Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1047605
110 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 Cannery Row Company owns approximately annery Row Company owns approximately 88 percent of the area. 88 percent of the area. "In the early to mid-'70s, [real estate develop- "In the early to mid-'70s, [real estate develop- er] Ben Swig, Chief Justice Earl Warren, and for- r] Ben Swig, Chief Justice Earl Warren, and for- mer California Governor Pat Brown, among mer California Governor Pat Brown, among others, owned Cannery Row and at that time others, owned Cannery Row and at that time they wanted to get rid of it," Balestreri says. "The hey wanted to get rid of it," Balestreri says. "The Coastal Commission was being formed and Coastal Commission was being formed and things were getting tougher and tougher to things were getting tougher and tougher to develop. I went up to see Swig who owned develop. I went up to see Swig who owned huge hotels in San Francisco. The first building I huge hotels in San Francisco. The first building I negotiated with Swig is where now the Whaling negotiated with Swig is where now the Whaling Station is…he waited for me to write the check, Station is…he waited for me to write the check, and then I said, 'Mr. Swig, I don't know if you'd and then I said, 'Mr. Swig, I don't know if you'd carry the paper?'" Balestreri laughs. "Here I am carry the paper?'" Balestreri laughs. "Here I am taking up all his time and I ask him to carry the taking up all his time and I ask him to carry the paper! But I think he loved the idea of taking a paper! But I think he loved the idea of taking a little kid under his arm…" little kid under his arm…" More acquisitions throughout Monterey More acquisitions throughout Monterey The echoes of past fishing operations are reflected in the Cannery Row of today, which features shopping, restaurants and luxury hotels like The Intercontinental The Clement Monterey (bottom photo). The resort overlooks the Monterey Bay. and luxury hotels like The Intercontinental The Clement Monterey (bottom photo). The resort overlooks the Monterey Bay.