The city of Hollister’s Redevelopment Agency is poised to ask
developers to submit ideas about what to build on the corner of
Fourth and San Benito streets.
The city of Hollister’s Redevelopment Agency is poised to ask developers to submit ideas about what to build on the corner of Fourth and San Benito streets. The lot has been vacant since the city bought it in the early ’90s and tore down buildings damaged by the 1989 earthquake.
Though there were a few development ideas tossed around early, the 2002 building moratorium – a result of a 15-million-gallon sewer spill into the San Benito River – slammed the lid on any new construction in the city until a new sewer plant is built. The lot, in a prime downtown location, has been vacant for years.
Now, the lifting of the moratorium is about 18 months away and city officials think it’s time to start marketing the attractive piece of property.
We say aim high when asking developers for proposals. Downtowns are the heart and soul of a city. They define the identity of a community. This is a chance to keep San Benito Street a vibrant, thriving business district. City officials also say business vacancies are on the rise.
The city government shouldn’t squander the chance to create a showpiece for Hollister because it’s anxious to increase its sales tax base.
City Manager Dale Shaddox said he would like a national retailer like Orchard Supply, Applebee’s or Borders in the location. A hardware store in a prime location downtown? We have our doubts that this is the best use for the lot, although Borders or some other bookstore would be a welcome addition to Hollister. Gottschalks apparently has expressed some interest. That too would be good. But we cringed when it was mentioned that Denny’s had some interest.
This lot is a jewel, and its development has the potential to boost the fortunes of all downtown if done right.
Think about projects that offer a mix of uses. A three-story building that combines retail shops and a local restaurant on the ground floor with apartments on the upper levels would be fantastic. The shops would draw more people downtown and apartments would ensure there are always people in the area. Another nice restaurant would draw lunch and dinner crowds to San Benito Street. The combination means more people strolling, shopping and eating in the downtown. That’s good for everyone’s business.
Study what other cities have done with their redevelopment projects – Santa Cruz has a wonderfully thriving downtown rebuilt after the same quake – and hold out for something that will help the downtown thrive and will be a project to be proud of for years to come.
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