DUBLIN -- The blue and yellow colors of the Swedish flag have yet to grace Dublin in the form of IKEA. But the

Revised Hayward theater plan gets thumbs-up from council Updated design for downtown 12-screen complex draws rave reviews By Matt O'Brien, STAFF WRITER Inside Bay Area

HAYWARD -- The project to build a flashy cinema and shopping complex at the corner of B Street and Foothill Boulevard got a green - or perhaps neon - light Tuesday night from the Hayward City Council. Council members who had expressed concern with the Cinema Place project in the spring - when developer Blake Hunt Ventures announced it had to significantly scale down the complex because of construction costs - said they are now happy with the updated design.

"The plan before us tonight is so much better than the first plan we saw after the project was downsized," said Councilwoman Barbara Halliday, who added she would hope to see some independent films shown at the site.

The development will have a 12-screen Century Cinema with about 12,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor and more room for stores or restaurants on the second floor. Two rows of tall palm trees will line an outdoor courtyard leading to the box office. An upper deck with room for bistro-style tables will overlook the courtyard.

The council unanimously voted to determine that the plans presented Tuesday night are consistent with the plan they approved in July 2004. City staff can now give approval when developers present their final design.

Councilman Matt Jimenez was particularly happy with designs for a new rotunda at the corner of B and Foothill that might eventually hold a restaurant at the complex.

"Magnificent," said Jimenez. "The theatergoers will be impressed with that one."

Construction on the project is supposed to begin in spring of 2006. The old Albertsons store at the site is slated to come down in October to make room for a three-story parking garage.

Also on Tuesday night, the council voted to move ahead with the latest step in making use of $91.5 million in Measure B sales-tax transportation money for the Route 238 and Mission Boulevard corridor.

The council, with Jimenez abstaining, voted to adopt a resolution to authorize the approval of an amendment to the voter-approved 1986 Alameda County Transportation Expenditure Plan that was supposed to fund a freeway extension of 238 through Hayward.

Instead of the long-opposed freeway, officials are proposing to use the $91.5 million for local improvements, including a one-way loop through downtown.

Rudy Grasseschi, owner of Cobblers shoe store on Foothill Boulevard, brought a petition to the meeting signed by 75 business owners concerned about the negative effects the loop could have on downtown commerce.

Grasseschi said he wanted to work with the city to ensure that the required environmental review of the proposed improvements is thorough and takes their businesses into account.

Jimenez berated Grasseschi for not bringing all 75 businesspeople to the meeting, suggesting he would have voted against the amendment if they all came.