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Briefs: Hamilton Avenue land sold for $8 million

by Sandy Brundage

Greenheart Land Company came away as the top bidder for the city's seven lots on Hamilton Avenue.

The council is set to review the proposal for 777-821 Hamilton Ave. at its Tuesday, Nov. 13, meeting. According to the staff report, the $8 million purchase price will be forwarded to San Mateo County for redistribution to Menlo Park and other agencies as part of the city's disposal of assets formerly owned by the redevelopment agency.

Housing would likely be built on the 2.1 acres, the staff report said. Six owners of properties bordering the lots are also ready to sell to Greenheart to expand the project to 7.1 acres, with the possible exception of a seventh, Jim Calhoun, who owns Calhoun's Country Corner, a woodworking shop at 771 Hamilton Ave.

Go to tinyurl.com/d6y2r7l to review the staff report and rest of the council's Tuesday agenda. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in council chambers at the Civic Center at 701 Laurel St.

Menlo Park grants

Calling all performing arts groups. Menlo Park has officially launched its new grant program, and the Dec. 1 deadline is right around the corner.

In an effort to boost the city's use of the Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center, five community groups will be awarded $500 to $1,000 to subsidize rental of the theater.

The city chipped in $2.6 million to build the performing arts center, sharing the cost with Menlo-Atherton High School. In exchange Menlo Park is supposed to get 55 days of rent-free use during the school year, and unlimited access during school vacations.

But as the Almanac reported in June, it hasn't worked out that way. So far the city use has averaged between 11 and 36 days each year since the theater opened in 2009.

Scheduling presents one obstacle, as school events take priority over community use. Another factor is cost. Community groups failed to flock to the theater because of the rental expense.

That's where the new grant program comes in. No applications will be accepted after Dec. 1, according to the city's announcement. The grants expire after one year. Organizations are welcome to reapply during the next cycle.

Contact the Community Services Department at 330-2223 for more information about the grants.

Two Menlo Park

Police followed the echoes of gunfire to two bullet-pocked houses in Menlo Park early Monday morning, Nov. 12.

Menlo Park and East Palo Alto officers searched the residences, both located in the 1200 block of Madera Avenue, around 4:30 a.m. They did not come away empty-handed. Inside: two high-capacity assault rifles, a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, and about 10 ounces of marijuana.

They arrested Kennetha Hahn, 28; Deangelo Williams, 22; Jerry Coneal, 18; and Chariece Chew, 19, all of Menlo Park. The quartet was booked for weapons-related charges, drug possession, marijuana sales, negligent discharge of firearms, and conspiracy, with criminal street gang enhancements.

Wheelchairs-adapted

Two stolen vehicles adapted for wheelchairs vanished from a Menlo Park woman's home on Nov. 7, but returned three days later, thanks to the police.

Annette "Nettie" Wijsman, a 55-year-old ergonomics consultant, has been confined to a wheelchair since 2007 and relies on the vehicles for work. Theft insurance covered a 2000 black Honda CRV, but not a 1999 gold Dodge van.

Ms. Wijsman told the Almanac she forgot that she left her keys in one vehicle after unloading it. When she realized the keys were missing the next day, she went to get them and found both vehicles had disappeared from her home near Flood Park.