Kings' arena linked to West Side plan

The Sacramento Kings' grand vision for a new basketball arena came into focus, in part, via developer Gerry Kamilos' plans for a huge industrial park near Crows Landing in Stanislaus County, he said.

The ambitious concept blessed by the National Basketball Association, Sacramento's highest-profile project in years, relies on international financier Macquarie Capital of Australia. Although still emerging, its money strategy will be similar to the one Kamilos and Macquarie previously developed for Crows Landing, he said.

"This shows how the synergy of one project can create benefits to another," Kamilos said.

His plan to transform the 4,800-acre former naval air base in western Stanislaus County into a business complex is on hold pending a legal challenge by Patterson officials, which could be heard in court in March. Environmental studies should wrap up by summer, Kamilos said.

The West Park LLC project has drawn strident opposition from many West Side officials and residents concerned about the effects of railroad cars heading to and from an Oakland shipping port. Critics also are doubtful of a promise not to build new homes.

Kamilos, whose companies built subdivisions near Tracy and Stockton as well as industrial parks in Woodland and near Sacramento International Airport, said he isn't surprised that people are skeptical about his taking on multiple demanding projects at the same time.

"I'm sure people are curious to know if our focus is going to be maintained on (the Crows Landing) project, given the Sacramento project," he said. It will, he added.

Kamilos, geophysicist to present findings

Kamilos, who has endured public scorn at past West Side meetings, said he will appear Tuesday in Patterson at an exhibition of a scientific effort to detect pioneer graves on his Crows Landing site. Southern California geophysicist Brian Damiata will explain how he turned up evidence of soil disturbance consistent with air base activity but not Christian burials.

Road building, farming or burying utility lines likely destroyed part or all of a cemetery that might have held two to 20 bodies dating to the 1870s, a report says. Damiata found evidence that at least two bodies were reburied elsewhere long ago, according to the document.

Damiata's ground-penetrating radar and magnetics captured public imagination. But he also compiled mounds of history through interviews, newspaper articles, books, ancient maps and photographs and rolled them into a report.

Kamilos, who paid Earth Tech nearly $30,000 for Damiata's work, said he will find a way to "integrate that rich history into the project." He intends to consult West Side historical groups.

"We spent a lot of money on this," Kamilos said. "Let's take that information and see what we can do to wrap it into the fabric of the project."

Geophysicist Brian Damiata and developer Gerry Kamilos are scheduled to discuss Damiata's report at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chamber at City Hall, 1 Plaza, Patterson.

Bee staff writer Garth Stapley can be reached at gstapley@modbee.com or 578-2390.