Correspondence - Item 1 - Closed Session

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Flores, Dora From: Carolina Sarmiento <carolina@elcentroculturaldemexico.org> Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 1:46 PM To: eComment Cc: Luis Sarmiento; Gema Suarez Subject: Letter of support for 1901 W. Walnut St. Land Acquisition Attachments: El Centro Letter_THRIVE_2026.pdf Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links. January 20th, 2026 Mayor Amezcua and Members of the Council City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 Re: Letter of support for 1901 W. Walnut St. Land Acquisition Dear Mayor Amezcua and Members of the Santa Ana City Council, On behalf of El Centro Cultural de Mexico, we appreciate the opportunity to express our strong support for THRIVE Santa Ana's efforts to purchase and permanently own the site of La Colmena (1901 W. Walnut Street) from the City of Santa Ana. Building on its success, THRIVE has now secured state funding to permanently acquire the site. We respectfully ask that the City Council direct staff to prepare a purchase and sale agreement, along with the required Economic Subsidy Report, to allow the City to accept THRIVE's offer of $852,000 for the property. El Centro Cultural de Mexico is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing together Orange County's diverse community of immigrant workers, families, and students to support community -based organizing and initiatives that advance justice and equity. Since our founding in 1994, we have served as a vital community resource for cultural, educational, and artistic activities that strengthen identity, nurture local talent, and develop community -based leadership. We have worked alongside THRIVE Santa Ana since its founding. In 2020, the City of Santa Ana approved a 99-year lease for the site, including an Option to Purchase --demonstrating the City's long-term commitment to developing a community land trust strategy. Since then, THRIVE has collaborated closely with the City to advance a purchase agreement using funding awarded by the State of California through an Economic Development Pilot grant. Council approval is now needed to move forward with the purchase offer and to approve an economic subsidy reflecting the difference between the appraised land value prior to construction and its value following completion. We understand this item will be considered in closed session at the upcoming City Council meeting. At El Centro Cultural de Mexico, having a permanent, community -owned space has allowed us to train generations of community -based organizers working in health equity, housing justice, youth leadership, immigrant rights, and worker organizing. Our building in downtown Santa Ana has become a central hub for social justice and community organizing across the city and throughout Orange County. We deeply understand the importance of spaces that are owned and governed by the community they serve. To date, the project has generated at least five permanent full-time jobs and more than ten temporary jobs, in addition to over thirty jobs created during the construction phase. Looking ahead, THRIVE anticipates creating at least ten additional part-time jobs over the next five years through expanded programming and the growth of existing small businesses.