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Padre Hotel up for sale again
The Padre Hotel in downtown Bakersfield is up for sale again for $5.6 million. Pacifica Enterprises LLC purchased the historic landmark building for $1 million five years ago, but the company's plan to add condos to the building never materialized and construction stopped halfway through a renovation project that Pacifica claims it sunk more than $4 million into. There have been issues over asbestos removal and trash left in a parking lot outside the building. Now the building may get a fresh start as condos, apartments, a hotel (again) or offices.
What do you think? Do you think the Padre is a shining example of what Bakersfield's downtown can become or a blight on the city's skyline? How much would a revitalized Padre help plans to reenergize downtown? Do you think downtown is on its way back or will it take another earthquake to shake up the town's downtown? 58 comments from 25 users
posted by
samheath
on Jun 7, 2007 at 08:50 AM
Recalling the glory days of the Padre Hotel and life was good I mourn what has happened to it over the years. My suggestion is that it be turned into a world-class brothel that would put my hometown on the map and generate much needed revenue for the city. posted by
mattloch
on Jun 7, 2007 at 08:58 AM
What proof do we have that Pacifica actually spent $4 million on renovations? Seeing as how they skimped on things like qualified workers and asbestos suits, what makes you think they did anything more than slap a fresh coat of paint on the thing?I'm still waiting for someone to come along with a viable plan for it. Selling "chunks" (blocks of square footage that can be used for each unit) off of each floor could help finance each successive floor's improvements. We need to find someone in town with the vision and the resources to do it. Preferably someone who isn't defaulting on multiple loans, or under FBI investigation..... posted by
adampayne
on Jun 7, 2007 at 09:17 AM
I guess we get to see how valuable all those vacant buildings are in the old downtown.
posted by
anonymous
on Jun 7, 2007 at 09:40 AM
It used to be an eyesore, but it looks better now that they at least painted the outside. Count me excited to see what will happen to the Padre. It can't be any worse than it already has been!
posted by
woofwoof
on Jun 7, 2007 at 09:45 AM
If I was young and single I'd love a condo there. I'd be the starving artist with the gallery downstairs.
posted by
SoCaMuscle
on Jun 7, 2007 at 10:27 AM
The problem with the building is the lack of parking. If you work/live/stay in the building, where do you park? I don't think the City's parking structure is a viable option. You'd need to have a tram running between the two....
posted by
randomfactor
on Jun 7, 2007 at 10:31 AM
They're a block away from each other...
posted by
antiextremism
on Jun 7, 2007 at 10:31 AM
Pacifica = criminals. They've been pulling stunts like this all over the place. I hope they lose their ars on it....even if it means Sam has to drive an hour to get ......an adjustment.
posted by
mattloch
on Jun 7, 2007 at 10:54 AM
I'd buy a quarter-floor for a quarter-million dollars. Anyone else interested? If I can get 27 more people willing to pay that, and a commercial tenant or two willing to buy the ground-floor (fingers crossed for another bar), we can buy it and renovate it to our specifications.Who's with me? (PS SoCalMuscle, the parking structure was what Pacifica proposed to use for parking of tenants, so the City has already given that their blessing.) posted by
Hardliner4freedom
on Jun 7, 2007 at 10:58 AM
I saw it on my way to pick up Bakotopia. Gotta stand up for freedom and support the besieged, you know.
posted by
randomfactor
on Jun 7, 2007 at 10:58 AM
I'm in if you declare one of the floors clothing-optional.
posted by
randomfactor
on Jun 7, 2007 at 10:59 AM
Hardliner, where'd you find your copy? I'm looking...
posted by
Hardliner4freedom
on Jun 7, 2007 at 11:00 AM
1522 18th Street. Just east of Eye Street. They had quite a bunch. Don't know if they still do. posted by
mattloch
on Jun 7, 2007 at 11:05 AM
It would be up to the other three people on your floor to "declare" that (what, will you have a doorman at the elevator doors to fold and stack people's clothes as they got off the elevator?) Random. How about the roof? That may be a great "clothing optional" space for the tenants.....Since it's my idea, I'm "calling" (a quarter of) the top floor for my space. posted by
randomfactor
on Jun 7, 2007 at 11:08 AM
Well, I was *THINKING* about the top floor, with access to the roof. Anyone who climbs up that many stairs or punches the button is deemed forewarned. . I said *OPTIONAL*, we don't need on stinkin' doorman. People with clothes fetishes can still visit... posted by
jasonsperber
on Jun 7, 2007 at 11:09 AM
BTW, that rack location is the Mercado Nuevo offices (publisher of Bakotopia, the Voices, and Mas)--so if the rack's empty, you can always go upstairs and ask. Also, I'm sure head Bakotopian Matt Munoz would appreciate knowing where they're out of magazines.
posted by
randomfactor
on Jun 7, 2007 at 11:12 AM
Dagny's and Kern County Northeast Library were the two I tried to no avail. The rack at Northeast was full--of last month's issue.
posted by
randomfactor
on Jun 7, 2007 at 11:30 AM
Hey, Mattloch, let's get something settled up front. We're putting the rocket back on the roof, right?
posted by
mattloch
on Jun 7, 2007 at 11:42 AM
Random, you didn't even need to ask. Of course the rocket is going back up. I was thinking of adding night lighting, and maybe even steam venting effects to go off every hour or so....A small wading pool and perhaps some beach sand will also be placed in one corner of the roof. A drinks bar will be located nearby, as will a few patio tables and chairs, with those classy umbrellas that have the little lights on them. Another corner will have grass, or at least the high-end astroturf, with putting greens set up. I'll have to check with Tandy, but I think a skeet launcher might be acceptable for another corner, assuming we aim it in the right direction. posted by
Roselady
on Jun 7, 2007 at 11:49 AM
hey Matt, at least you won't have to worry about the cats using the beach sand for a litter box....: )
posted by
randomfactor
on Jun 7, 2007 at 11:55 AM
And can't we find at least a small part of the building for Sam's dream, even if he can't buy-in? It'd make an old man (and presumably many younger ones) happy...
posted by
mattloch
on Jun 7, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Hey, if someone wants to convert their 1/4 floor (or more, if they buy multiple "blocks") into that, they're welcome to it. Sam can do it himself if he wants.....Roselady, if I do find cats using the roof for their litter box, they're going to get a free ride in the skeet launcher...... posted by
robbwillis
on Jun 7, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Is the gay bar still on the bottom floor? That place was a hoot!
posted by
Roselady
on Jun 7, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Matt, my cats are pretty smart (at least for cats).....but I have yet to see one jump and reach an elevator button....so they would be safe...hehehe
posted by
TomW
on Jun 7, 2007 at 01:02 PM
I'm curious what the asbestos problems were. I can't imagine they wouldn't have just encapsulated it unless is was in the plumbing and they tried to remove the asbestos without removing the plumbing.
posted by
GrpThink
on Jun 7, 2007 at 01:48 PM
I'm curoius what the asbestos problems were Tom, the abestos was in the walls and had to be removed. The real problem was that Pacifica hired unskilled workers in the middle of the removal process to cut costs. The workers were given little protection. Then to add insult to injury, Pacifica had the abestos illegally dumped in the Bena landfill. posted by
anonymous
on Jun 7, 2007 at 01:50 PM
Bring back the "Town Casino" with Dena playing the piano and the strange guy in army fatigues following up on the violin. My friends and I used to "own" the table in the corner near the outside door. I remember clearly a certain person's 21st birthday. We had a blast. The kicker was that he had been drinking at the Padre for at least two years at that point.
I once tried to break a hundred dollar bill at the bar. Sparticus himself came down to check it out. We went outside, and he stared at it for about 5 minutes before he counted me out 5 twenties from a roll that would choke an elephant. Memories. Memories. posted by
sagefever
on Jun 7, 2007 at 01:53 PM
The bar is history,tore the whole thing down, it was the only place in town were gays,the weird,old hippies,rockabilly's,punks and rest of Bakersfield could gather,mingle and get a reasonable priced beverage with some alcohol in it,the marble flooring in the bathroom is gone too,~lord knows what happened to the fresco in the entrance,apparently the asbestos was in the walls behind the paneling,I had a friend who worked there some,and we junked (recycled a lot of the stuff that came out of there,It is a shame ~I am sure the hexagon marble tiles from the bathroom are replaced with a lovely vinyl~not! The condos would make you starve because of the rent,there was some talk of a sky bridge from the parking tower to the Padre,which would have been way cool...My dad went there one day,when I was about 3, left me with a waitress in the cafe"Give her all the cokes she wants", disappeared for a while telling me this "was our secret" not to tell Mom.The coke must have given it away~I just remember the fight. about him "going to that place"..so Sam's idea is well rooted in history,the girl in the glass bathtub~there was a phone # you could call to hear her talk,,the shady past of the place,the political nature of the place should be celebrated.Watch out for the roof area~the suicide part of the Padre does not need celebrating...wow the pain pills are kicking in~wheeee!! so I hope this makes sense,to me it is a lucid but of brilliance but spell check did correct 20 words....
posted by
mattloch
on Jun 7, 2007 at 02:15 PM
So sage, anon, you two each in for a quarter-floor?
posted by
sagefever
on Jun 7, 2007 at 02:17 PM
Can I do a barter (work)for a share,otherwise thast a lot of recyling!
posted by
SoCaMuscle
on Jun 7, 2007 at 02:21 PM
Guys, I know they CAN use the parking structure, but the inconvenience would deter anyone from working/living/staying there. Maybe a hotel use would be feasible, but if you think someone would buy a condo and/or lease an office and have to walk a block to/from every time they wanted to get to their vehicle, you are nuts.
Also, GrpThink, there is still supposedly $200k to $300k worth of asbestos still in the thing. posted by
randomfactor
on Jun 7, 2007 at 02:40 PM
Great! Let's sell the asbestos and use it to pay Sage's share!
posted by
pamg
on Jun 7, 2007 at 03:25 PM
Mattloch, if you'll open a rooftop bar, complete with the palm trees, beach sand, etc., I'll be your first customer! (And of course, the rocket and the steam!)
posted by
anonymous
on Jun 7, 2007 at 03:36 PM
What's so bad about walking ACROSS THE STREET to get to your car. I'd say that's pretty convenient. I doubt people living in New York or L.A. would complain much about that short jaunt to their cars. Even condos with attached parking lots or parking structures are often so expansive that it would take nearly as long to get to your car, plus you don't have to worry about on street parking. The whole great thing about living downtown is you can WALK to many places and don't need a car that much.
posted by
jfrancais
on Jun 7, 2007 at 03:40 PM
Matloch, I'll be a silent partner if I'm allowed a strip club. We can even call it "Rocket and Steam" in honor of its glorious past and to appease potential customers. posted by
randomfactor
on Jun 7, 2007 at 03:49 PM
How far to the Downtown School, jfrancis? That could be a deal-killer. . Annie, factor in 110 degrees in the summer and ask the question again. posted by
jfrancais
on Jun 7, 2007 at 03:51 PM
Yeah that and the fact it's downtown. Rats...Another good idea foiled. Daycare center? posted by
randomfactor
on Jun 7, 2007 at 03:54 PM
Combination daycare center *AND* strip club. *NOW* you're talking.
posted by
jfrancais
on Jun 7, 2007 at 03:55 PM
Rocket and Steam Child and Adult Services? What a novel idea!
posted by
anonymous
on Jun 7, 2007 at 04:02 PM
The top three stories would be a pimp place for offices for Irma Carson and Michael Rubio, after they place bars on all the rooms and make it a reception center for these duo's stout politicians annual gang round up. Arnold could come back home for the opening.
Nah it would be over crowded in a few years posted by
mattloch
on Jun 7, 2007 at 04:24 PM
1) Strip clubs are only allowed in industrial areas.2) They also need a minimum distance between it and residences, schools, churches, and other "sensitive" uses. 3) The Padre is not industrial, and would have residences inside it, kinda killing that option. I don't know about "private" clubs, though..... posted by
anonymous
on Jun 7, 2007 at 04:29 PM
How about a hip hop club on one of the floors? Those places rarely cause any problems, and would bring people downtown at night. Maybe Joey Porter could be the absentee owner.
posted by
randomfactor
on Jun 7, 2007 at 04:30 PM
So let's put a steel smelting facility on the ground floor.
posted by
jfrancais
on Jun 7, 2007 at 04:30 PM
Aw hell, I would just love for the bar to open up again. I went there a few times before it closed. It definitely had character.
posted by
anonymous
on Jun 7, 2007 at 04:59 PM
Is there room enough for a new refinery, so the Rosedale folks won't be bothered anymore?
posted by
randomfactor
on Jun 7, 2007 at 05:00 PM
And the waste gas can run the hot-water heater. *NOW* we're getting somewhere.
posted by
sagefever
on Jun 7, 2007 at 07:21 PM
Funny! go pass out for a few hours and all the fun breaks lose!..Still a rooftop bar,with those portable H2O coolers,would be doable~and I would think a lot of us would stand shoulder to shoulder with Sam and the bordello.2 nd floor, the whole deal a recreation of the bar,'cause if there is a hip hop bar it needs street :acess for quick getaways!
posted by
jfrancais
on Jun 7, 2007 at 09:09 PM
If another bar opens up it definitely should cater to the grown folks. There's enough bars downtown that already cater to the smurfs. posted by
anonymous
on Jun 8, 2007 at 07:47 AM
I hear 50 Cent is selling his place that he bought from Tyson to purchase the Padre.
I also also have almost 100% verified David Crisp will be trying to buy this thing. Maybe the Global boys will make a run at it too... Personally, I think all 3 should try to JV it. posted by
pamg
on Jun 8, 2007 at 09:31 AM
Amen to that jfrancais!!!
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