Owner, potential buyers mull sale of nursery property

A La Cañada Flintridge property the city once eyed for purchase is currently the topic of discussions between the property owner and several potential buyers.

The Flower Creek property, at 1010 Foothill Blvd., has been vacant for at least a year and the owner, local developer Gary Zentmyer, has been discussing its sale with "numerous" parties, Zentmyer said.

The 12,000-square-foot parcel appeared on the city's radar screen a little over one year ago. At that time, the city considered purchasing the property, which could have been used to realign Chevy Chase Drive or add more parking, said Robert Stanley, director of community development. Ownership of the property was cloudy, Stanley said, and the city eventually decided it was not worthwhile to purchase the site.

The property was vacant when Zentmyer purchased it from the Adelle Davis Foundation in July 2003. Talks with potential purchasers have been underway since he bought the property, Zentmyer said.

Flower Creek went out of business before the purchase, Zentmyer said. The property would most likely be used for retail or office space, Zentmyer said, adding that he has no timeline as to when the property may be sold.

Stanley said the property is zoned to allow for retail use, office use with a conditional use permit or multi-family residential use with a conditional use permit.

Georges Ghaby, owner of Hill Street Café, which is adjacent to the former nursery site, said the city's plan of adding more parking appealed to him. However, the property's overgrown plants and bushes do not appeal to him.

"It's an eyesore," he said.