Excerpt:

"The vacant half-acre fenced parcel directly across from the Orinda Library is finally in contract with an undisclosed buyer after languishing for 15 years. Real estate broker Henry Gannett says the current owner, who purchased the property in 1998, is thinking long term-but there's been some friction with the city of Orinda about design issues submitted by the potential buyer. "Any time a developer wants an economically viable project that requires governmental planning approval, especially in small towns like Orinda, there must be give and take. Orinda wants to zone retail buyers and then lets a real estate company take 2,000 square feet of first floor in Theatre Square. In the best locations retail is hard, this site may stay vacant for years as has Phair's, rather than compromise."

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