REPRIEVE FOR HOME

For Alhambra Mayor Talmage V. Burke, a vote this week by his City Council colleagues was close to home--in fact it was over his home.

The octogenarian mayor’s colleagues decided Monday he does not have to demolish his Olive Avenue house next year as previously agreed with the city, and he can keep the home standing until 2007, city officials said.

“He’s lived here since he was 2,” said Lisa Burke, adding that her husband is in Sacramento on city business.

Michael A. Martin, city director of development services, said this week’s vote amended an agreement Burke signed with the city in 1987 to avoid the prospect of the city condemning his home and his surrounding properties for commercial use. Burke agreed to develop the site in two phases in return for the city not condemning the land.

The first phase, which he has completed, called for the clearance of buildings on part of the area and conversion to a car dealership, Martin said. The second phase to have been completed by October 1997 required the removal of Burke’s home and another residence for an automobile dealership, he said.