Vallejo eyeing possible purchase of property near Kaiser

VALLEJO – The Vallejo City Council is scheduled to meet with its property negotiators during a special closed session on Tuesday about the possible purchase of more than 1.2 acres of land near Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center.

However, the property may not be available for purchase. Tom Casazza, the listing agent for Keller Williams Commercial, told the Vallejo Sun on Tuesday that the property is currently in escrow with another party.

Reached for comment, Vallejo spokesperson Christina Lee said she was unsure what the property might be used for “being that it is a closed session item," should the city have an opportunity to purchase the land.

Lee also said she didn’t know if the property, located at 1668 Broadway, is being considered as a possible site for the city’s homeless navigation center.

The city began looking for a new location for a proposed homeless shelter last December after it revealed that the planned site at 5 Midway St. in South Vallejo has a deed restriction preventing human habitation due to ground contamination from prior industrial uses.

The Broadway property the city is looking to buy includes a single family home and RV parking lot and is listed for $1.5 million. The city’s property negotiators include interim City Manager Mike Malone, interim Assistant City Manager Terrance Davis, and City Attorney Veronica Nebb.

The council faced criticism from the community after voting to purchase a residential property adjacent to the city’s water department last November. City hall said the purchase of 300 Phoenix Circle for more than $700,000  was necessary to protect the city’s water supply.

The council will also meet with labor negotiators regarding negotiations with the Vallejo Police Officers’ Association (VPOA). City negotiators include Malone, Davis, and Aaron Slater with Beauchaine Consulting Group.

Finally, the council will conduct a performance evaluation for Nebb, who began working for the city in November 2020.

The special closed session of the Vallejo City Council is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Tuesday inside the Vallejo City Hall Council Chambers, 555 Santa Clara St.

Editor's note: This article was updated to include a comment from Tom Casazza.