Catching up with Ralph Borelli - Real Estate Baron Started Out Cutting 'cots By Katherine Conrad, San Jose Mercury News, August 13, 2006 Commercial real estate dealmaker Ralph Borelli grew up in East San Jose next to an apricot orchard where his job was to cut open the succulent fruit and lay it out for drying. “They used to let me cut the apricots until I had a cut on every finger. Then I was relegated to the pit boy. Born and raised in old Santa Clara County, young Ralph cut his teeth on land deals and real estate acquisitions. He recalls attending city council meetings with his … [Read more...]

By Katherine Conrad, San Jose Mercury News,August 8, 2006 For too many years Morgan Hill residents have spent most of their shopping dollars -- a whopping $100 million annually -- outside their city limits.They had little choice. City officials tried to avoid the cookie-cutter look of big-box national retailers and focused instead on nurturing the city's downtown. Over time, city funds slowly dwindled as tax dollars found their way elsewhere.Now the South County city is coming late to the big-box party, but on its own terms. With the construction of a 650,000-square-foot shopping center across … [Read more...]