Silicon Valley Business Journal
From the article:
For decades, Fremont officials have talked about creating a downtown for the largely suburban East Bay city. But so little has happened, Mayor Bill Harrison sometimes finds himself having to convince constituents that this time, it’s for real.
“Part of the problem is you have 50 or 60 years of a government talking about a downtown, and it builds up skepticism in the community,” he said.
Now, all that’s changing. This morning, the city is slated to start demolishing a three-story office building it acquired through eminent domain to make way for an extension of Capitol Avenue. That’s a key part of a multipronged city plan to attract private investment to the 110-acre area that is now largely low-density buildings and surface parking lots. The area is roughly bordered by Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont Boulevard, Walnut Avenue and Mowry Avenue.
“It’s a visual milestone,” said Jessica von Borck, Freemont deputy city manager, about the demolition.