>City's Economic Development Dept. Offers Three Locations In El Dorado Park For Commercial/Retail Concessions, Comm'l Real Estate Broker Details City's Invited Proposals

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City's Economic Development Dept. Offers Three Locations In El Dorado Park For Commercial/Retail Concessions, Comm'l Real Estate Broker Details City's Invited Proposals

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who would?No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report.

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(Jan. 28, 2020, 7:45 a.m.) -- The City of Long Beach has invited business entities to submit proposals to "develop, operate, and maintain food and beverage concessions, event spaces, retail spaces, or other customer-oriented services" for three locations in El Dorado Park East: two in Area 3 (north of Wardlow Rd.) and one in Area 2 (between Wardlow Rd. and Spring St.)

The commercial invitation appeared online on Dec. 26, 2019 with a response deadline of Jan. 31, 2020 and didn't come from LB's Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Marine; it came from LB's Economic Development Department and offers three park areas for commercial and/or retail uses it describes as "concessions": Lakefront Area 3, Golden Grove Area 3 and Group Campground in Area 2. It invites proposals from "entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, concessionaires, caterers, event planners, eco-tourism organizations, retail providers, and outdoors enthusiasts to propose dining options, special event or conference venues or services, equipment rental concessions, programmable spaces, other options, or some combination of approaches that provide a model of activities that generate revenue that sustainably supports the operator and contributes to the overall park operation."

Source: City-retained commercial real estate broker brochure linked to City of LB Economic Development Dept. invitation

[Scroll down for further.]

The City website page links to a page by Lee & Associates, commercial real estate broker that indicates the City seeks a business model that will provide enhanced, novel and creative visitor experiences while also providing park supportive revenue. It says the City seeks proposals for customer-oriented services from entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, concessionaires, caterers, event planners, eco-tourism organizations, retail providers, and outdoors enthusiasts for dining options, special event or conference venues or services, equipment rental concessions, programmable spaces, other options, or some combination of approaches.

The resulting concessions agreement would be for a five year term or as otherwise agreed with up to two five-year extension options and promotional benefits will include optional outdoor dining spaces as extension of facilities, naming opportunities, and special events as permitted. [end lengthy quote]

The Lakefront location in Area 3 is roughly 1,008 RSF [rentable square feet] (previously used as a Ranger Station, currently contains several small office spaces,)

The Golden Grove location in Area 3 is rougly 483 RSF (reservable picnic site close to San Gabriel River bike path and Glider Hill. The Group Campground site in Area 2 is 396 RSF (Adjacent to a lake and to the reservable group campground.).

The offered concewssions are likened to Monte Verde] Park in Lakewood (here.), the Park Bench [Cafe] in Huntington Beach (here) and the >Mayne Events Center in Bellflower(here)

Sponsor

Historically, ELB residents have been fiercely protective of El Dorado Park, s 388 acre open-space oasis that includes a rustic Nature Center, a golf course and restaurant, multiple sports/recreational components and a recently revitalized miniature railroad concession/picnic area (the latter in Area 3.)

In 1995-96, Ann Cantrell and a number of ordinarily apolitical residents fought City Hall plans for 40 acre commercially-operated sports complex slated for Area 3 (that would have consumed the area in and around "Glider Hill.") Although limited to hard copy fliers and faxes (prior to emails and social networks), Ms. Cantrell called on residents to "Save the Park by Sharing the Facts" and drew large vocal crowds at community meetings held by city officials. When words didn't suffice, litigation followed in which Ms. Cantrell prevailed and city management ultimately dropped the plan..

City management's offered concessions are much smaller.

To date the public hasn't had an opportunity (on agendized items at Parks/Recreation Commission meetings or other public meetings of which we are aware) to voice its views on the invited commercial elements.

Developing...with further to follow on LBREPORT.com.

Sponsor

Jan. 29, 1:07 p.m. Text revised, tightened.

Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.

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