Governor Brown has proposed eliminating redevelopment agencies to help with the California budget problem. He says that the money can be better spent in schools and other places.
I'm on the the fence on whether or not I agree. I do believe that we all have to give up benefits as our part to help the entire state; it's part of being in society. But I also believe that redevelopment agencies help everybody's community.
About 15 to 20 years ago I was living in and around San Jose. Around that time the San Jose Redevelopment Agency revitalized downtown San Jose and did a terrific job at it. Downtown San Jose is a nice place to be and safe and all the good things it should be. I believe that success can--and should--be ported to other cities and communities.
Yes, I know there is sometimes fraud and nepotism involved with redevelopment agencies. But, for the most part, they do their job at creating jobs and pretty-ing-up areas well.
In our case with The Phoenix, if the redevelopment agency budget is gutted, we'll probably be out the matching funds to improve the front of the bar.
I'd like to have those matching funds, but, honestly, I'm kinda willing to give it up if it will help the vast majority of people in the state. So, I take a wait-and-see stance on what happens.
Sometimes, being in the middle of the road on things is annoying....
Showing posts with label Redevlopment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Redevlopment. Show all posts
Friday, January 21, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Free Money Update
Late last week, I spoke with the Redevelopment Agency. And they had good news for me. (Though, not as good as I had hoped.)
Free money is, in fact, available to me. But only up to $3,000 and only for storefront improvements such as paint, signage, awning, etc. We might be able to squeeze in the doors in there but not certain.
Unfortunately, improving the exterior of the bar facing the street isn't exactly 100% necessary to open the bar. And just getting the bar open is my major, primary, single-minded focus right now. The guy I spoke with at the Agency was nice and had some good ideas on how to improve the front of the bar; but that part of the bar is kinda gonna get the scraps of the rebuilding fund. If there's anything left at all.
Good news is, I don't need to improve the front of the bar to open and I can use that money from the Agency for improving it later. It's not like it's going away next month. So, this part will probably end up waiting until a couple months after we open.
Free money is, in fact, available to me. But only up to $3,000 and only for storefront improvements such as paint, signage, awning, etc. We might be able to squeeze in the doors in there but not certain.
Unfortunately, improving the exterior of the bar facing the street isn't exactly 100% necessary to open the bar. And just getting the bar open is my major, primary, single-minded focus right now. The guy I spoke with at the Agency was nice and had some good ideas on how to improve the front of the bar; but that part of the bar is kinda gonna get the scraps of the rebuilding fund. If there's anything left at all.
Good news is, I don't need to improve the front of the bar to open and I can use that money from the Agency for improving it later. It's not like it's going away next month. So, this part will probably end up waiting until a couple months after we open.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The Doors and City Hall
Yesterday I spent about half of my day meeting contractors. But as I was finishing with them Bryan called and I was off to City Hall. First to get the plans. The over view sheet consists of a lot of "do this and not this", "now do this", "now don't do this." Luckily we have engineers who can explain a lot of this to me. I was glad to find out that some of it was good news since it all sounded bad to me.
My next stop was at the water and garbage department. I had previously called them and found out what was needed. All that changed in person. For the first time I was told about a deposit. And it was a large one for a business. After much discussion, and patience, it was the clerk who kept pestering her supervisor until all we needed was escrow documents and a smile. Bryan and I will do that on Friday. My hat is off to that clerk.
My next stop was to order new doors. The firemen were not very careful with the old ones, ya know. To order them I felt like I needed a class in "doorway technology". Are they right swing, or left? In or out? Do they need kerf? What is your jamb size? And of course they have to be a custom size. They will be ready next week. I think they will make the place look better even before we get a new roof.
My next stop was at the water and garbage department. I had previously called them and found out what was needed. All that changed in person. For the first time I was told about a deposit. And it was a large one for a business. After much discussion, and patience, it was the clerk who kept pestering her supervisor until all we needed was escrow documents and a smile. Bryan and I will do that on Friday. My hat is off to that clerk.
My next stop was to order new doors. The firemen were not very careful with the old ones, ya know. To order them I felt like I needed a class in "doorway technology". Are they right swing, or left? In or out? Do they need kerf? What is your jamb size? And of course they have to be a custom size. They will be ready next week. I think they will make the place look better even before we get a new roof.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Back to the Grind
Ok, City of Fresno. It's January 3, 2011. Your week's furlough (i.e., imposed delay of my project) is over. Get my plans approved!
I expect the plan check to be complete in about 2 weeks. Maybe a little longer. We're busy getting bids for all the construction work we need to do and Karl can fill you in on that information (if he ever gets off the phone with what seems like every contractor in Fresno County).
Couple of things to do this week including calling the Redevelopment Agency to talk to them about the potential of matching funds for reconstruction. If that works out, I don't think I can adequately convey how much help that would be. But I'll try anyway.
I expect the plan check to be complete in about 2 weeks. Maybe a little longer. We're busy getting bids for all the construction work we need to do and Karl can fill you in on that information (if he ever gets off the phone with what seems like every contractor in Fresno County).
Couple of things to do this week including calling the Redevelopment Agency to talk to them about the potential of matching funds for reconstruction. If that works out, I don't think I can adequately convey how much help that would be. But I'll try anyway.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Free Money From the Government?
At least I hope so.
Turns out, the bar is in the Central City Commercial Redevelopment area. That means we may be able to get matching funds from Fresno's Redevelopment Agency to help with the rebuilding!
I have a call into the agency (ok, really, an email that they've passed onto someone else for me) and am awaiting a reply. This could be some remarkable good news. (I suppose I shouldn't get my hopes up too high, though.)
Turns out, the bar is in the Central City Commercial Redevelopment area. That means we may be able to get matching funds from Fresno's Redevelopment Agency to help with the rebuilding!
I have a call into the agency (ok, really, an email that they've passed onto someone else for me) and am awaiting a reply. This could be some remarkable good news. (I suppose I shouldn't get my hopes up too high, though.)
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