Pushback - California Northstate University responds to Stonelake Landing tenant, Elk Grove small business owner's criticism
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2019/10/pushback-california-northstate-responds-to-criticism.html
After being subjected to repeated criticism from residents in Elk Grove's far west side neighborhoods of Stonelake, Lakeside, and Laguna West and their tenants at the Stonelake Landing shopping center, California Northstate University (CNU) has responded. This most recent response was to criticism offered at the Wednesday, October 23 Elk Grove City Council meeting.
During public comment, David Brown, who with his wife owns Dreaming Dog Brewery in the Stonelake Landing facility, which CNU holds. Among many assertions, Brown said he believed CNU was trying to put him and his wife and several other Stonelake Landing tenants out of business by forcing them to move to other spaces in the shopping center (Brown's entire commentary can be viewed in the video below).
"It is our belief that CNU is forcing this move upon for two reasons," Brown said. "Alvin Cheung has expressed he is upset by our comments and expressed an exposure in the media and CNU is hoping our business will fail.
If Stonelake Landing businesses fail, CNU could avoid paying relocation expenses and void leases, such as Dreaming Dog's, which is in the third year of a 15 year lease. Their proposed $900 million 400-bed hospital will require demolition of the shopping center.
Brian Holloway of Holloway Land Co., spokesperson for CNU issued a statement to Elk Grove News after the distribution of Brown's comments.
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Holloway's statement says, “we are actively negotiating with the tenants, some of whom will stay where they are and others who will be relocated, at our expense, to comparable or more desirable locations. We will be making an announcement when the negotiations are completed.”
Other business owners have openly expressed differing opinions of dealing with CNU. In podcast interviews, Matt Weaver and Steav Jordan painted a contrasting view (interviews posted below).
The hospital project has generated considerable controversy on the city's westside city council District 1 and has ensnared Elk Grove councilmember Darren Suen. Because of his support of the controversial project, Suen will face angry District 1 voters as part of Elk Grove's first by-district elections in November 2020, unlike earlier elections, which were on a citywide, at-large basis.
Matt Weaver
Steav Jordan
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