March 30, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Development plans likely to leave nonprofit homeless

by Jocelyn Dong

Plans to redevelop a block and expand a popular neighborhood grocery store in College Terrace will likely toss a community nonprofit out on its ear, despite the staff's hopes that they might stay during construction.

By this time next year, the Chilcote Trust -- which owns the land bounded by El Camino Real, College Avenue, Staunton Court and Oxford Avenue -- hopes to begin construction on a mixed-use development that will include retail, office space, residences and a park. The beloved 57-year-old grocery store, JJ&F Food Store, will remain open during construction.

But the redevelopment means the fledgling Aha! Center, located at the other end of the block from JJ&F, will have to find a new home. For a nonprofit currently receiving a break on its rent, relocating in a notoriously cutthroat real-estate market could be a daunting task.

"This is a total surprise to us. We didn't know there was a possible plan for demolition," said Mark Gordon, one of three Aha! co-founders.

The Aha! Center in College Terrace opened early last year on Staunton, in the building that once housed Klutz Press. Aha! provides a place for kids and adults to discover their passions, whether that be tai chi, financial management or anything else, Gordon said.

At the time, the nonprofit signed a lease for the 5,000-square-foot space that would expire at the end of this year. Aware that the property might be reused in the future, but unaware of plans to tear it down, the nonprofit invested money in improving the office space, with paint, furniture and tiling. Then, in December, they learned about the redevelopment.

"We threw our meager resources into this place. We are a small nonprofit scratching to make ends meet," Gordon said.

Patrick Smailey, the real-estate representative for the trust, said he holds the Aha! Center in high esteem, but that market realities are what they are.

"They're paying a fraction of the rent" -- about one third of the market rate, Smailey said. In the long run, "the trust could not continue that role of benefactor."

The lease was for a short term specifically because the trustees had future plans for the property --although at the time of the contract, it wasn't clear that it would include demolition, Smailey said.

But Gordon said he thought the rents were low because the building sat vacant for more than a year.

The trust expects to allow JJ&F, which would expand from 8,000 to 20,000 square feet, to remain open during construction. Once completed, a plaza would occupy the corner of College and El Camino Real. More retail would occupy the ground floor along El Camino, with commercial office space above that. A park would be located on Oxford, with a two-level underground garage at the corner, in place of the Aha! Center. Residential units would be built on Staunton.

If the trust can make allowances for JJ&F, Gordon figured, perhaps they can do the same for the nonprofit.

"I would love for us to be able to still exist and for them to do what they need to do around us. That would be ideal," Gordon said.

But last week Smailey sounded doubtful. "That building is slated to be demolished," he said.

The trust is still in discussions with Gordon and other community members about the project. Smailey said he hoped to submit some plans to the city by fall. If those plans are delayed, however, there might be a chance for Aha! to stay on a month-to-month basis after the lease expires, Smailey said.

Another tenant on the block, Mike's Bikes, moved out earlier this year.

"We'd love to stay in the College Terrace area. This is our home," Gordon said. The likelihood of being able to move back in once the block is redeveloped, and pay market rates, is just about nil, however.

And so the colorful nonprofit that houses a dance studio, music room, performance space, wood-working shop, computer room and more will probably have to relocate. Gordon hopes that the broader community will realize the value of the Aha! Center, which he said is an antidote to the stressed-out, "nutty" Silicon Valley lifestyle.

"We know there are adults and lots of teenagers (and) their souls are getting squished. We feel we are a refuge, a home," Gordon said.

"For me, I know things will ultimately work out -- they usually do. I'm a firm believer that if you keep your eyes open, something better may happen," Gordon said. "But for us to start over again ... that's a pain, and that's a cost."

Senior Staff Writer Jocelyn Dong can be reached at jdong@paweekly.com.

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