Gary Chalupsky

Gary Chalupsky, a former vice president for the Doubletree Hotel chain, has been named the city's director of economic development. Chalupsky, 51, will fill a newly created position to oversee the downtown, Town Center, Metro Center, Orangefair Mall and Cal State Fullerton area redevelopment projects. He will also try to improve economic conditions and opportunities for auto dealers. He is expected to fill the post beginning Tuesday.

Throughout the 1980s, economic development leaders across the country called Gary Chalupsky, trying to lure one of his company's Doubletree Hotels to their cities. Many of them offered free land, free parking lots, even free buildings. But Chalupsky, then the hotel chain's vice president of planning and development, often discovered that even with those incentives, the market for a luxury hotel in a town such as Bakersfield or Fresno just wasn't there.

Throughout the 1980s, economic development leaders across the country called Gary Chalupsky, trying to lure one of his company's Doubletree Hotels to their cities. Many of them offered free land, free parking lots, even free buildings. But Chalupsky, then the hotel chain's vice president of planning and development, often discovered that even with those incentives, the market for a luxury hotel in a town such as Bakersfield or Fresno just wasn't there.

Gary Chalupsky, a former vice president for the Doubletree Hotel chain, has been named the city's director of economic development. Chalupsky, 51, will fill a newly created position to oversee the downtown, Town Center, Metro Center, Orangefair Mall and Cal State Fullerton area redevelopment projects. He will also try to improve economic conditions and opportunities for auto dealers. He is expected to fill the post beginning Tuesday.

Plans to revitalize the historic Fox Theater have hit a snag, city officials said. Partners Douglas Chaffee and Paul Berkman, an attorney and local restaurant owner, were picked by the City Council in November to restore the theater, which has been vacant for 12 years, and to bring a much-needed boost to the downtown. The partners' exclusive right to negotiate an agreement with the Redevelopment Agency expired Jan. 15 without a deal being struck.

The City Council recently recognized Roseanna Stevens for her success as a businesswoman and manager of C.A. Stevens Jewelers, which has been open for 45 years. While longtime businesses are common in Fullerton, the longevity of Stevens Jewelers is unusual because it never became part of a chain operation, said Gary Chalupsky, the city's redevelopment and economic development director. Stevens attributes her success to the business shrewdness and artistic talents of her late husband, C.A.

A city program that aims to revitalize the downtown recently won the 1997-98 Achievement Award from the California Downtown Assn. The program, Fullerton 2000 and Beyond, was chosen because of its innovative approach to revitalizing the city's downtown as well as its overall community image, economic impact and achievement of vision and goals, city officials said. The city has spent millions of dollars in redevelopment projects that have renovated and preserved historic buildings.

Bob Hodson, Placentia's public works director, has been named Fullerton's director of engineering. Hodson, who was appointed by Fullerton City Manager William C. Winter, will start his new job next Monday. He replaces Hugh L. Berry, assistant city manager and director of engineering and community development, who retires Tuesday after 32 years with Fullerton. Hodson is returning to familiar turf.