Photo Lab Would Replace Old Building

One of the last remaining buildings from the city’s former downtown, Brea Meats, soon could be replaced by a photo processing lab under a proposal before the City Council today.

The dilapidated building, at Brea Boulevard and Bracken Street, was bought by the city’s Redevelopment Agency in 1995 as part of a $100-million remake of the aging downtown.

The agency spent about $1.2 million to buy the 19,558-square-foot property and relocate Brea Meats to a nearby shop.

Under the proposal, Direct Photo, currently at 2903 Saturn St., will pay $176,022 for the Brea Boulevard property.

Sue Georgino, Brea’s redevelopment director, said the deal will help eliminate one of the last blighted buildings in the area and bring a diversity of business to the new downtown.

“It’s an interesting use of the property,” she said. “It will have photo processing for commercial use, a small retail portion, as well as office space.”