The first of three community workshops regarding the proposed expansion of the Manteca Redevelopment Agency Wednesday was met by a standing room-only crowd of affected property owners.
“It showed that you folks care,” said consultant Paul Dukett of the Orange County-based Urban Futures, Inc. “You came here (in large numbers) in the middle of the day and in the middle of the week.”
Those at the session held at the McFall Room of the Manteca Branch Library did air their concerns about blight, infrastructure (paved roads, sidewalks, etc.), public safety, and the RDA.
The other two community workshops are planned for Monday, April 11, at the Council Chambers at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St., at 5 p.m. and the other at 7 o’clock.
Manteca City Council could consider the RDA plan at the April 19 joint public hearing and meeting.
“We would want accountability,” said Steve Greenberg, who attended the workshop. “And it has to be transparent.”
The plan, according to consultants Dukett and Paul Schowalter, will not increase property taxes but, instead, will redirect more money back into the city coffers for redevelopment projects.
The plan, if approved, could help prevent blight by making repairs to homes, particularly those belonging to seniors or on a fixed or low income.
The plan would focus on Project Area No. 3 consisting of neighborhoods with the most foreclosed homes.
The City of Manteca identified those as the neighborhoods on the southeast corner of Airport Way and Highway 120 Bypass; the over 400 apartments along Atherton Drive just east of Van Ryn Avenue; El Rancho Mobile Home Park; the neighborhood bounded by South Main Street, Manteca High, Yosemite Avenue and Moffat Boulevard; the area consisting mostly of duplexes and four-plexes just east of Doctors Hospital of Manteca; the Cherry Lane condos coupled with the two complexes east of Union Road, south of the railroad tracks, and west of Walnut Avenue; south of Louise Avenue between the railroad tracks and North Main Street; Northeast Manteca east of the Tidewater Bike Path and north of Joseph Road; and the homes and property fronting the north side of Lathrop Road on both sides of Union Road.
The areas listed had the highest rate of foreclosures in Manteca with 128 as of October 2010.
The plan, said Dukett, could also mean acquiring land – the consultants were adamant in saying, “no eminent domain” – for future development on low- and moderate- income homes and acquiring rental homes.
Programs are in place in Manteca to encourage first-time homebuyers.
“This was designed to help those who are working their way up and those who are already here,” said Schowalter.
The plan would have a lifetime of 30 years.
“If property value increases, the agency will get a share to be used within Project Area No. 3,” Schowalter said.
The redeveloped project, if approved, could mean affordable housing, job creation, and public improvement.
Redevelopment has been around since the 1940s. Manteca has been involved since the 1986, with the RDA making possible several projects, including Big League Dreams.
“Redevelopment is locally controlled through your elected officials,” said Schowalter, who encouraged people to attend the upcoming workshops.
Still, some folks were concerned about the RDA, in particular, misuse of funds at other municipalities.
Added Greenberg, “People have to see where every penny is going.”
“It showed that you folks care,” said consultant Paul Dukett of the Orange County-based Urban Futures, Inc. “You came here (in large numbers) in the middle of the day and in the middle of the week.”
Those at the session held at the McFall Room of the Manteca Branch Library did air their concerns about blight, infrastructure (paved roads, sidewalks, etc.), public safety, and the RDA.
The other two community workshops are planned for Monday, April 11, at the Council Chambers at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St., at 5 p.m. and the other at 7 o’clock.
Manteca City Council could consider the RDA plan at the April 19 joint public hearing and meeting.
“We would want accountability,” said Steve Greenberg, who attended the workshop. “And it has to be transparent.”
The plan, according to consultants Dukett and Paul Schowalter, will not increase property taxes but, instead, will redirect more money back into the city coffers for redevelopment projects.
The plan, if approved, could help prevent blight by making repairs to homes, particularly those belonging to seniors or on a fixed or low income.
The plan would focus on Project Area No. 3 consisting of neighborhoods with the most foreclosed homes.
The City of Manteca identified those as the neighborhoods on the southeast corner of Airport Way and Highway 120 Bypass; the over 400 apartments along Atherton Drive just east of Van Ryn Avenue; El Rancho Mobile Home Park; the neighborhood bounded by South Main Street, Manteca High, Yosemite Avenue and Moffat Boulevard; the area consisting mostly of duplexes and four-plexes just east of Doctors Hospital of Manteca; the Cherry Lane condos coupled with the two complexes east of Union Road, south of the railroad tracks, and west of Walnut Avenue; south of Louise Avenue between the railroad tracks and North Main Street; Northeast Manteca east of the Tidewater Bike Path and north of Joseph Road; and the homes and property fronting the north side of Lathrop Road on both sides of Union Road.
The areas listed had the highest rate of foreclosures in Manteca with 128 as of October 2010.
The plan, said Dukett, could also mean acquiring land – the consultants were adamant in saying, “no eminent domain” – for future development on low- and moderate- income homes and acquiring rental homes.
Programs are in place in Manteca to encourage first-time homebuyers.
“This was designed to help those who are working their way up and those who are already here,” said Schowalter.
The plan would have a lifetime of 30 years.
“If property value increases, the agency will get a share to be used within Project Area No. 3,” Schowalter said.
The redeveloped project, if approved, could mean affordable housing, job creation, and public improvement.
Redevelopment has been around since the 1940s. Manteca has been involved since the 1986, with the RDA making possible several projects, including Big League Dreams.
“Redevelopment is locally controlled through your elected officials,” said Schowalter, who encouraged people to attend the upcoming workshops.
Still, some folks were concerned about the RDA, in particular, misuse of funds at other municipalities.
Added Greenberg, “People have to see where every penny is going.”
