Gaia Hotel holds ribbon cutting; Vineyards EIR goes to hearing

PORTE COCHERE:
The covered entrance to the Gaia Anderson hotel was nearing completion at the ribbon-cutting event on Friday.

The Gaia Anderson hotel and restaurant scheduled a ribbon cutting and a tour for the general public to visit the unfinished hotel.

Anderson City Manager Scott Morgan congratulated Atman Hospitality Group President Wen Chang for his work on the Gaia Anderson.

“Wen Chang, you are a man of great vision who has made that vision a reality,” Morgan said.

The lobby, a suite, a standard room, and an extra-spacious suite was completed for the tour on April 11.

The opening date for the hotel has undergone several delays due to plan changes. Some of the changes included the addition of a spa, outdoor swimming pool, and porte cochere —a structure covering the entranceway.

Bobbie Freeman, the vice president of sales and marketing, announced that the Gaia Anderson hotel would open April 18, 2008. Two days prior to the ribbon cutting, she said the hotel would open May 1. She also said that the hotel’s restaurant, named Swan Lake, is expected to open in July.

Vineyards development

Comments about the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for phase one of the Vineyards residential development in Anderson will be heard at the April 14 Anderson Planning Commission public hearing at Anderson City Hall, 1887 Howard St.

About 240 lots have already been approved, so the comments taken at the hearing would be regarding the proposed 720 lots on 285 acres, said Anderson Planning Director John Stokes.

Written comments are due by April 11 at 5 p.m. Stokes said that although no comments have been received as of April 3, he expects Caltrans and air quality agencies to report towards the end of the comment period.

“This will be an input session only,” said Stokes of the upcoming Planning Commission hearing. “There will be no decisions made.”

Burrito Bandito near old county jail

As expected, the five members of Anderson’s City Council, acting as the governing board for Anderson Redevelopment Agency, unanimously approved an agreement to sell for $1 the two city-owned land parcels on South and East Center streets to Paul and Sheryl LaBarbera, who are promising to invest at least $1.1 million over the next 12 months to establish a Burrito Bandito franchised restaurant, as well as a separate restaurant and/or commercial establishment on the second parcel. Depending on final development designs, there may be an additional smaller retail storefront within the Burrito Bandito building, as well.

The redevelopment agency acquired the long-vacant parcels in 2007 for approximately $163,800 and spent another $8,200 in demolishing what was left of a defunct gas station.

As part of the redevelopment agency’s plans to complete its downtown demonstration area, the agency will spend nearly $500,000 in upgrading sidewalks, street lights, landscaping and other improvements around the project site, with nearly half that amount — $242,000 — of direct benefit to the LaBarera property, explained Dana Shigley, executive director of the redevelopment agency and assistant city manager.

The LaBarberas, who live in Anderson, already operate two successful Burrito Bandito franchised restaurants in Redding and maintain warehouse space in the Ox Yoke area just to the north of Andeson.

Other businesses in Anderson

Fernando Romo bought the building housing Buckhorn Café from Robert Scates in February, 2008, and plans to reopen it as a Mexican restaurant this summer. In purchasing the building at 3310 W. Center St. in Anderson, Romo said he inherited some contractual obligations to the city from the previous tenant, which includes some paving work on the parking lot and a dumpster enclosure.

The space that housed the former Bog Bean Books and Music at 2941 E. Center St. in Anderson was purchased by Darin Head of Anderson, who has filed with the city to open Bon-Chic Furniture and Home Décor.

The Blue Oaks apartment complex off Hwy. 273 is also nearing completion. Apartments may be ready for rental in two months, according to Anderson City Manager Scott Morgan.

¦Editor’s Note: George L. Winship, Editor, also contributed to this report.