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San Dimas council approves six-month extension of Vincenzo’s lease at Walker House
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Summary
The San Dimas City Council voted 5–0 to approve a six‑month lease extension for Vincenzo’s Terrazza at the historic Walker House, setting a $6,300 monthly base rent for May–October 2026 and requiring the tenant to reimburse 50% of city‑provided utilities.
The San Dimas City Council on March 10 approved a six‑month extension to the lease with Vincenzo’s Terrazza for the Walker House, voting unanimously to authorize the city manager to execute the amendment that runs May 1 through Oct. 31, 2026.
City staff presented the second amendment as a short‑term renewal designed to give the restaurant operator time to stabilize operations. Scott Wasserman, the city’s director of parks and recreation, told the council the amendment would establish a monthly base rent of $6,300 for the six‑month term and require Vincenzo’s to reimburse 50% of gas, water and trash utilities the city provides; the tenant remains responsible for its Southern California Edison electric bill.
Wasserman summarized the lease’s recent history: the initial agreement ran from April 15, 2023, through April 30, 2026, and Vincenzo’s had an exercisable one‑year extension that the tenant did not timely exercise. A prior amendment lowered base rent during parts of 2025 and 2026; staff said those council‑approved reductions and an earlier rent‑free start period together reduced the tenant’s obligations and that the city returned about $669.32 in late fees tied to delinquent payments. According to staff, total rent reductions approved by council during the lease term amounted to $23,850.
Wasserman also contrasted the agreed monthly rent with a market measure: at roughly $2.90 per square foot for similar Los Angeles County spaces, the 6,977‑square‑foot Walker House would command about $20,233 per month. "By this measure," he said, "the monthly base rent of $6,300 is roughly 69% below market value as indicated in the staff report." The staff report attached an operator letter dated Jan. 20 and Feb. 5, 2026, documenting the tenant’s negotiation request.
During council discussion, a member said the Walker House is one of the city’s "most historic public assets" and argued the extension is a reasonable short window for the operator to demonstrate business stability and reset the partnership with the city. That councilmember noted the city’s obligation to maintain the historic property and highlighted staff’s estimate of about $568,000 in anticipated capital improvements over coming years, including HVAC, kitchen refrigeration and roof work.
Councilmember Vienna moved to approve staff’s recommendation; Jeff seconded. The motion carried on a 5–0 vote.
The council’s action authorizes the city manager to execute the second amendment extending the lease through Oct. 31, 2026, under the terms described. No amendment to other lease provisions was reported; the staff report said the city may, at its discretion, offer a subsequent six‑month extension for Nov. 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027.
The council did not attach additional conditions in the motion beyond those laid out in the staff report. The item was listed as item 3 on the consent calendar and was pulled for separate discussion before the vote.
