New developments in Town Center project
Through the years, much energy has been expended regarding Yorba Linda’s historic Old Town area, ranging from plans for modest Main Street spruce-ups in the 1970s and 1980s to more elaborate area-wide redevelopment proposals in the 1990s and 2000s.
Talk turned serious with the city’s finding of physical and economic blight in 1990 in the old downtown area and along stretches of Imperial Highway and Yorba Linda Boulevard that totaled 344 acres, which were then added to an existing east side redevelopment area.
The original project area involves 2,640 acres, generally east of Hidden Hills Road and Yorba Linda Boulevard, including Savi Ranch, La Palma Industrial Corridor and about 2,100 homes, and was created in 1983 under provisions of a 1945 state law.
Although Old Town redevelopment plans and their City Council supporters have come and gone since the 1990s, this year might mark a true turning point, based on decisions made by the council earlier this month, all on a rare string of 5-0 votes.
One of the decisions is to include beginning downtown development “with boldness at the fastest logical and fiscally responsible pace” as one of 22 council objectives for this and next year adopted at a Feb. 15 meeting.
Of course, similar sentiments have come from past councils, but with a Town Center Specific Plan on hand, and the hiring of a firm to prepare a Downtown Development Strategy Study at an approximate $41,000 cost, some change might actually occur.
One interesting document, a “draft preliminary opinion of probable cost of infrastructure improvements,” was viewed by council at a Feb. 1 meeting. In 11 pages of tiny type, the study identifies $29.1 million in infrastructure costs possible for the Town Center area.
The document’s “worst case” cost analysis includes street improvements, streetscapes, lighting, water quality treatment, rough grading and utilities, along with full funding for the much-debated Imperial Highway pedestrian bridge and a two-level parking structure.
The bridge cost is pegged at $6 million, offset by $3.1 million in federal funding, which Congressman Gary Miller has described as an “earmark” and less charitable residents as “pork.” Another $1 million in federal cash can be used for the bridge or other projects.
Two Main Street business owners supported the bridge, while others spoke against the idea at the Feb. 15 session. The self-styled “fiscally conservative” council indicated an “open mind” and requested a bridge be added to a regional transportation improvement program, but the council vote doesn’t obligate the city to finance or build a bridge.
The “draft preliminary opinion” of possible downtown infrastructure costs also estimated a two-level, 300-stall parking structure at $4.4 million and demolition of the library and a single-family dwelling at $269,380.
Another of council’s 22 objectives for 2010-11 is to “explore the feasibility of either a relocated new library facility in the Town Center or a renovation and expansion of the current library to address the library’s space challenges and lack of adequate parking.”
A parking demand analysis indicated a parking structure would be needed only for a performing arts center larger than 900 seats, stated a staff report to council members.
Talk turned serious with the city’s finding of physical and economic blight in 1990 in the old downtown area and along stretches of Imperial Highway and Yorba Linda Boulevard that totaled 344 acres, which were then added to an existing east side redevelopment area.
The original project area involves 2,640 acres, generally east of Hidden Hills Road and Yorba Linda Boulevard, including Savi Ranch, La Palma Industrial Corridor and about 2,100 homes, and was created in 1983 under provisions of a 1945 state law.
Although Old Town redevelopment plans and their City Council supporters have come and gone since the 1990s, this year might mark a true turning point, based on decisions made by the council earlier this month, all on a rare string of 5-0 votes.
One of the decisions is to include beginning downtown development “with boldness at the fastest logical and fiscally responsible pace” as one of 22 council objectives for this and next year adopted at a Feb. 15 meeting.
Of course, similar sentiments have come from past councils, but with a Town Center Specific Plan on hand, and the hiring of a firm to prepare a Downtown Development Strategy Study at an approximate $41,000 cost, some change might actually occur.
One interesting document, a “draft preliminary opinion of probable cost of infrastructure improvements,” was viewed by council at a Feb. 1 meeting. In 11 pages of tiny type, the study identifies $29.1 million in infrastructure costs possible for the Town Center area.
The document’s “worst case” cost analysis includes street improvements, streetscapes, lighting, water quality treatment, rough grading and utilities, along with full funding for the much-debated Imperial Highway pedestrian bridge and a two-level parking structure.
The bridge cost is pegged at $6 million, offset by $3.1 million in federal funding, which Congressman Gary Miller has described as an “earmark” and less charitable residents as “pork.” Another $1 million in federal cash can be used for the bridge or other projects.
Two Main Street business owners supported the bridge, while others spoke against the idea at the Feb. 15 session. The self-styled “fiscally conservative” council indicated an “open mind” and requested a bridge be added to a regional transportation improvement program, but the council vote doesn’t obligate the city to finance or build a bridge.
The “draft preliminary opinion” of possible downtown infrastructure costs also estimated a two-level, 300-stall parking structure at $4.4 million and demolition of the library and a single-family dwelling at $269,380.
Another of council’s 22 objectives for 2010-11 is to “explore the feasibility of either a relocated new library facility in the Town Center or a renovation and expansion of the current library to address the library’s space challenges and lack of adequate parking.”
A parking demand analysis indicated a parking structure would be needed only for a performing arts center larger than 900 seats, stated a staff report to council members.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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