Downtown 2.0
The plastic sheeting has gone up around the old School District headquarters on Santa Clara in Downtown -- demolition is getting underway. In it's place, the Olson Co. will be building a a mixed-use block of 172 townhomes and ground floor retail, studios and professional offices.
Downtown Ventura is on a roll. Other new housing developments are either underway or soon to break ground. New stores and restaurants are opening and some longtime businesses are getting a facelift. The venerable San Buenaventura Mission, where it all began, is celebrating its 225th Anniversay this year. And much more is coming, including:
- Major expansion of the newly renamed Museum of Ventura County
- Construction of Downtown’s first new “Class A” office building in decades
- Additional public parking structures
- Plans for a Cultural Village with a new theater, studio space and arts classrooms
Building on the success of the 1992 Downtown Specific Plan, the City Council recently adopted a new plan with the goal that “over the next ten years, Ventura will emphasize our history, culture and unique character to sustain our City’s authentic heart.”
All this will be on display at our July 4th Street Festival and Summer ArtWalk on August 18th. Not that we’ve overcome all our challenges – much work lies ahead. In a diverse community like ours, change is never easy. But Downtown Ventura is a shining example of successful partnership between the community, private business, volunteer organizations and City government.
“So,” as the song of my youth went, “maybe I'll see you there. Things will be great when you're Downtown -- don't wait a minute more . . . everything's waiting for you.”
“So,” as the song of my youth went, “maybe I'll see you there. Things will be great when you're Downtown -- don't wait a minute more . . . everything's waiting for you.”
posted by Rick Cole at
8:39 AM
4 Comments:
Congratulations on this and best of luck to you. From your description, it seems to be very livable and smart. I am a very new student of urban planning and yet (like everyone I suppose) already forming strong opinions. "Que Viva la In-Fill" might summarize my feelings.
D
A walk-through visual of the new Sonneman Ring project at the harbor might interest people as it is quite an exciting addition to the city.
I watched a city council meeting a couple weeks ago on TV and was incredulous as one of the council members made a snide remark about Oxnard as the others snickered. Incredulous because Oxnard is getting a Whole Foods while Ventura is getting a Wall Mart and another Target to anchor the mall. Oxnard is getting a PF Changs while Ventura gets, wait for it, a Hooters. Pretty funny indeed.
I'm not sure what comment supposedly drew a snicker about Oxnard, but there certainly is no lack of respect for our neighbors across the River. Yes, they are slated to get a major new shopping center at the Riverpark development, which will be formidable competition for Ventura's retailers if and when the new center gets built. Many Venturans would love to shop at Whole Foods -- and that is probably why they decided to locate right on the border.
Of course keeping score is a tough business. Many crowed when Ventura won the mall war with Oxnard several years ago -- but shouldn't have been surprised when Oxnard countered with a very big subsidy to lure Frye's Electronics. Oxnard, of course, already has a Walmart. The competition for retailers and sales tax dollars is stiff -- but Ventura still leads by a healthy margin in sales tax dollars generated per capita.
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