Developers Undeterred by Eco-terrorismFriday, February 25, 2005 - 10:20 AM
By John Hall
It is still business as usual for local developers despite a string of eco-terrorist attacks on other construction sites in the foothills in recent months. At the Gold Creek Estates development in Valley Springs, yellow reward signs are posted in construction areas, but according to Mike Winn, community planning director for Reynen and Bardis Development LLC, the signs are just part of the company's standard procedures.
"Certainly, we read the papers and watch the news," Winn said, "but there is no heightened sense of alert. We just work to inform contractors, workers and others so that if anything turned up suspicious, they would know who to contact."
Reynen and Bardis are developing part of the Gold Creek property.
The reward signs, offering up to $1,000 to anyone whose tip on suspicious behavior at the Gold Creek site results in "arrest, restitution or recovery of theft or vandalism of tools, equipment, material, or property," are posted amid several others informing visitors, suppliers, employees and subcontractors of construction site visitation and safety rules.
Construction Industry Crime Prevention Program of Northern California n a private sector, nonprofit association formed in 1971 by contractors to fight construction site theft and vandalism n offers the rewards and an 800 "hotline" number for informants to call.
On Feb. 7, incendiary devices started seven fires at a new apartment complex in Sutter Creek. Other attempts to destroy residential and commercial projects resulted in five explosive devices being discovered Jan. 12 in an office building under construction in Auburn, and incendiary devices being found Dec. 28 at three homes being built in Lincoln.
Those attacks, credited to eco-terrorists, have not affected Reynen and Bardis's business at all, according to Winn.
"We're simply cooperating with local building industries to provide safe working environments for our employees and contractors," he said. "It's just a basic exchange of information."
In addition to Valley Springs, the Sacramento-based company also has several projects in northern California n including communities near Rancho Murieta, Elk Grove, West Sacramento, El Dorado Hills and Marysville n and three developments northeast of Sparks, Nev.
"This is something we do at all our communities," Andrew Thomas, superintendent for Reynen and Bardis at Gold Creek Estates, said.
Ryan Voorhees, principal of Galt-based CRV Enterprises Inc., the other developer at Gold Creek Estates, said he was unaware of the signs.
"We haven't had any vandalism and we've experienced very little theft," he said. "It's been a pretty clean operation at Gold Creek."
In addition to Gold Creek, CRV Enterprises has two other projects planned for Valley Springs n New Hogan Lake Estates North and Olive Orchard Estates. The company also has developments near Copperopolis, Lockeford, Stockton and Galt.
The Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the persons responsible for the Sutter Creek fires. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Sutter Creek Police Department at (209) 267-5646.
Contact: jhall@calaverasenterprise.com
reprinted with permission from The Calaveras Enterprise
Other News
Click here to search the local News Stories Get the news delivered to your mailbox. See all the day's local news at once without having to click through the site. Find out more by clicking [here]. | 
