The Hollister Redevelopment Agency has an extensive list of
potential projects the agency has on the table or budgeted, for
both economic development and affordable housing, as officials plan
out how to use limited money in the coming years.
HOLLISTER
The Hollister Redevelopment Agency has an extensive list of potential projects the agency has on the table or budgeted, for both economic development and affordable housing, as officials plan out how to use limited money in the coming years.
“Everything is always looked at on a case-by-case (basis),” said Bill Avera, the projects manager for the RDA. “And sometimes opportunities arise. Things pop up that you’re not really prepared for.”
The agency provided the Free Lance with a copy of its project list for the next five years that includes a slate of all potential endeavors. Included are such budgeted plans as purchasing the Porter House, which houses the agency’s offices that is currently for sale; the Rancho San Justo Sports Complex project, which would improve the overall appearance and operation of the park; and a new sign for the north entry into the city.
Next line in line on the RDA’s priority list are two projects, reconstruction of a fire station and beautification of the west side.
The issue of RDA projects and funding arose last month when the city council approved an $8 million bond that is set to go toward replacing the downtown fire station – that project has an estimated cost of $5 million – and the west gateway project for $2 million to improve the look of that area’s landscaping.
Those two projects make up most of the budgeted RDA spending in 2009-10 – with another $1 million toward the Leatherback demolition, $70,000 for the Hollister Downtown Association and $70,000 for a northern gateway welcome sign, according to the list.
In defending the fire station reconstruction in these tough economic times, some city officials have stressed how RDA funds can go toward a narrowly defined slate of projects. While some projects on the list like these move ahead, others simply won’t get done, while the city’s participation in the RDA expires in 2033, Avera said.
The list requested by the Free Lance contains an array of projects that aren’t budgeted, but are “identified” as possible projects. Those include such projects as the Granada Theater renovation that would create an arts center for the community, the “400 Block” project that would improve the grassy area at the intersection of Fourth and San Benito streets for mixed-use zoning and the new Hollister Gavilan College location.
“There’s a pretty good likelihood that those won’t get completed,” Avera said. “(There’s) not enough funding. I tend to look at it like things I’d like to do at my house.”
For the full story, see the Free Lance on Tuesday. Below is a list of RDA projects either budgeted or not budgeted.
RDA’s proposed economic development:
-Leatherback demolition
$1M budgeted for 2009/10
-Leatherback owner agreement
No budgeted amount or time
-Fire Station No. 1
$5 million for 2009/10
-West gateway design streetscape
$2 million for 2009/10
-Funding the Hollister Downtown Association
$70,000 for 2009/10
-New Hollister Gavilan College campus
No budgeted amount or time
-Restaurant or commercial kitchen for local restaurant
No budgeted amount or time
-Porter House purchase – current home of the RDA offices
$750,000 for 2010/11
-Downtown fault study
No budgeted amount or time
-North gateway welcome sign
$100,000 for 2009/10
-Pavement management system
No budgeted amount or time
-The 400 block project
No budgeted amount or time
-San Benito Street beautification
$2 million for 2011/12
-Granada Theater
No budgeted amount or time
-Pendergrass Hotel
No budgeted amount or time
-Cannery project
No budgeted amount or time
-Railroad crossings
No budgeted amount or time
-Rancho San Justo Sports Complex
$400,000 for 2010/11
Blight/housing projects:
-Vista Meadows 72 unit multi-family housing project
$2 million for 2009/10 and $1.428 million for 2010/11
-Hillview 25 unit single-family housing project
$693,000 for 2009/10 and $772,336 for 2010/11
-Westside Apartments 22 multi-family housing project
$4.7 million for 2009/10 and $4 million for FY 2010/11
-Prospect Villa II Apartments project
$50,000 for 2009/10, 10/11, 11/12, 12/13 and 13/14
-HOME Program repayment
$789,700 for 2009/10
-Hollister Neighborhood Stabilization project
$1 million for 2009/10 and 10/11
-Hollister second mortgage program
$1 million for 2009/10
