Redevelopment project will make city center great
Lennar Communities Co's. proposal for a downtown residential and commercial development at South Mill Creek is the right idea at the right time. To be successful, the city and Lennar also must proceed in the right way.
Why is this the right idea?
When Vision 2020 goals and strategies were adopted in 2001, great attention was focused on downtown revitalization and good community planning. Mixed-use developments -- combining residential and commercial options, green space, trails, canal improvements, in-fill development and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods -- were identified as key components of a revitalized downtown.
More recently, major local developers and The Bakersfield Californianhave highlighted efforts to create "walkable communities." Many of us have visited other cities and seen beautiful examples of creative downtown developments.
I have often wondered when we would be able to bring such projects to Bakersfield and I have spent the past few years working to make it happen.
Why is this the right time?
Over the past several years, Bakersfield has laid the groundwork with investment in our downtown environment. We now see an unprecedented interest in downtown development, driven mostly by the critical need for entry-level affordable homes in California.
We find ourselves facing a unique development opportunity with Lennar that allows us to build on the foundation we started with our investment in community entertainment and recreation facilities, the downtown streetscape and the Amtrak station.
For the past three years I, along with Donna Kunz and other city staff, have been promoting the Mill Creek concept, which envisions a lively interplay of housing, retail and greenbelts along the canal from Central Park to California Avenue.
The Parkview Cottages across from Central Park are the first part of this vision to be realized. The Lennar proposal would be Mill Creek's southern anchor and will feature retail stores, two- and three-story town homes, a central park, pocket parks and trails -- a walkable community with easy access to the Beale Library, Rabobank Arena, Ice Sports and McMurtrey Aquatics Center.
What is the right way to proceed?
Business and property owners in the proposed redevelopment area must be dealt with fairly and with assurances that they will be made whole. The City Council has made this direction clear. Several businesses currently operate in this industrial and warehouse area. Every effort will be made to minimize disruption to them. Communications will be open and forthright so as to reduce uncertainty and foster business continuity.
It is worth noting that out of 47 property acquisitions necessitated by previous downtown redevelopment projects, only three necessitated taking by eminent domain. I expect that Lennar, which has significant redevelopment experience in other cities, will make every effort to reach agreement with the owners so that the exercise of eminent domain will not be needed.
Great city centers don't evolve by accident. We have the vision. We have the opportunity. Let's take this step for a revitalized and walkable downtown.
Councilwoman Sue Benham represents Bakersfield's Ward 2. Community Voices is an expanded commentary that may contain up to 500 words. The Californian reserves the right to reprint commentaries in all formats, including on its Web page.
