[img]2283|right|Jeff Cooper||no_popup[/img]Sixteen days until the Ice Arena’s lease expires on Feb. 2 with the Fresno-based owner, and a new occupant, offering rock-climbing, yoga and fitness moves in.
A gap of an indeterminate number of months will pass between the date skaters depart the ice for the final time and the new tenants – the first change in 52 years – move in.
Disheartened though skaters and their families are, they know that City Hall officials have met separately with the key players to see if anything can be done.
The answer always comes back in a single syllable, no.
Mayor Jeff Cooper is the latest to contribute.
“As far as the city getting involved, no,” said the banker.
“There is nothing we can do” about the expiration of the old lease for the skaters’ sake,” he said.
“The lease that the owner has signed with Planet Granite is a private transaction. They already have entered into a legal, binding contract.
“I said at last Monday’s City Council meeting that I not only have talked to a lot of the folks who really want us to do something, I have spoken with the property owner. I have talked to the folks at the rink. I have talked to the folks at Planet Granite,” Mr. Cooper said.
The mayor’s message:
“I try to feel them out, see if anything can be done.
“The owner of the property pretty much clearly stated that he has given the folks at the rink (AEG/the Kings) every opportunity. At the end, he said they never gave much of a response.”
