City Council Approves Financing Agreement for Azalea Retail Project

Last night, the South Gate City Council voted in favor of the infrastructure finance agreement with Primestor, the developer of the Azalea Retail Project, that plans on constructing an $80 million shopping center on the corner of Firestone Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue, during a special meeting. The City Council voted 3 to 1 in favor of the agreement, which would require the city to provide financing to the total of $12.7 million for public improvement projects related to the site.  

Councilmember Henry Gonzalez was the only member who voted against.  Citing that he needed more time to review the proposal.

“All I am asking is for my colleagues to give me a professional courtesy and move this matter to Thursday,” said Gonzalez, who added that they would still meet the timeline of the project if the extension were granted. “Let me get a chance to read everything.”

Gonzalez went on to say that the financial agreement was around 400 pages and that it was rather complex.

“I doubt if 1 percent of the people in the audience know what’s in that document,” said Gonzalez.  ”I read everything, and I am up late nights because I want to find out what’s going on.”

The rest of the council, other then Mayor Bill De Witt who has abstained from all matters related to this project due to a potential conflict of interest, said that they had read the financial agreement and understood the document in full.

“I am comfortable and confident when I say that I do know what we are being asked to approve today," said councilmember Jorge Morales, who felt that Gonzalez had wrongly insinuated that some members of the council had not fully read or understood the financials. “I am ready to move forward on this item today.”

All residents who attended the meeting spoke in favor of the project. Citing that this shopping mall would allow them to shop in South Gate and put an end to their commutes towards neighboring cities.

“We want to buy in our city, ” said Sofia Jimenez, a resident of South Gate, who spoke in favor of the retail project and admitted to shopping in neighboring municipalities, such as Downey. “Please do anything that is necessary so that this project can continue on course.”

Some city employees also spoke in favor of the project believing that it would bring economic gain to the city. Emphasizing also that it has taken several years and potential developers to get to this point.  

“On behalf of all of us make this project go forward,” said Lieutenant Frank “Pico’ Rivera, president of the South Gate Police Officers Association. “The citizens have been very patient.”

Arturo Sneider, founding partner of Primestor Development, insisted that his company would do everything to make the shopping center a success. Stating that his companies future business depends on it.

“We are only as good as our last project,” said Sneider. “We stand by all projects we have done.”

The shopping center is expected to start construction on the 1st of October with plans of finishing it on June 2, 2014.

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