The changing face of Arcadia: from Super Chief to Gold Line. Major construction for the Gold Line and demolition of one block of old shops on Santa Anita Avenue to make way for Rusnak Mercedes Benz's expansion and showroom are the projects changing the appearance of Arcadia. Businessman George Fasching says in the late 1930s to the 1950s, Hollywood industry people used the "Super Chief," a Santa Fe Railway train, as their main mode of travel between New York and Los Angeles, and it used to pass through Arcadia.
Fasching's Car Wash in Arcadia and other independent car wash owners may lose thousands of dollars because major oil companies will no longer sell gasoline to car washes who don't pump at least 150,000 gallons of gas per month.
George Fasching, former city council member and owner of Fasching's Car Wash in Arcadia for the last 31 years, may have to stop selling gas at his business due to a state mandate, set to go into effect next April, requiring California gas station owners to purchase between $20,000 and $80,000 in new equipment to further reduce vapor emissions at the pump.
George Fasching, shown in a photo, is no longer selling gas at Fasching's Car Wash in Arcadia because he is unwilling to comply with a state mandate, effective April 1, 2009, that requires gas station owners to purchase new equipment to reduce vapor emissions at the pump.
The Arcadia City Council approved the design for a proposed addition to the new car showroom at Rusnak Mercedes-Benz. The dealer wants to build a two-story, 2644 square feet addition to the southeast corner of the showroom. The City council approved additions to other businesses as well.
Arcadia City Council approves Rusnak Mercedes-Benz land sale. The automobile dealership plans $10 million in new construction on its six acres. It will include a new 25,000 s.f. showroom on Santa Anita Avenue.
Rusnak, a luxury car dealership in Pasadena is moving one of its franchises to Arcadia. The operation will sell new and pre-owned Mercedes-Benz models at 55 W. Huntington Dr.
Last month's California Supreme Court decision that eliminates redevelopment agencies may jeopardize the Rusnak Mercedes-Benz dealership's expansion plans. Last year, Arcadia's redevelopment agency acquired the final piece of a two-acre site to sell to owner Paul Rusnak to expand his business to 6 acres. Rusnak is one of the city's top sales tax generators and wants to open a 40,000 square foot showroom on Santa Anita Avenue, just one block from the future Gold Line station downtown.
Construction on new Rusnak Mercedes Benz showroom is fully underway in Arcadia. Its current location at 55 W. Huntington Drive will be expanded. Additions will include a 22,500 square feet, 2-story structure in the 100 block of Santa Anita Avenue, to include 78,000 square feet for vehicle service and repairs, storage and parking.
A proposed land deal will allow Rusnak Mercedes-Benz dealership to expand and Rod's Grill will not have to move. The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency has acquired the Dahlgren lot on Santa Clara Street, the last parcel of a 2-acre site it intends to sell to Rusnak. This sale would enable Rusnak to expand from 4 to 6 acres. A public hearing is scheduled for April 19. In addition to the recently acquired Dahlgren property, the current proposed site also includes the former Church of Arcadia on Morlan Place and a commercial strip along Santa Anita Avenue that contains 16 tenants. The proposed deal guarantees the city would receive at least $800,000 in sales tax a year for the next 10 years.
Church in Arcadia will move to land formerly occupied by the city's mounted police at 630 E. Live Oak Avenue. Church in Arcadia is currently at 21 Morlan Place, the former site of Arc Bowl and Arcadia Bowling, which closed in the late 1970s. This deal was done to try to keep neighbor Rusnak Mercedes Benz, the city's largest sales tax generator, from moving to another city.
City officials resume talks with Rusnak Mercedes-Benz about its expansion now that Measure B has passed. The Church in Arcadia will move to Live Oak Street.
George Fasching, owner of Fasching's Car Wash who joined the City Council two years ago, was chosen as the city's mayor on Tuesday, replacing four-time mayor, Charles Gilb.
Plans to expand Rusnak Mercedes-Benz in Arcadia should move ahead with Rusnak buying four commercial properties from the former Arcadia Redevelopment Agency. Arcadia became the first city earlier this month to have its long-range property management plan approved by the state Department of Finance--something required of former redevelopment or "successor agencies" to dispose of their properties.
The City Council will vote on approval of a property acquisition plan with Rusnak Arcadia tonight. The opposition, comprised of seven former mayors, don't want Redevelopment Agency money to help a private business buy five nearby properties.
Arcadia's largest individual sales tax producer, Rusnak Mercedes Benz, announced it wants to move out of Arcadia. It would mean an estimated loss of $800,000 to the City. Having faced expansion roadblocks, Rusnak says the City hasn't been able to deliver the acreage and properties as promised. The announcement came as a shock to City Manager Bill Kelly who knew nothing about it.
The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency adopted a resolution approving the land acquisition and development agreement to help Paul Rusnak buy five sites for his Mercedes Benz dealership expansion. The Arcadia Elks Lodge doesn't want to move.
Victoria Rusnak to accept Business of the Year award on behalf of Rusnak Arcadia Mercedes-Benz at the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce 2014 Annual Business Awards on July 17.