations with the muffler shop at 1501 E. PCH, according to Redevelopment Project Officer David White.

LBCC considered purchasing the property on the corner of Walnut and PCH for the past 20 years. Before entering into the agreement with the RDA, the LBCC's Board of Trustees came close to buying the property in 2004, according to Ann-Marie Gabel, vice president of administration services.

Gabel said, "The property would greatly benefit the school. It would allow us to finish off the corner of Walnut and PCH in order to improve the face of the campus. Although plans have not been finalized, it will likely be utilized for parking to meet the needs of the growing student population."

PCC provides a variety of courses including general education, vocational courses for aviation and auto mechanics, and is home to the new Child Development Center. PCC also is home to 20 percent of LBCC's 21,600 full-time students.

Patrick Clancy, a music major at LBCC, said, "It seems like the school is throwing money around when so many departments are in need of financial help. Why can't the money go to other programs such as the music or art department? The purchase of the new property just seems silly."

According to Gable, the property does not affect the school's General Fund budget.

The purchase will be made with the bond funds as allowed within the "Project List" that was approved by voters in February.

Bill Patel, the owner of the College Inn Motel for the past 35 years, said, "I put my blood and sweat into that place. It was like an empty box when I bought it, and now it is the best motel on a five mile strip of PCH."

He added that after two years of negotiating, he and the RDA finally settled on a price.

The other shop owners were unavailable for comment.

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