City Negotiates for 3 Acres Near Arts Plaza : Thousand Oaks: Purchase would allow the project’s entrance to be expanded. But officials are at stalemate with another landowner.

Thousand Oaks has entered into negotiations with a landowner for the possible purchase of her three-acre parcel near the $64-million Civic Arts Plaza, though the city still remains at an impasse with another landowner over his half-acre property.

City officials said Ruth Strong recently approached them on the possibility of acquiring her land at Oakwood Drive and Thousand Oaks Boulevard, where three commercial businesses operate.

“She’s interested in selling,” City Atty. Mark Sellers said. “We’re at the very preliminary stages” of negotiations.

Strong, who lives in Fillmore, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Sellers said the city has had Strong’s property appraised but would not reveal its estimated value. But he said Strong is interested in selling the entire three-acre parcel.

“It’s underutilized,” Sellers said of the land. “And the city would like to see the property redeveloped.”

Strong’s property includes a large, one-story redwood house on Oakwood Drive where her daughter lives. She also leases three separate buildings fronting Thousand Oaks Boulevard to a scuba shop, an automotive repair business and a T-shirt shop. The property is directly across from the Civic Arts Plaza, with a portion of Strong’s land backing up to the complex’s massive parking garage.

Councilman Frank Schillo welcomed the chance to acquire the land, which would enable the city to widen Oakwood Drive and thus expand the entrance to the Civic Arts Plaza.

“It’s a very valuable piece of property,” he said. “And very seldom do you have a willing seller. Most of the time people don’t want to sell.”

Although the City Council met in closed session Tuesday night to discuss the city’s negotiations with Strong, Schillo said it is not certain where the city would get the money to purchase the land.

“I don’t know where the money would come from,” he said. “That’s what our staff is going to have to look into.”

Meanwhile, the city has yet to strike a deal with Robert Heggen over his half-acre parcel, which also is situated at the entrance to the arts complex. The city has long sought the Heggen property, which officials said would not only make the entrance more attractive but ease the flow of traffic to and from the center by allowing Oakwood Drive to be widened.

The city has offered Heggen $420,000 for the property, which includes a two-story clapboard house and an adjoining equipment storage yard. But Heggen, who had his own appraisal done on the land, is demanding $1 million. He said it would be impossible for him to locate the grading and equipment-rental business that he operates at the site for anything less.

Even at his asking price, Heggen said it would be cheaper and more practical for the city to acquire his land than Strong’s property, which he speculates would cost $3 million to $4 million.

“I think it shows a lack of judgment on the city’s part,” Heggen said. “Sure, they can buy her property, but it’s going to cost them more money.”

Schillo said he did not see any connection between the city’s negotiations with Strong and its talks with Heggen.

Still, officials declined to say whether the city would be interested in acquiring Strong’s land as quickly as possible in order to widen Oakwood Drive, or if it would be more inclined to purchase the land later. The Civic Arts Plaza is scheduled to open next October.

“That’s something that still has to be decided,” Sellers said.

In the meantime, the city is moving ahead with plans to build three large cinder-block walls around Heggen’s property, with construction expected to begin in January. Schillo said the walls would probably cost the city between $170,000 and $200,000.

“I think if he came in and talked to us, we could settle this thing,” Schillo said of Heggen. “But he has steadfastly refused to negotiate. It’s too bad for him, and it’s too bad for us. It’s a lose-lose situation.”