Cotati plans $1.5 million land purchase for park, housing

Cotati officials this week said they intend to purchase downtown property for eventual use as a park and also as a site for affordable housing.

But the purchase, to be made with redevelopment funds, is on hold pending court decisions expected in January that could affect redevelopment agencies, which Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed eliminating.

The cost of the Old Redwood Highway property would be $1.475 million, City Manager Dianne Thompson confirmed.

The park would front on the city's main street while behind it, on two acres, would be a Burbank Housing development of 30 to 45 family-size rental units near the St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Nick Collins, whose A-Downtown Automotive business is on the property, said the city hasn't told him anything about its plans but he is worried about whether he would be forced to move.

"I don't know if I could stay in business," he said.

But Thompson said the city would honor the current lease, which Collins said runs for seven more years.