San Juan Sells Swallow’s Inn Building : Real estate: Bid of $450,000 is accepted from ex-planning commissioner who vows to keep the historic saloon as is.
The City Council approved the sale of the venerable Swallow’s Inn building Tuesday night to a former county planning commissioner.
The council, acting as directors of the Community Redevelopment Agency, which owns the historic downtown cowboy bar, voted to approve the sale to Stephen A. Nordeck of Trabuco Canyon.
Under the terms of the agreement, Nordeck agreed to pay the city $450,000 for the building only, which also houses the adjacent Paisley Penguin gift and curiosity shop. The Swallow’s Inn business, owned by Tacy Lee of Dana Point, is not included in the deal.
“I want to assure you that my intention is to keep the Swallows Inn as it is,” Nordeck said. The Swallows “has an historical personality we want to see continued.”
The sale price is $76,751 more than the city Redevelopment Agency paid the Olivares estate for the building back in 1985. But it is considerably less than the $660,000 the city estimated to be the fair market value of the property.
Despite that discrepancy, the city staff recommended accepting Nordeck’s offer because it stipulates that the building sell “as is.” The building needs a new roof, upgraded plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical and restroom upgrades, according to the staff report.
Nordeck also agreed to pay cash for the building and to allow the city the use of the parking lot in the back along El Camino Real. The deal also stipulates that Nordeck dedicate the northwest corner of the property for the proposed realignment of Ortega Highway.
That realignment, although the source of controversy among city business owners, would reroute Ortega Highway through the existing downtown to meet Verdugo Street at the intersection of Camino Capistrano. Under that proposal, the segment of Ortega Highway now running into the downtown area would be converted to an entrance plaza to Mission San Juan Capistrano.
Nordeck, a former mayor of Manhattan Beach, also owns the Trabuco Oaks Steak House.
Nordeck’s offer was the city’s second choice of three bids for the Swallow’s Inn. The first choice was a $500,000 offer by restaurant owner Ralph Furra that fell out of escrow last September. Furra failed to come to an agreement with the business owner Tacy Lee, and was refunded his $50,000 deposit, plus interest.
Nordeck was a county planning commissioner until December, 1991, when the county redistricting plan cost him his seat. The newly drawn district lines placed him out of the district of Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez, who appointed him.
