Manteca’s biggest urban renewal project since the conversion of a shuttered sugar beet refinery into the economic juggernaut known as Spreckels Park is one that you aren’t hearing much about.That’s because elected leaders on both the City Council and Manteca Unified boards along with their respective staffs are doing their due diligence and adhering to laws about what they can and cannot say regarding negotiations for property.The district is quietly looking at buying five parcels along Moffat Boulevard as well as Sherman Avenue and the city two parcels.The implications are enormous.Should the two entities follow through, purchase the properties either through negotiations or eminent domain:uManteca High will be able to expand to 2,200 students to allow the district to cost effectively handle growth on the high school level from a major housing boom south of the 120 Bypass without having to resort to other alternatives such as year round school of double sessions when an anticipated crush of students hit.uSecurity at Manteca High will be significantly increased with the elimination of troublesome residency hotels abutting the campus where police routinely serve felony warrants and address other criminal activity. The plan also would entail the partial closure of two streets — a segment of Garfield Avenue closing 24/7 to public traffic starting Monday and a segment of Sherman Avenue.uManteca High could be re-orientated to Moffat Boulevard to further strengthen campus security and reduce traffic congestion before and after school on Yosemite Avenue.uThe city would be able to expand the Manteca Transit Center parking to prepare for the arrival of Altamont Corridor Express passenger service to the station by 2023 when a projected 1,500 riders will start boarding trains in downtown Manteca headed to San Jose.uDepending where a new large gym is placed as part of a $40 million modernization, health and safety upgrades, and growth undertaking at Manteca High, the district could piggyback on the expanded transit center parking for evening events at the gym such as basketball games.Ultimately moves shouldmake private sectorinvestment more likelySeveral byproducts of the endeavor could also occur.uThe transit center with regular train service along with the elimination of problematic property would make the nine block area bounded by Moffat, Grant, Yosemite, and Sherman more appealing for the private sector to purchase property — a lot of them are rentals — and repurpose them into a larger parcel for a transit village type of development practically at the heart of downtown. There is already a large vacant parcel across the street from the transit center to the west of South Grant Avenue where the Manteca Bean Co. once stood.uManteca High could be positioned as an additional or new location for the district’s adult school and continuing education offered through entities such Delta College as it would be a short walk away from a true multi-modal transit center with San Joaquin Transit bus service, Manteca Transit bus service, and ACE service.