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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/10/83 MINUTES RAMINUTES BAKERSFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ~pecial Workshop--February 10, 1983 The Special ~or~shop of the Eedevelopment Agency was called to order by Chairman Barton on Thursday, February 10, 1983 at 1:05 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: James J. Barton Chris Christensen Thomas Payne John Means Art Rockoff ~tEMBERS ABSENT: Vernon Strong Staff gave a brief ~ntroduction to the implementation sections of the proposed General Plan Element ~hich are Housing, Commercial Revitalization and Historic Preservation. Mr. Hartenberger gave an oral report regarding the Historic Preservation Element and how it relates to the overall Redevelop- ment General Plan Element. Mr. Kennon expressed the importance of reuse of existing structures. He stated that there is a lot of interest in investment tax credit for rehabilitating old buildings. ~Ir. Christensen questioned the meaning of tax credit. Mr. T(elmar stated that it amounts to a 25 percent credit against the cost of rehabilitation that can be applied to the investor's ts~ liabiiil~y. Mr. Hartenl~erger also gave am oral report regarding the Housing qloment for cha downtown. Mr. ChristeTasen questioned staff as to how they would bring ~bout a social>7 balanced residential area. ~!r. Kenr~on stated that the key issue would be land use, how the floes of developments within the area are designated. He ststed that the City is required by law to provide a certain amount of low and moderate income housing within the project area. ~r. Means questioned the time period for providing housing in the downtown if other commercial development resulted in the loss of existing housing. £~r. Kennon stated that if the proposed shopping center had beer~ completed, the amount of housing being displaced by the shopping center must be replaced by the City in four years. ~ir. Shillcock gave an oral report regarding the Commercial Revitalization Element. He stated that it is an overall effort to address the physical aspect of deterioration, and there is also a psychological and economic factor that contributes to deteriora- tion of commercial areas. I~r. Christensen questioned why East Bakersfield was not included as part of the Lowntown Plan. Mr. Shillcock explained that East Hakersfield is included in the Commercial Revitalization Program. He stated that HUD monies are involved in this program in five census tracts. The neighbor- hoods covering the census tracts are Lakeview, East Bakersfield or Baker Street area and downtown, iJe further added that loans are available in East Bakersfield i~ which three a~olic~t~ons have already been received. Mr. Christensen questioned the use of Co~r~ercial ]ievita]ization. Mr. Shillcock stated that Commercial Revitalization is used for improving the appearance of a structure. He explained that an attractive building will bring in customers. P~ir. Duaine Rasmussen of Prica Development Ccx~pany from Salt Lake City was present at the works~op, i~e state~i that his company is interested in developing a ~all in the down, town area. ~r. ~asmussen explained that in ~is r~view of 'Bakersfield another shopping center is warranted~imme~iately, that the existing retail center does not adequately s~rve the trade area. ~r. ~eans questione~ Mr. Rasmussen as to what, in his ooinion~ are the roadblocks that ex~st in the downtown area. Mr. Rasmussen stated that the major problem is to convince the retailers that commercial growth can happen in the downtown. Mr. Christensen asked Mr. Rasmussen where the money comes from for this type of development. ~r. Rasmussen stated that primarily from banks, pension funds and insurance fun~s. There being no further business to come before the Redevelop- ment Agency, the meeting was adjourned at 2:07 p.m. ~iES J. ~BARTON, Chairm~n ~akersfield RedeveloT~mer~t ~e~cy qobe-~ta F. Gaffor~, Secretary Bai~e?sfield P, edevelopment Agency