From: Tom White
To: Timothy Rood
Cc:
Subject: Queen Anne house move update
Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2024 5:04:12 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Tim,
I regret to inform you that I have decided to abandon my approved development project for moving the Historic Queen Anne cottage #54 to 2525 Brandt Street, Pinole. The project was feasible when my husband and business partner Dmitri Belser and I were both doing a lot of the work ourselves as we had done in 4 other house moves in Berkeley, but Dmitri died in 2021 shortly after our development application was unanimously approved by the City of Pinole Planning Commission.
Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control, including but not limited to interest rate hikes and hyper- inflation of building materials and labor, I can no longer afford to finance the hard costs of development. I have invested over $500,000 in the project, about half on predevelopment costs of permitting, utility, architectural and engineering fees, and financing costs. The balance was the land cost which we purchased in 2019.
I’m sorry that I could not complete this project. I have informed the City of Pinole Building, Public Works, and Planning directors, copied above. Please let me know a good time to speak with you later this week or next about the disposition, deconstruction and/or demolition of the cottage.
I have reached out to Matt Troast regarding the steel i- beams he used for moving the cottage to the corporation yard.
Thanks for your time and assistance.
Tom White