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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

May 18, 2003

Downtown tour points to progress

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The point was downtown revitalization and redevelopment, with two dozen or so civic leaders and concerned citizens gathered to collect information and share ideas.

The land-use advocacy groups sponsored a downtown walk that meandered through Andrews Park and the Main Street area, highlighting successful land-uses and pointing out opportunities for underutilized properties.

The site for the new town plaza and library, adjacent to the senior center, as well as the plans for the new Vasquez Deli, which will feature living quarters on the second floor, were used as examples of progress going in the right direction.

The day began at McBride Senior Center with a discussion and slide show that featured success stories from several Bay Area cities, using examples of mixed-use buildings and pedestrian-friendly environments.

"Keeping in mind appropriate scale and design respect for the existing neighborhood, infill housing on underutilized sites can be an asset to a neighborhood," said Greenbelt Alliance board member Bob Johnson, who presented the slide show. "Attractively designed infill housing can help revitalize residential neighborhoods, provide a greater range of choices including more affordable housing for young families and seniors and can help boost business for nearby commercial streets within a short walking distance."

One such project in the works in Vacaville is the Lincoln Corner project, which will be 134 units of affordable housing centered around a vintage motor court motel that once lodged people traveling Highway 40, the Lincoln Highway. It is being funded with redevelopment subsidies, tax credit investors and banks, said developer Mike Schulte.

Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, D-Solano, commented on the possible future of redevelopment funds in the wake of the $37 billion state budget deficit.

"There's no sector of the California economy that won't be affected," Wolk said. She added that Vacaville stood to lose $1.8 million in redevelopment funds in the current version of the budget. "Redevelopment is a job creator. I understand its value to local communities. I will fight as hard as I can to preserve it."

City councilman Steve Hardy acknowledged his own freshman status in local politics, but said he had already planned what would be his greatest accomplishment when his political career was over.

"I want the legacy from my service to be affordable housing," he said.

Marcie Grover can be reached at writer@thereporter.com.

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