A consultant last week outlined the goals of the Ceres Redevelopment Agency for the next five years as well as bragged about accomplishments over the last five years.
The state of California requires each redevelopment agency (RDA) to develop a five-year implementation plan. To help the CRA to develop the plan for 2010 through 2014 Urban Futures, Inc., of Orange, was hired.
Steven H. Dukett of Urban Futures explained aspects of the plan at the Oct. 4 City Council/CRA board meeting.
The CRA was founded in 1991 to eliminate blight and improve the economic conditions in Ceres. The agency doesn't levy new taxes but does share in tax revenues with other agencies. As the area is improved and the tax base grows, tax increment is channeled to the agency to do projects to remove blight.
The CRA expects to spend a lot of money and effort to improving downtown Ceres. It expects to continue buying up parcels in downtown to facilitate private sector development in the future. Plans include attempting to develop an anchor multi-screen indoor movie theater at the south end of Fourth Street along with nearby retail, restaurant and mixed-use areas. Other goals for downtown include creating pedestrian friendly streetscapes in downtown, placing overhead utility lines underground, and financing storm drainage, water and sewer improvements.
The CRA will also be looking for ways to improve Ceres' jobs base, eliminating eyesores, and attracting new businesses, particularly sit-down restaurants.
Dukett said the implementation plan only gives "very general" goals and objectives and that they include:
• Encouraging economic development;
• Developing infrastructure and community facilities;
• Increasing, improving or preserving affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families.
Dukett said the CRA is in compliance with state law regarding its affordable housing production. In fact, the agency has a surplus of 91 affordable units and thus may be "selective when faced with requests for funding assistance."
In past years the CRA helped finance construction of the 52-unit Whitmore Oaks senior complex and the 61-unit Della Tiara and Rivercrest apartment complexes as well as rehabilitation of 52 units inside the Ceres Farm Labor Camp.
"I was very excited about being able to give you an A plus," Dukett told the CRA board on its housing creation track record. "With some of my clients I can't quite do that."
The CRA is expected to assist with the development of the rehabilitation of Casa Grande Apartments as well as the building of Victorian Village, a 43-unit senior apartment complex at the northeast corner of Fifth and North streets. The report also predicts that 80 new affordable housing units will be constructed within the agency's 2,517-acre project area over the next five years.
Dukett said the CRA will also continue with its first-time homebuyers program, and housing rehabilitation program.
By law, 20 percent of an RDA's revenue must be spent on affordable housing. But an action of state lawmakers trying to balance last year's budget created havoc on RDAs across the state. The state demanded that the CRA give up $2.3 million as a loan to help the state balance its budget. Another $469,556 grab is expected in May 2011. The CRA pulled the money for its affordable housing fund and expects - but is not guaranteed - repayment by June 2015.
The CRA expects to spend a lot of money and effort to improving downtown Ceres. It expects to continue buying up parcels in downtown to facilitate private sector development in the future. Plans include attempting to develop an anchor multi-screen indoor movie theater at the south end of Fourth Street along with nearby retail, restaurant and mixed-use areas. Other goals for downtown include creating pedestrian friendly streetscapes in downtown, placing overhead utility lines underground, and financing storm drainage, water and sewer improvements.
The CRA will also be looking for ways to improve Ceres' jobs base, eliminating eyesores, and attracting new businesses, particularly sit-down restaurants.
Since 1994 the CRA has helped finance the construction of the Ceres Community Center, built Ceres Fire Station #4, funded a graffiti removal project, prepared a downtown specific plan and assisted in the preservation of affordable housing. The CRA will also be funding the reconstruction of restrooms and concession stand at Costa Fields in Smyrna Park.
Blight removal programs funded by the CRA include code enforcement officers as well as the annual Take Pride in Ceres debris removal program.
The state of California requires each redevelopment agency (RDA) to develop a five-year implementation plan. To help the CRA to develop the plan for 2010 through 2014 Urban Futures, Inc., of Orange, was hired.
Steven H. Dukett of Urban Futures explained aspects of the plan at the Oct. 4 City Council/CRA board meeting.
The CRA was founded in 1991 to eliminate blight and improve the economic conditions in Ceres. The agency doesn't levy new taxes but does share in tax revenues with other agencies. As the area is improved and the tax base grows, tax increment is channeled to the agency to do projects to remove blight.
The CRA expects to spend a lot of money and effort to improving downtown Ceres. It expects to continue buying up parcels in downtown to facilitate private sector development in the future. Plans include attempting to develop an anchor multi-screen indoor movie theater at the south end of Fourth Street along with nearby retail, restaurant and mixed-use areas. Other goals for downtown include creating pedestrian friendly streetscapes in downtown, placing overhead utility lines underground, and financing storm drainage, water and sewer improvements.
The CRA will also be looking for ways to improve Ceres' jobs base, eliminating eyesores, and attracting new businesses, particularly sit-down restaurants.
Dukett said the implementation plan only gives "very general" goals and objectives and that they include:
• Encouraging economic development;
• Developing infrastructure and community facilities;
• Increasing, improving or preserving affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families.
Dukett said the CRA is in compliance with state law regarding its affordable housing production. In fact, the agency has a surplus of 91 affordable units and thus may be "selective when faced with requests for funding assistance."
In past years the CRA helped finance construction of the 52-unit Whitmore Oaks senior complex and the 61-unit Della Tiara and Rivercrest apartment complexes as well as rehabilitation of 52 units inside the Ceres Farm Labor Camp.
"I was very excited about being able to give you an A plus," Dukett told the CRA board on its housing creation track record. "With some of my clients I can't quite do that."
The CRA is expected to assist with the development of the rehabilitation of Casa Grande Apartments as well as the building of Victorian Village, a 43-unit senior apartment complex at the northeast corner of Fifth and North streets. The report also predicts that 80 new affordable housing units will be constructed within the agency's 2,517-acre project area over the next five years.
Dukett said the CRA will also continue with its first-time homebuyers program, and housing rehabilitation program.
By law, 20 percent of an RDA's revenue must be spent on affordable housing. But an action of state lawmakers trying to balance last year's budget created havoc on RDAs across the state. The state demanded that the CRA give up $2.3 million as a loan to help the state balance its budget. Another $469,556 grab is expected in May 2011. The CRA pulled the money for its affordable housing fund and expects - but is not guaranteed - repayment by June 2015.
The CRA expects to spend a lot of money and effort to improving downtown Ceres. It expects to continue buying up parcels in downtown to facilitate private sector development in the future. Plans include attempting to develop an anchor multi-screen indoor movie theater at the south end of Fourth Street along with nearby retail, restaurant and mixed-use areas. Other goals for downtown include creating pedestrian friendly streetscapes in downtown, placing overhead utility lines underground, and financing storm drainage, water and sewer improvements.
The CRA will also be looking for ways to improve Ceres' jobs base, eliminating eyesores, and attracting new businesses, particularly sit-down restaurants.
Since 1994 the CRA has helped finance the construction of the Ceres Community Center, built Ceres Fire Station #4, funded a graffiti removal project, prepared a downtown specific plan and assisted in the preservation of affordable housing. The CRA will also be funding the reconstruction of restrooms and concession stand at Costa Fields in Smyrna Park.
Blight removal programs funded by the CRA include code enforcement officers as well as the annual Take Pride in Ceres debris removal program.
