2008 Woodie Awards
San Jose officials to release report on stadium
Kyle Hansen
Issue date: 4/12/07 Section: News
The Mercury News requested that the city release any documents submitted by Wolff and his organization that outline his plans.
City Attorney Richard Doyle wrote to the Mercury News saying that the documents did not need to be released under the California Public Records Act.
"After careful consideration of your request," Doyle wrote, "We believe that the public interest is better served at this time by not disclosing this very preliminary document while ongoing discussions regarding its concepts remain pending and that disclosure may properly await conclusion of such discussions."
According to President Kassing, Wolff plans to pay for the new stadium with money he can make from a rezoning of property in the southeast part of the city.
"I can't tell you everything because I don't want to compromise the confidentiality of the conversations," Kassing said in a press conference on April 3. "But the Earthquakes, through a really creative idea of Lew Wolff's, would seek from the city the rezoning of a parcel of property … and change the zoning from commercial/industrial to residential. Apparently when you do that, the value goes way up… . That difference would be used to build the stadium."
Kassing said that the current sticking point in negotiations is how revenue from the new stadium would be split between the soccer team and the university.
Larry Carr, the associate vice president of government and community relations, confirmed on Tuesday that the university is still involved in discussions with Wolff.
"President Kassing is waiting to hear back from Mr. Wolff," Carr said. "The president is excited that someone wants to have this kind of a conversation with us."
At the press conference, however, Kassing did not seem convinced that a new stadium was guaranteed.
"I don't know if it's going to come together," Kassing said. "I say that not to be pessimistic, but I don't know. It would consume 40 acres approximately, so we would provide a parcel of land - they put a commercial activity on that land and then make money.
City Attorney Richard Doyle wrote to the Mercury News saying that the documents did not need to be released under the California Public Records Act.
"After careful consideration of your request," Doyle wrote, "We believe that the public interest is better served at this time by not disclosing this very preliminary document while ongoing discussions regarding its concepts remain pending and that disclosure may properly await conclusion of such discussions."
According to President Kassing, Wolff plans to pay for the new stadium with money he can make from a rezoning of property in the southeast part of the city.
"I can't tell you everything because I don't want to compromise the confidentiality of the conversations," Kassing said in a press conference on April 3. "But the Earthquakes, through a really creative idea of Lew Wolff's, would seek from the city the rezoning of a parcel of property … and change the zoning from commercial/industrial to residential. Apparently when you do that, the value goes way up… . That difference would be used to build the stadium."
Kassing said that the current sticking point in negotiations is how revenue from the new stadium would be split between the soccer team and the university.
Larry Carr, the associate vice president of government and community relations, confirmed on Tuesday that the university is still involved in discussions with Wolff.
"President Kassing is waiting to hear back from Mr. Wolff," Carr said. "The president is excited that someone wants to have this kind of a conversation with us."
At the press conference, however, Kassing did not seem convinced that a new stadium was guaranteed.
"I don't know if it's going to come together," Kassing said. "I say that not to be pessimistic, but I don't know. It would consume 40 acres approximately, so we would provide a parcel of land - they put a commercial activity on that land and then make money.
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