Fremont State of City Speech Focuses On Business

More than 350 business, civic and political leaders heard Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison deliver a state of the city address that focused on economic development.

"We as a city no longer want to be the Bay Area's best-kept secret," Harrison said at a luncheon Thursday organized by the Fremont Chamber of Commerce.

Harrison got the biggest applause when he refererred to plans by Seagate, a manufacturer of computer disk drives, to put a research and development center on the site of the bankrupt solar company whose campus is visible from Interstate 880.

"The Solyndra chapter of Fremont's history is officially closed," Harrison said.

His 24-minute speech covered a lot of ground, from the city's improving budget picture to the less encouraging state of the city's paved arteries.

"We need three times the amount we have each year just to keep our streets from deteriorating further," Harrison said.

But the thrust of the speech was on upbeat devleopments including:

• the new TJ MAXX and Home Goods that will occupy the empty Ashley Furniture space at Pacific Commons;
• a new Men's Wearhouse opening in The Block, along with a planned expansion of the company's Fremont headquarters office;
• the newly opened 24 Hour Fitness at Automall Parkway and the soon-to-come City Sports at Mowry East.
• big public works projects including the Warm Springs BART station; and
• the Dale Hardware expansion in Centerville.

Harrison also spoke of creating a civic center to unite the five towns that came together in 1956 to form the city of Fremont.

"One thing always missing has been a downtown," Harrison said. "We now have the staff, the Council support, positive economic conditions, and interest from stakeholders coming together to make this vision a reality."

The State of the City speech drew politicos from beyond Fremont's borders, including Congressman Mike Honda and State Senator Ellen Corbett.

Before Harrison's keynote speech the Chamber installed new officers including Chairman Sean Whiskeman of Catellus Corporation, who just became a father, and the members of its Board of Directors.

Chamber CEO Cindy Bonoir noted that the group was able to put on some 40 to 60 events each year thanks to the ambassadors and other volunteers who provided the organization's muscle.

To read the speech and view the accompanying slide show click here.