HomeMy WebLinkAboutWritten CommunicationsLADE ELSIlY01ZE VALLEY
CHAMBER of
February 2, 2024
Planning Commissioners
City of Lake Elsinore City Council
COMMERCE
City of Lake Elsinore City Manager & Assistant City Managers
My name is Kim Joseph Cousins, and I am the President & CEO of the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of
Commerce. I have been the CEO for the last 20 years where I have done economic development for our
city, helping bring businesses and jobs to Lake Elsinore to help improve our quality of life. Bottom line is
the location is NOT appropriate for the development of a thriving downtown economy.
I believe it is important to recognize and appreciate the valuable work undertaken by the Dream Center
Lake Elsinore, which has made a positive impact on the lives of people in Lake Elsinore. Dream Center
received the Chamber's Non -Profit of the Year in 2017 and Brett Masters received the Chamber's Citizen
of the Year that same year.
As the chief Economic Development contractor for the City of Lake Elsinore, I feel compelled to express
our concerns about the proposed Ambassador Project site which is NOT exempt from CEQA as it is a
fundamentally different use from the Hotel & Restaurant Operations of the Original Ambassador Hotel.
As a transitional housing program there will be 52 residents on three (3) floors of the four-story building
that will not be open to the Public and will not be paying any room rental (Occupancy Tax), so there is a
loss of approximately $136,000 of Occupancy Taxes paid to the City on an Annual Basis. In addition, the
first floor contains a cafeteria primarily provided services to the residents and volunteers at NO CHARGE,
so that the Original Restaurant would have generated between $10,000 and $16,000 dollars in Sales Tax
per Year to the City of Lake Elsinore on an Annual Basis! Clearly the NEW USE for the Ambassador is NOT
in any way shape or form anything similar to it's Original Use and would require a CEQA Review! The task
of remediation, masonry reinforcement ALONE will be a herculean task and is not a simple remodel.
Main Street is the heart of our community, where businesses thrive, and families come together to dine
and play. While we support the Dream Center's mission, we believe that the Ambassador Project does
not belong on Main Street near our economic engine as well as our new $30 -million city hall.
Our concern stems from a desire to continue to attract businesses to our Main Street corridor, as an
enjoyable area for families that fosters economic growth. This Congregate Living Facility has nothing to
do with business attraction but is more likely to deter economic development in the Historic Downtown!
There is NO SYNERGY with the existing Downtown Merchants, NO Public access that generates traffic to
the downtown area, NO crossover visits from patrons to nearby businesses, NO Demand for services
from surrounding businesses from the Program Participants, NO attraction to for investment in the area
as Participants pre/post admittance my be loitering on the streets of Lake Elsinore.
132 West Graham Avenue • Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
(951) 245-8848 • Fax (951) 245-9127 • www.lakeelsinorechamber.com
LADE ELSI1Y01ZE VALLEY
CHA M BER of COMMERCE
The Historic Downtown Merchants are VERY concerned about their Investment on Main Street. Future
Investors will be deterred from investing in an area that has a facility NOT engaged in attracting visitors
to Main Street. We believe that alternative locations may better serve the goals of the Ambassador
Project without impacting the economic development and the vital atmosphere of our historic
downtown. The Chaney St./Minthorn St. has access to bus stops, alternative education, as well as the
dept of social services and the Dream Center food Pantry. This is a synergistic location to ensure a FULL
set of services and support for the program participants.
In conclusion, let us work collaboratively to find a solution that honors both the mission of the Dream
Center and the vitality of our historic downtown and consider alternative locations that are an
appropriate fit and do NOT hinder Economic Development while ensuring our community continues to
thrive and our Main Street remains a place where businesses can grow. The Chamber of Commerce
respectfully asks for a "NO" Vote on Planning Application 2022-02
SincerelDCousin
Kim Jose
President/CEO
Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce
132 West Graham Avenue • Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
(951) 245-8848 • Fax (951) 245-9127 • www.lakeelsinorechamber.com