Manteca Mayor Gary Singh has double vision for downtown.

Actually, it’s more like four.

The mayor can see a downtown that serves multiple generations and people that are drawn to different pastimes and passions.

There would be:

*A gathering place for farmers markets, small events and such created on the corner of Yosemite at Main — with a paved asphalt lot the city is buying along with the IOOF building — tied into and transforming an existing municipal parking lot.

*A library-tech learning place/community center programmed for use daily and even in the evenings, next to the new police station on downtown’s edge, within three blocks of Yosemite and Main.

*An arts and cultural center incorporating the existing post office with outdoor event space created by including the adjoining Wilson Park in the mix.

*Repurposing the existing library for recreation/health/fitness/wellness programming that also would encompass Library Park, the community garden, and Center Street tennis courts.

“It’s kind of like a bigger city where they have multiple downtowns,” Singh said. “We want to see downtown visited and enjoyed by many types of people.”

The idea is to make downtown appealing to older and newer residents across the socio-economic spectrum.

It would allow the private sector to harness the synergy to not just add dining and specialty shopping opportunities but to invest in transforming downtown into a livable city center.

That would include new construction with housing on upper floors and retail/dining on the ground floor.

The mayor’s take on what can drive downtown’s future comes as Ascend Environmental gears up to start what will likely be an 18-month process to deliver a holistic blueprint for downtown complete with an umbrella environmental impact document to speed up the permit approval process.

A critical part of that process will be obtaining community input on all elements for a downtown specific plan from architectural design standards to how public spaces are utilized.

Singh said he is also guided by realism not just in what the city can do downtown, but community wide.

 “We don’t have the funds to solve all of the problems,” Singh noted. “Whatever solutions we have should check off multiple needs.”

As it stands now, new stand-alone buildings designed buildings that serve a single purpose — performing arts, library, multi-use community center —have a $165 million combined price tag.

The cost is gleaned from the government facilities capital improvement plan as well as the parks and recreation masterplan update.

Singh believes the city could address those needs by facilities that serve multiple needs and spend a quarter of the amount to do so.

“The city needs to be fiscally responsible and pursue what is actually feasible,” the mayor said.

What that looks like when it comes to Manteca’s city center would be different than needs addressed elsewhere in the community that would likely involve new construction and not being able to repurpose existing facilities.

The one exception might be a satellite library/learning center that could be explored at Orchard Valley to serve Manteca south of the 120 Bypass.

Singh has already talked with Congressman Josh Harder about the city having the opportunity to possibly obtain the post office when the day comes when the Postal Service will need to downsize its footprint and adjust it changing delivery dynamics.

Singh can see the landmark building being repurposed into a music and arts center that accommodates both performing and static arts.

There could be intimate space for live performance inside as well as designed into the adjoining park.

Culture and arts — along with the city’s ability to program events in the 100 block of Maple Avenue — would attract those aligned to such interests downtown.

Across the street to the west, a repurposed library would cater to those seeking more active recreation and health pursuits with programming that includes Library Park as well as the tennis courts and community garden.

There is also city space along the Tidewater Bikeway and north of the tennis space that is not utilized currently.

The large events such as the street fairs would continue.

A gathering space on the northwest corner of Yosemite and Main that includes a partial alley closure and converting the municipal parking lot in the 100 block of North Main would create a L-shaped events plaza.

Singh said everything is not going to happen overnight.

That said, by developing four specific areas that target different interests, not only can the city better serve the community but it can greatly expand the amount of time people venture downtown.

And that — along with higher density residential development —  would create foot traffic throughout the week for restaurants and shops to build on.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com