City Extends Deadline for Old Bank Building Brokers

City officials are allowing extra time to accept offers for real estate firms to find a tenant for the Bank of Pinole building in Old Town.

The empty building at 2361 San Pablo Ave. most recently was occupied by The Flower Cart florist, which did not renew its lease last fall.

On Monday the city issued a notice that the deadline for requests for proposals was moved until Sept. 8. Since the original request in June, three proposals have been submitted. Requests for proposals are an invitation for brokerage firms to submit a strategic plan for finding an occupant.

The chosen broker "will be responsible for providing the city with services, including local commercial real estate markets analysis, pro forma and business plan analysis of potential tenants and assistance with lease negotiations." The deadline for submitting proposals is 4:30 p.m. on July 11.

Since the city purchased the building in 1975, it has housed the city's Tiny Tots preschool, city youth recreation and the Atlas Alehouse. The most recent tenant for the 3,000-square-foot building, The Flower Cart, closed last fall, but still conducts businesses online as Pinole Flower Cart. The structure was built in 1915, and got a seismic retrofit following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.