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Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

New or improved in the Lodi area in 2011

Galt Place opened to tenants in November. Galt Place is 100,000 total square-feet, with two of the three stories being dedicated to over 80 units for housing. It is believed to be Galt’s first building with an elevator. In the ground level, commercial space is available. The Velvet Grill is scheduled to go in next year.

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Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel

Brewster’s Bar and Grill opens in historic Galt building

Brewster’s Bar and Grill opened in Old Town Galt on Monday, May 30, 2011.

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Galt Place planners relied on redevelopment agency

Seven years ago, developers John Ciceroni and Cyrus Youssefi of C.F.Y. Development, Inc. picked the downtown Galt location because of the redevelopment vision already in place. "We would not have been able to do the project without the redevelopment agency," Ciceroni said. "The city is a shining example of taking portions of a town and using funding to improve the area."

Because of the economy, funding for C.F.Y.'s Galt Place was sluggish. The project broke ground last March and a grand opening was held in November, completing what City Manager Jason Behrmann refers to as the redevelopment bookends along Fourth Street. The other end is Brewster's Bar and Grill, which opened last summer.

Galt Place's residential units for senior citizens are 50 percent filled, and the owners are taking applications.

In addition to multi-level affordable housing, the building with the colorful exterior will house a number of businesses on the bottom floor, including Velvet Creamery. It is expected to open this spring, according to Ciceroni.

The city has plans for a nearby park where residents can rest on benches.

"We're thrilled about the project and hope to be a magnet to further development," Ciceroni said. "We hope to bring people back downtown."

— Jennifer Bonnett

Brewster's Restaurant owners, developers have a history

Until Brewster's Bar and Grill opened late last spring, there were few choices for residents seeking a gourmet meal in a sit-down restaurant. On most evenings now, a parking place is hard to come by, and when the weather is warm outside seating is a commodity.

The historical building was vacant for 15 years before D&S Development purchased it and Sacramento restaurant owners Jason Boggs, Alex Origoni and Garrett Van Vleck opened the upscale steakhouse. D&S Development has undertaken a number of larger redevelopment projects in the Sacramento area including the rehabilitation of a once-vibrant shopping district on K Street.

The company still owns the Brewster's building and leases it to the restaurant owners.

The three young entrepreneurs opened Shady Lady Saloon in a historic building near downtown Sacramento in April 2009. Today, the restaurant offers a full menu and live entertainment on weekdays and weeknights.

It was also a joint effort with D&S Development when the company restored a 1913 bread factory for the Shady Lady.

D&S spent two years and $2.5 million renovating the Brewster's building, including major changes to meet seismic requirements and reroofing the entire building. It was built in 1868 and housed the Brewster Company Store and the Odd Fellows Lodge.

— Jennifer Bonnett

Galt revitalization by the numbers

10: Properties to be acquired by the city's redevelopment agency to build an entertainment venue.

$17 million: The approximate amount of bond money, to date, used to finance the Old Town Relocation Project.

$24 million: Private investments made to the entire Central Galt area in recent years.

1869: The year Galt was officially founded. The city was built around the railroad tracks.

10,000 square feet: The size of Galt Place.

$2.9 million: Total cost of rehabilitating the building that houses Brewster's Bar and Grill.

$4.6 million: Cost of streetscape improvements completed in 2003.

— Source: City of Galt

Test your Old Town Galt knowledge

1. What is the oldest building in downtown?

A. The one at 4th and B streets that is now occupied by Brewster's Bar & Grill.

B. St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

C. Spaans Cookie Company.

2. What used to be housed in the new Brewster's Bar & Grill?

A. A turn-of-the-century saloon.

B. City Hall.

C. The city's Post Office.

3. The city hired an outside firm last year to help recommend changes to Old Town. What cities has Callander and Associates already helped improve?

A. San Carlos and Hayward.

B. San Francisco and San Diego.

C. Lodi and Lathrop.

4. When will the new C Street overpassing, which links Highway 99 and downtown, re-open?

A. It's closed?

B. Sometime this year.

C. 2015.

5. Which Galt City Council member once operated a shop downtown?

A. Mike Singleton.

B. Barbara Payne.

C. Jason Behrmann.

6. What was the original name of Fourth Street?

A. Railroad Way.

B. 4th Street.

C. Front Street.

7. BONUS: Which came first, the city or the Central Pacific Railroad tracks?

Answers: 1, A; 2, C; 3, A; 4, B; 5, B; 6, C; 7, the railroad tracks.

— Jennifer Bonnett

Posted: Monday, January 16, 2012 12:00 am | Updated: 6:40 am, Mon Jan 16, 2012.

Redevelopment funds help Galt in effort to spruce up downtown area By Jennifer Bonnett/News-Sentinel Staff Writer Lodinews.com | 0 comments

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Posted in News on Monday, January 16, 2012 12:00 am. Updated: 6:40 am. | Tags: Redevelopment, Urban Decay, Barbara Payne, Jason Behrmann, Central Galt Interchange, Old Town Relocation Pipeline, Spaans Cookie Company | Location Tags: Galt