Community Corner
San Bruno CA: El Camino Cinema Is Going Going Going
July 15th 2015 was the day we have been waiting for. Groundbreaking ceremonies for removal of Cinema and start of our new building.
Watch San Bruno Patch for additional photos as the destruction is completed and the new building raises out of the ashes.
ABOVE: Equipment that should be in use starting Thursday July 16th 2015. Watch daily and enjoy the destruction.
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San Bruno CA Mayor Jim Ruane spoke at the groundbreaking:
Mayor Ruane Comments - Start of Demolition — Former San Bruno Cinema - July 15, 2015
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Good morning.
This is a very special day for San Bruno and it is my very great pleasure to be here to kick off the start of demolition and transformation of this site at the gateway to downtown San Bruno. I am pleased to be joined here today by members of the San Bruno City Council, Vice Mayor Michael Salazar, and Councilmembers Ken Ibarra, Irene O’Connell and Rico Medina. Also in attendance are City Manager Connie Jackson and City Clerk Carol Bonner as well as many department heads and staff. A special thanks to David Woltering and his staff for all of their hard work. We have all anxiously awaited this day for a very long time.
ABOVE: Just some of those in attendance at the “Destruction” party
For over a decade this building has stood vacant and deteriorating, a symbol not only of a national economy that was in serious decline, but also of the need for revitalization of this community’s downtown. During most of those years, there was a lot of activity going on behind the scenes to plan a brighter future for this property as multiple owners tried and unfortunately did not succeed in completing their plans for redevelopment of the property.
ABOVE: Sares Regis (l) presenting Mayor Ruane with symbolic shinny sledge hammer
Today we are delighted to celebrate with Sares Regis and their partners, the start of that bright new future for this important property. What we celebrate today is not only the first major visible step toward redevelopment of this site with demolition of this building that stood as an eyesore for so long. Transformation of this site also kicks off the revitalization of our downtown as envisioned in our Downtown and Transit Corridors Specific Plan.
The Transit Corridors Plan sets out a new vision for a vibrant modern downtown corridor — anchored at this end of San Mateo Avenue with the beautiful new building that will stand here bringing 83 new residential units and several businesses to create new activity in the downtown. At the other end, three blocks away, is our new Caltrain station. In between these two anchor locations we look forward to other new business and residential projects and open spaces where residents can gather, shop and dine.
Thank you to Sares Regis for sharing our vision for San Bruno’s bright future and for your initiative to bring that vision to reality. Congratulations on your progress and on this important step forward. We look forward to our continuing partnership and the results for San Bruno.
ABOVE: Mayor with hammer. He stated he may consider using at future Council meetings.
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Robert Riechel
Senior Correspondent – San Bruno Patch
Photo Credit: San Bruno Patch Archives
Source Credit: San bruno Mayor Jim Ruane
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