City Will Negotiate Exclusively With Southport for 630 Court St.

The Martinez City Council agreed Wednesday to enter into an exclusive negotiation with Southport Land and Commercial Co. of Martinez to renovate the city-owned historic Sharkey Building at 630 Court St. and operate it as a restaurant.

Southport president David Fischer told the council on Wednesday that his company has a "pot of money" set aside for projects like the Court Street renovation, and though there has been no money set aside for this particular project, Fischer said he is going to take the proposal to his board on May 27. 

The building, constructed in 1926, used to house the Contra Costa Gazette. It is in need of serious renovation, and costly earthquake refitting. Fischer said he would be willing to work with the city to establish a restaurant on the ground floor, if the estimates for income from the operation show a positive return based on the cost of renovation.

"If it pencils, we'll move forward," Fischer told the council.

"It sounds like what you’re proposing, everything is starting to gell together," said Mayor Rob Schroder. "I’m absolutely in favor of going into an exclusive negotiating contract. This is more hope than I’ve ever seen in any of our proposals" for the building from the past.

"We’re very encouraged by the proposal," said Councilwoman Lara DeLaney. "While it echoes (a 2004 proposal from Fincher), the difference this time around is there is financing from a corporation, rather than from an individual. It gives us more security."