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<br /> find one vacant property in Area 2. Mr. Hannig described a recent profitable sale of a <br /> property in the proposed area and said, "this tells us that you have escalating property <br /> values, when a current sale exceeds an option price, thus defeating one of the <br /> characteristics that are frequently associated with blight." He described a San Carlos <br /> business moving into that property which also denies blight. Mr. Hannig said crime <br /> was not a problem in the area, although there was a lot of criminal activity at one <br /> location, 1301 Maple Street - the Redwood City Police Department. Mr. Hannig said <br /> his data shows the proposed Area is not blighted nor were there so-called irregular lots. <br /> Mr. Hannig said this was a serious issue, and the businesses he represented had a <br /> passion for Redwood City and much preferred to work with the City. <br /> Mr. Hannig addressed the issue of the City's ethical obligations to businesses that <br /> have been located in the City for decades and have large investments. He said Lyngso <br /> was a prime example of the type of company which had provided much needed <br /> materials which actually help to alleviate blight in the City. He said that the Plan, and <br /> newspaper articles on the Plan, suggests that the Redevelopment Agency intended to <br /> relocate auto dealerships into the proposed Area. He said such an incompatible use <br /> downwind from Lyngso, Granite Rock, Peninsula Building Materials and others <br /> threatens the vitality of the whole area. He said, "As a lawyer, I know that litigation <br /> will ensue. In the long run the citizens of Redwood City will be the losers. These <br /> businesses should not have to worry. Family members should not have to lie awake <br /> wondering what a Redevelopment District is going to do as it changes over the <br /> political course of its lengthy history. Mr. Hannig said, "I believe the City's ethical <br /> obligations to business like these are to give them certainty as to their future as they <br /> have provided the City with its own stable future." <br /> Mr. Hannig described the other properties in the area, all without vacancies. He said <br /> prices will increase if construction materials companies are forced to move out of the <br /> area. He said he represented the property owners of Jay's Towing site, and said they <br /> were quite willing to talk about development. Mr. Hannig said free enterprise is at <br /> work. <br /> Mr. Hannig said his data and photos clearly show that Area 2 is not blighted. He said, <br /> "A wise man once told me that a good City Council has a desire to act, knows that it <br /> should, and does. A great City Council sometimes has a desire to act, but knows that it <br /> should not, and does not. Be that great city Council. Do not include Area 2 in the <br /> Redevelopment Plan. It is wrong." <br /> Mayor/Chairperson Howard announced that the Council/Board was about to close <br /> the joint public hearing, and said no further comments would be accepted after that <br /> time. She advised that there would be no public comment at the June 22, 1998 <br /> Concurrent Council/Redevelopment Agency Meeting. Mayor/Chairperson Howard <br /> asked if anyone else wished to speak. No one asked to speak. <br /> MINUTE BOOK NO.S" <br /> AGENDA FOR THE JOINT PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 8,1998 <br /> AND CONCURRENT MEETING WITH THE Page No. 552 PAGE 14 <br /> CITY COUNCIL <br />