Special Sections

Retaining Wall Systems • Pavers Flagstone & Slate • Real / Artificial Turf • Topsoil & Compost Organic Veggie Mix • Custom Mixes Sawdust • Boulders Stepping Stones • Ponds & Pumps Decorative Rock & Bark Soil Amendments Screened Dirt • Fertilizers Synthetic and Organic Fertilizers 5035 Freedom Blvd. Aptos, CA 95003 Mon-Sat 7:30 – 4:30 Commercial Residential We deliver anywhere Call or Stop By For A Consultation! 831-688-6211 www.aptoslandscapesupply.com The Largest Selection of Landscape Materials in Town Many Erosion Control Products Locally owned and operated since 1966 Bruhn, Greyhound buildings in downtown Salinas sell for $3.5M Taylor Fresh Foods buys properties from Berkley Inc., clearing way for continued revitalization of oldtown district Two iconic structures in the oldtown district of Salinas – the Dick Bruhn and Greyhound Bus Station buildings – were sold by Gerry Kehoe's Berkley Inc. to Bruce Taylor's Taylor Fresh Foods, for $2.15 million and $1.35 million respectively, according to Documentary Transfer Tax public records. "The future for Salinas is now, with these sales, looking really fantastic," said Kehoe. "The city council, city exec- utive and Mr. Taylor are to be congratulated." Salinas City Councilman Steve McShane posted about the transaction Wednes- day, pointing out the Bruhn building had been gutted by fire several years ago and has remained in that condition since. The councilman framed the sale as "a huge step forward allowing Taylor to redevelop these two key sites in Salinas' downtown. "The sale of the (Bruhn) building has been one of our highest priorities," said McShane. The fire occurred in February 2016, leaving only the exterior walls intact. Since then it has remained a shell, prompting McShane to author a blight ordinance and the city to seek the appointment of a receiver to take over the building, rehabilitate it and sell it. A court order sided with the city of Salinas and declared the building to be a safety issue for the community. Salinas City Attorney Chris- topher Callahan said the city is looking for the Bruhn site to be cleaned up as soon as possible. "We still have a burned-out building," said Callahan. The city attorney said with Taylor Fresh Foods, the city is confident it will do something to make the downtown more vibrant. According to Kehoe, the roots of the sale started back in late 2018 when his com- pany first met with Taylor's group to discuss a possible deal. Kehoe said that the property is zoned for mixed-use and is a historic building with concessions tied to the 1972 Mills Act – state legisla- tion to provide property tax relief to owners of historic properties to assist in the expense of restoration and maintenance. The city has also enacted higher density utilization for the downtown area. These considerations went into the calculations, negotiations and final agree- ment for the purchase of the property. "We were more than happy to do business with the Taylor group because (Bruce Taylor) has single-handedly brought the city many gis with his headquarters and other ac- quisitions on Main Street and beyond," said Kehoe. "He has done great things for the city in the past and I'm assured he'll do great things with these two great buildings." Taylor Farms has its corpo- rate 100,000 square-foot headquarters in the 100 block of Main Street in oldtown Sa- linas. The building has been lauded as a beautiful addition to the historic street and was modeled aer the architec- ture found in New Orleans. Taylor was born and raised in the Salinas Valley and has said by putting his four-sto- ry headquarters, with its patios, courtyards and open space that works to create a sense of community, in downtown Salinas, he hoped to spur other economic activity and revitalize his hometown. Taylor was not available for comment for this story. The Bruhn building, located at 300 Main Street, has a footprint of 19,200 square feet and has three levels for a total of 57,200 square feet, according to Kehoe. The building was origi- nally constructed in 1925 as the headquarters of the agribusiness sector, housing the Farmers Mercantile Exchange. It would later become a Montgomery Ward store and then home to Dick Bruhn which occu- pied the space for 57 years until bankruptcy closed it in 2007. Kehoe purchased the build- ing several years ago and planned to build a hotel and restaurant. The former Greyhound Bus Station building, at the corner of West Gabilan and Salians streets, has two levels of about 18,219 square feet and a total foot- print, including a bus drop and parking area, of about 28,600 square feet. Kehoe's Berkley Inc. remains the owner of a reno- vated dining, entertainment and banquet venue at 201 Main Street in downtown Salinas. "Salinas is entering a great period," said Kehoe. The historic building in downtown Salinas that was built as an agribusiness center of commerce and last housed a Dick Bruhn store before being reduced to a shell by fire, has been sold in a deal that includes the former Greyhound Bus Station building. (James Herrera – Monterey Herald) We are the premier source for all of your agricultural irrigation needs, whether you have row crops, a vineyard, orchard, or nursery. We provide personalized, professional service for all phases of your project, offering cutting-edge solutions to help you maximize your production. GILROY STORE (408) 846-8991 4450 Monterey Hwy. SOLEDAD STORE (831) 678-1182 2371 Relleum Dr. www.signatureirrigation.com

• Cover