410 Gregg Place for Sale | The Observer | Roz Rogoff | DanvilleSanRamon.com |

Local Blogs

The Observer

By Roz Rogoff

About this blog: In January 2002 I started writing my own online "newspaper" titled "The San Ramon Observer." I reported on City Council meetings and other happenings in San Ramon. I tried to be objective in my coverage of meetings and events, and...  (More)

View all posts from Roz Rogoff

410 Gregg Place for Sale

Uploaded: Mar 27, 2014

If anyone has been to a City Council meeting in the last 10 years, the address 410 Gregg Place should sound familiar. That's the address Jim Gibbon always introduces himself with at City Council meetings. I was looking at listings for San Ramon on Realtor.com because my neighbor just put his house up for sale, and the above address jumped out at me.

Gibbon is a well-known activist in San Ramon with his group, San Ramon for Open Government (SROG). Jim retired as a LEED Architect (green building) from Safeway last August. Here's an excerpt from a memo he sent to his friends and co-workers announcing his retirement.

". . . my reason for going is that I am at the age where I am ready to go back to my first love, designing custom homes. I have worked in the architectural field for fifty years now, 17 years at Safeway, and want to add to my architectural legacy."

He retired about six months before Albertsons announced it was buying Safeway. Gibbon suspected something was up. I emailed Jim with some questions for this blog, and threw in a question about the timing of his retirement from Safeway. His reply surprised me.

"There was speculation about changes in Safeway when the top people in leadership of the company started announcing their retirement about the same time I did. I was not aware of this particular move. It is a logical step to create a new leadership structure for the company. I think it was a good move on Safeway's part."

I asked Jim if he was scoping down by selling his big house in San Ramon and moving to a smaller place here, or out of the area. "We have decided to sell our house after living in San Ramon for 36 years. I now live in Castro Valley and I do not know where my wife will live in the future."

Jim and I are often on opposite sides of the fence, both figuratively and geographically. My house is almost directly across South San Ramon Creek from his, separated not only by the creek and the Iron Horse Trail, but by Kittery Avenue and Riviera Way. I can see the back of Rivera Way from the back of my house but not Gregg Place which is a cul-de-sac between Kittery and Riviera.

We disagree on the HOV ramps planned for the Norris Canyon Overpass. Jim said, "We (he and Jim Blickenstaff) are not opposed to the HOV lanes, only the Ramps being location at Norris Canyon Road. It is a bad use of public money."

Councilman Dave Hudson told me the improvements to the Norris Canyon Overpass is a much better use of public money than putting the ramps on a one-way connection to Executive Parkway. In addition to adding entry and exit ramps directly to the HOV lanes on the I-680, the overpass would be rebuilt to increase seismic safety and widened to add pedestrian and bike lanes.

Gibbon says he and Jim Blickenstaff will continue to work for more public involvement in City government. "I and Jim B are both co-leaders of San Ramon for Open Government and plan on continue with the effort to make city government as open as possible and accountable to its residents. I plan to continue caring about and be involved in San Ramon politics through my participation in SROG and in the Diablo Group ExCom of the Sierra Club."

Personally I believe residents are involved in government as much as they want to be, and those who are not don't want to be. You can't force people to come to meetings to make speeches or write blogs if they don't care. Jim Gibbon and Jim Blickenstaff care, but they expect everyone else to care as much as they do.

"Jim (Blickenstaff) and I are concerned about four main issues in San Ramon at the present time, the HOV Ramps proposed for Norris Canyon Over crossing, the Faria Preserve Development, the Civic Center project for new City Center, and forth the preservation of the Mudd's Restaurant property. I don't see us backing away from these issues."

I'm glad Jim Gibbon kept the Mudd's Restaurant property on his list. I asked him to help me save the Mudd's property. He put together a history of the building and filled out an application for State Landmark Status. This application requires permission from the building's owner, which we think is the City of San Ramon or the Successor Agency to the RDA, which is also the City Council. So far neither the City Council nor the Successor Agency has voted to sign the paperwork.

I'm sure some residents of San Ramon will not miss Jim Gibbon making a speech at Council meetings or suing the City Council over one thing or another, but I'll miss him if he moves away. I always respected his passion for and dedication to San Ramon.

I wish Jim and his family well whatever he decides to do. I believe San Ramon is a better place because he lived here. Even when Jim and I are on different sides, we try to do what we believe is best for San Ramon.
Democracy.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Bob P, a resident of another community,
on Mar 28, 2014 at 10:27 am

I wish Jim nothing but the best, in whatever he decides to pursue. Jim and I had an interesting relationship while I was in San Ramon. Once I decided to not get emotional about what he did or said, and concentrate on the good ideas he had, it became a better relationship. Jim provides great ideas and alternative suggestions on many issues. Some of his ideas can't be implemented, but I always tried to include his ideas in my decision making.


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Mar 29, 2014 at 1:11 pm

As for 410 I say Happy Trails JIMBO! HOORAY! Hell I've had dozens of ideas about how to make certain kinds of objects fly. 2 have floated in a circle about 3 feet and crashed but I've never been able to track where my other UFO's have gone?

I think that some of my ideas have been lifted by a few thieves at Lawrence Livermore Lab...sorry to spill the beans! Fusion is one thing that interests me but to steal another persons's papers/notebooks etc. is CS! and i mean it!!!

I have a few quick sketches for an underground house with dozens of periscopes but nobody seems to be able to build it. Sorry to say.


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Mar 30, 2014 at 12:03 pm

Such a fine property! It's too big for my needs but it's appears to be worth the asking price.

If you haven't seen it take a peek. I prefer this style of architecture to some of the gigantic homes that I've recently viewed. I prefer rental properties.

I would turn the pool area into a terraced garden and small greenhouse. I luv to hang out in a veggie garden and that's what I would do when possible.

I would also repaint the house as I prefer different color combinations. At lean one room would be turned into a gym so that I and my senior friends could work out. HOORAY! VIVA AMERICA!


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Mar 30, 2014 at 12:04 pm

Correction: At least one room would be turned into a gym.....VIVA AMERICA!


Posted by Ms. bunny, a resident of San Ramon,
on Mar 30, 2014 at 6:56 pm

I too, wish him well...His interest, dedication and service as a citizen of San Ramon is well documented and though I now and again am in disagreement with his viewpoints? That ISN\\\\\\\'T to say I don\\\\\\\'t admire his heavy involvement in city politics and his opinions.


Posted by Donna, a resident of San Ramon,
on Apr 16, 2014 at 2:21 pm

Jim Gibbon, you will be missed from walking the streets of San Ramon, but leave San Ramon? I don\\\'t think that\\\'s possible - we\\\'re in his heart and soul. Like Bob P. I have known Jim for many, many years and while we disagreed on many things we also agreed that we both loved the City of San Ramon and its residents. During so many public hearings you gave me an opportunity to think outside the box. You are great at that and you know how much I appreciated it. I don\\\'t see you staying away from matters that are important to you in San Ramon. You certainly are San Ramon\\\'s NO. 1 Advocate - bless you and be happy.


Posted by MichaelSok, a resident of Walnut Creek,
on Sep 1, 2017 at 12:00 am

[url=Web Link can i buy cialis over the counter[/url]


Posted by MichaelSok, a resident of Rancho Romero Elementary School,
on Sep 1, 2017 at 12:42 am

[url=Web Link CIALIS ONLINE[/url]


Posted by StewartCit, a resident of Blackhawk,
on Sep 1, 2017 at 12:49 am

[url=Web Link from canada[/url]


Posted by JohnGaf, a resident of Green Valley Elementary School,
on Sep 5, 2017 at 10:07 pm

[url=Web Link here[/url]


Posted by JamesMow, a resident of Del Amigo Continuation High School,
on Sep 20, 2017 at 5:45 pm

[url=Web Link day loans[/url]


Posted by JamesMow, a resident of another community,
on Sep 23, 2017 at 9:06 am

[url=Web Link essay online[/url] [url=Web Link payday loans for bad credit[/url]


Follow this blogger.
Sign up to be notified of new posts by this blogger.

Email:

SUBMIT

Post a comment

Sorry, but further commenting on this topic has been closed.

Stay informed.

Get the day's top headlines from DanvilleSanRamon.com sent to your inbox in the Express newsletter.

Common Ground
By Sherry Listgarten | 3 comments | 2,044 views

Tri-Valley Nonprofit Alliance grew from chance meeting
By Tim Hunt | 1 comment | 354 views