1.-LL. ID 22-613 Actions Pertaining to the Acquisition of property at 1247 North Wishon (APN 451-265-02) and 777 East Olive Avenue (APN 451-265-03)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines for the project.
2. Approve a Resolution Establishing a Policy for the Preservation and Use of the Tower Theatre Property and Authorizing Purchase of the Tower Theatre Property.
3. Approve a Joint Litigation, Defense, and Indemnity Agreement by and between the City of Fresno, the Tower Theatre Entities and Sequoia Brewery
4. Approve a Purchase and Sale Agreement and Joint Escrow Instructions by and between City of Fresno, Tower Theater Productions, Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, and Tower Theatre Productions for the Performing Arts for real property at 1247 North Wishon (APN 451-265-02) and 777 East Olive Avenue (APN 451-265-03) for $6,500,000.
5. Approve a Purchase and Sale Agreement and Joint Escrow Instructions by and between City of Fresno and J&A Mash & Barrell, LLC., and Fidelity National Title Insurance Company for a portion of the real property at 777 East Olive Avenue (APN 451-265-03) for $1,200,000.
This is an amazing historic landmark that needs to be owned by the city and used for concerts, movies, shows- it’s original purpose! We are the Bible Belt of CA and there are enough churches and buildings for churches. Their attendees don’t live in the tower nor are they invested in the neighborhood aside from attending on Sunday mornings.
I strongly oppose the sale of the tower theater to the city of Fresno. I am really disappointed that Fresno would spend taxpayers money to stop a church from buying a building they only want to fix. I really feel like there’s a bigger picture here that they are hiding from everyone and it’s not good.
I support the City of Fresno purchasing The Tower Theater. This is the best way to preserve this historical arts and culture institution and not disrupt the character and economics of this neighborhood. They can use Measure P funds! It will be great to
Have the Tower belongs to all of us!
I highly support the city purchasing the Tower Theater in efforts to preserve its historical culture and avoid any further danger to the community in which it is located. Our neighborhood has been completely disrupted by Adventure church and the bigoted groups they so publicly associate with. I truly believe this is the best way all parties can find some peace and compromise.
I support the city purchasing the Tower Theater. It is a historical landmark that should be preserved & accessible to all. Keep the current zoning laws. The location can serve a wide variety of the community especially the Arts. The church currently using the building seems to represent the exact opposite of everything else in the neighborhood. It will continue to be an issue that the city will need to patrol constantly.
I strongly support the city purchasing the Tower Theater. Adventure Church actions has shown them to be bad neighbors. They block off the entire shared parking lot hurting other businesses. They've openly supported the Proud Boys coming to our neighborhood to harass and assault folks in the area. It's time for Adventure Church to Adventure Elsewhere.
Makes no sense y the city should step in to try an Purchase the tower don’t they have better thing to do like roads to fix ,pot holes to close…. A great neighborhood deserves a Great church ,an Adventure church is doing a great job,everyone needs a lil or a lot of Jesus Thank u pastor Anthony an church keep up the Awesome job
I am absolutely in support of the city purchasing Tower Theater. Check the addresses of the people opposing it and I bet you will find most of them don't even live in this neighborhood. I do. I live directly across from Tower Theater. The church is incredibly obnoxious on Sunday mornings with loud speakers blaring in the parking lot for hours, church attendants guarding the lot, preventing people visiting other businesses from using it, and being a general nuisance. There is a reason why Tower Theater is zoned against such use. It's not a church, it's a historic anchor for this neighborhood, and the city, and should continue as such. It's absolutely disgraceful that the church has been allowed to operate against zoning laws, and covid restrictions. They have no respect for this neighborhood or the people who live here, they just want to acquire valuable real estate, and preach hate in one of the most vulnerable neighborhoods in the city. This church will not be unable to get a building elsewhere in the city, yet they are insisting on invading a neighborhood where they are clearly not wanted by RESIDENTS. Absolutely rotten to the core, and they've been allowed to get away with it. I'm fed up.
Keeping tower theatre in good standing with the community around it would allow it to continuously be a tourist attraction and benefit the economy of Fresno.
In strong opposition of City purchasing the Tower Theater as a way to stop Adventure Church from purchasing the property. First, the church would make a great tenant. Second, it's disheartening that the city would move to stop a private sale after being motivated by opposition from the left/protestors and for their own personal gain at the taxpayers' expense. Taxpayers have enough on their plate without adding another unnecessary expense/taking away funds from areas where they could be better used. Seems like a blatant misuse of power. I believe that Adventure Church would be better equipped to maintain the property and use it positively for the community.
The city's money (our money) is just better spent elsewhere at this time.
First, this is a gross misuse of measure P funds that were originally intended to produce and maintain much needed green space in the City of Fresno. The City of Fresno has a horrible (sorry guys you do) track record of owning, managing and maintaining entertainment venues profitably. Our tax dollars need to be focused on education, infrastructure and crime prevention. This is a complete and total waste of taxpayer resources given the current state of our city. There are other methods to ensure the property is preserved and maintained as a historic landmark without the City outright owning the property.
Additionally, the resolution only represents an intent to purchase. The sponsoring council members have not produced an operations plan to demonstrate how they intend operate and manage the facility profitably and fairly as an equally shared community asset. They have also not produced an estimation of short and long term costs associated with owning and managing a historic property in accordance with appropriate preservation standards.
This feels more like a decision being made out of political and cultural spite and not a smart financial decision for taxpayers when we're likely at the cusp of an economic downturn. Fresno Metropolitan Museum anyone?
I strongly oppose the city of Fresno’s move to purchase Tower Theater. There’s so much people are listening & believing than the actual truth. I support our Church, our Pastors, our church family! We are a family community & I will continue to Pray & show Love for our church!
What is your problem interfering in any sale? I believe any owner should be able to sell to whoever they want. 6 billion dollars should be used to better Fresno not to stop the protest of a few. Tower protesters will regret your interference. They just don't know it yet. God bless us all.
I think it is important to keep this historic theatre a space for the whole community. The city should purchase it and operate it as a theater. Changing the zoning would do irreparable damage to the Tower community
This is an amazing historic landmark that needs to be owned by the city and used for concerts, movies, shows- it’s original purpose! We are the Bible Belt of CA and there are enough churches and buildings for churches. Their attendees don’t live in the tower nor are they invested in the neighborhood aside from attending on Sunday mornings.
I strongly oppose the sale of the tower theater to the city of Fresno. I am really disappointed that Fresno would spend taxpayers money to stop a church from buying a building they only want to fix. I really feel like there’s a bigger picture here that they are hiding from everyone and it’s not good.
I support the City of Fresno purchasing The Tower Theater. This is the best way to preserve this historical arts and culture institution and not disrupt the character and economics of this neighborhood. They can use Measure P funds! It will be great to
Have the Tower belongs to all of us!
I highly support the city purchasing the Tower Theater in efforts to preserve its historical culture and avoid any further danger to the community in which it is located. Our neighborhood has been completely disrupted by Adventure church and the bigoted groups they so publicly associate with. I truly believe this is the best way all parties can find some peace and compromise.
I support the city purchasing the Tower Theater. It is a historical landmark that should be preserved & accessible to all. Keep the current zoning laws. The location can serve a wide variety of the community especially the Arts. The church currently using the building seems to represent the exact opposite of everything else in the neighborhood. It will continue to be an issue that the city will need to patrol constantly.
I strongly support the city purchasing the Tower Theater. Adventure Church actions has shown them to be bad neighbors. They block off the entire shared parking lot hurting other businesses. They've openly supported the Proud Boys coming to our neighborhood to harass and assault folks in the area. It's time for Adventure Church to Adventure Elsewhere.
Makes no sense y the city should step in to try an Purchase the tower don’t they have better thing to do like roads to fix ,pot holes to close…. A great neighborhood deserves a Great church ,an Adventure church is doing a great job,everyone needs a lil or a lot of Jesus Thank u pastor Anthony an church keep up the Awesome job
I support this effort and hope the city council will vote to approve this.
I am absolutely in support of the city purchasing Tower Theater. Check the addresses of the people opposing it and I bet you will find most of them don't even live in this neighborhood. I do. I live directly across from Tower Theater. The church is incredibly obnoxious on Sunday mornings with loud speakers blaring in the parking lot for hours, church attendants guarding the lot, preventing people visiting other businesses from using it, and being a general nuisance. There is a reason why Tower Theater is zoned against such use. It's not a church, it's a historic anchor for this neighborhood, and the city, and should continue as such. It's absolutely disgraceful that the church has been allowed to operate against zoning laws, and covid restrictions. They have no respect for this neighborhood or the people who live here, they just want to acquire valuable real estate, and preach hate in one of the most vulnerable neighborhoods in the city. This church will not be unable to get a building elsewhere in the city, yet they are insisting on invading a neighborhood where they are clearly not wanted by RESIDENTS. Absolutely rotten to the core, and they've been allowed to get away with it. I'm fed up.
Keeping tower theatre in good standing with the community around it would allow it to continuously be a tourist attraction and benefit the economy of Fresno.
I support this - the community benefits will provide fantastic return on investment.
In strong opposition of City purchasing the Tower Theater as a way to stop Adventure Church from purchasing the property. First, the church would make a great tenant. Second, it's disheartening that the city would move to stop a private sale after being motivated by opposition from the left/protestors and for their own personal gain at the taxpayers' expense. Taxpayers have enough on their plate without adding another unnecessary expense/taking away funds from areas where they could be better used. Seems like a blatant misuse of power. I believe that Adventure Church would be better equipped to maintain the property and use it positively for the community.
The city's money (our money) is just better spent elsewhere at this time.
First, this is a gross misuse of measure P funds that were originally intended to produce and maintain much needed green space in the City of Fresno. The City of Fresno has a horrible (sorry guys you do) track record of owning, managing and maintaining entertainment venues profitably. Our tax dollars need to be focused on education, infrastructure and crime prevention. This is a complete and total waste of taxpayer resources given the current state of our city. There are other methods to ensure the property is preserved and maintained as a historic landmark without the City outright owning the property.
Additionally, the resolution only represents an intent to purchase. The sponsoring council members have not produced an operations plan to demonstrate how they intend operate and manage the facility profitably and fairly as an equally shared community asset. They have also not produced an estimation of short and long term costs associated with owning and managing a historic property in accordance with appropriate preservation standards.
This feels more like a decision being made out of political and cultural spite and not a smart financial decision for taxpayers when we're likely at the cusp of an economic downturn. Fresno Metropolitan Museum anyone?
I think it's disgusting to watch our city try to back handily steal a church. This is like a corrupt movie.
I oppose the city attempting to illegally purchase the tower theater.
I strongly oppose the city of Fresno’s move to purchase Tower Theater. There’s so much people are listening & believing than the actual truth. I support our Church, our Pastors, our church family! We are a family community & I will continue to Pray & show Love for our church!
What is your problem interfering in any sale? I believe any owner should be able to sell to whoever they want. 6 billion dollars should be used to better Fresno not to stop the protest of a few. Tower protesters will regret your interference. They just don't know it yet. God bless us all.
The city should take control of this historic landmark to make sure the neighborhood is always growing and supportive of all.
I think it is important to keep this historic theatre a space for the whole community. The city should purchase it and operate it as a theater. Changing the zoning would do irreparable damage to the Tower community
Preserve this historical land mark! The neighborhood is in support of this legislation!