Wow, this is a wonderful Idea!! Actually if they can get the monies and the developers to get involved that quickly sounds like they already have this underway. IT is weird that they didn't seek comment from "The Mouth" of the City Council "Ed Scott" on this matter, I suppose he said that he was abstaining from this decision making all the way because it was within a 500 foot area from his business, and he doesn't want to make anyone think that he has any input.
However Having said all the good stuff, there is no law that states that he cannot be behind closed doors pulling all the strings for his puppet's to work for him, I am not talking about the newly elected Baca, but Hanson, and Robertson. Flores Jr. Is well respected not only by the paper obviously but by this writer too!! I know Joe pretty well and He is a good Stand up guy, really one that you would want in your corner.
I do have to say that this over all is a great Idea, especially if it grabs the look of the old City Hall, Fire Station One, Police Station that was located where that park is located today! May it go forth and be built and make the downtown a better place for the Run~Whatcha~ Brung, and maybe we can make it more than a one day event, and it can be moved to a three day event again. It will be interesting to see..
BS Ranch
Retail, residential project to be presented to residents
12:35 AM PST on Wednesday, November 15, 2006
By MASSIEL LADRÓN DE GUEVARAThe Press-Enterprise
Rialto officials not only want people to shop in the city's downtown area, they want them to live there, too.
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Plans for a $26 million mixed-use development project are being presented to business owners and residents in the vicinity of Rialto and Riverside avenues Thursday in an effort to get feedback and keep people informed of the city's plans, said John Dutrey, Rialto housing program manager.
The city is looking at building 117 low-income senior housing units, 5,222 square feet of retail space, a 3,700-square-foot community center and 148 underground parking spaces at Rialto and Riverside avenues, he said.
Funding for the proposed Crossroads Project will come from federal tax credits, private sources and the redevelopment agency, he said.
Property owners and merchants are invited to attend a meeting at Rialto City Hall, where they will be encouraged to offer opinions and ask questions before the project proceeds, Dutrey said.
"We think the future of mixed-use development will become more of a reality in the downtown area because of the surrounding retail and the proximity to the Metrolink station," Dutrey said.
The Crossroads Project would be the first mixed-use project in Rialto, said Robb Steel, the city's economic development director said.
City officials hope to bring in several more mixed-use projects, he said.
"I think it will create for the downtown a 24-hour activity center and it will be a signature building on a major corner," Steel said.
The city is negotiating with the owners of a vacant church, a single-family residence and a dog grooming business to acquire their land for the project, Steel said.
The properties were appraised and offers have been made to each owner, he said.
There has been no negative response and it probably will be a matter of reaching the best price for each property, Steel said.
Once negotiations are completed, it will take six months to a year to get permits for the project, said Rod MacDonald, partner with KDF Communities, the proposed developer of the Crossroads Project.
Construction time should about 13 months, he said.
The building's design will have some elements similar to the former Rialto City Hall, which occupied the corner of Riverside and Rialto avenues.
"There has been a movement recently in Southern California to recapture the main street, and this is a good example of that," MacDonald said.
The movement gives cities more viable downtowns and provides entertainment close to home, in some cases within walking distance, for residents he said.
Joe Flores Jr., who owns an upholstery supply store on Riverside Avenue, said he thinks the project is a good idea.
"If everything works out the way they say it's going to work out, it will be an asset," Flores said.
"Anytime you can increase retail space in the downtown and bring people in too, it's a win-win situation," he said.
Reach Massiel Ladrón De Guevara at 909-806-3054 or mdeguevara@PE.com
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