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Redding council hopefuls answer Question 2
We asked the eight Redding City Council candidates to answer one question a week for nine weeks until the Nov. 4 election. Questions are posted on Tuesdays. Answers are posted on Fridays.
QUESTION 2
What would you do, specifically, to help invigorate
Downtown Redding?
Here are their answers in the order received:
Missy McArthur
Downtown Redding has made terrific progress in recent years, thanks in large part to private investment. With the rest of the Mall roof coming off, and Shasta College’s new campus, I think you’ll see even more progress, even during these challenging economic times. Getting more citizens involved in setting the course for Redding is one of my goals. I have learned there is almost nothing you can’t accomplish if people of good will work together for a common goal. If elected, I would call for a downtown summit to address obstacles to further growth, including the growing use of downtown motels to house parolees. I would like to address traffic flow patterns and use to make it easier to travel downtown. I would like to see a concerted effort to recruit more boutique businesses to the area. These are not easy issues and they don’t have easy answers. NOW is the time to discuss them, not just ignore them and hope that they will go away.
Ken Murray
I am committed to the success and vitality of our Downtown. As a direct result of a creative funding methodology I developed utilizing current financial resources of the City, the removal of the Mall roof is now in process. This is the first step in invigorating Redding’s Downtown. Future opportunities for revitalization in which the City might play a role could include replacing the aging mall parking structure with a multi-story structure on the site of the existing Police Building. This would create a “blank slate” for substantial new development along California Street, as opposed to the “blank wall” that currently exists.
Creating a large scale development opportunity adjacent to existing small businesses could provide for a mutually beneficial dynamic to bring back excitement to the area.
I’m very optimistic, after recent conversations with the Kutras family, that a world-class waterfront development of Park Marina Drive can be realized as a Kutras/City collaborative effort. This would link Turtle Bay and Downtown, quickly spark new businesses in the “Old Town Core,” and completely revitalize the heart of Redding.
Dick Dickerson
The City Council must continue with our existing cooperation with Viva Downtown, the Downtown Business Association, the Riverfront Playhouse and Habitat for Humanity on their downtown projects. The removal of the roof from the mall will have a major impact on invigorating downtown.
However, more can be done. I think that a first run movie theater in the downtown area would be a tremendous attraction with the potential to bring hundreds of people downtown. Several sites could be considered: when the police facility is moved, Californian and Shasta would become available, the Greyhound bus station could be relocated, and consideration should be give to the open space at Oregon and Yuba streets across from the Post Office. I am sure there are several other potential locations. This would require a lot of work but is a goal worth pursuing.
We should also incorporate pedestrian friendly plazas, pocket parks and encourage outside sidewalk dining.
The city should also have a program in place, which will ensure that downtown development projects brought forth by the private sector are expedited through the permit process.
Russell Hunt
Over the years, the City has dumped bags of money in to redeveloping the downtown area. But it has failed. The bottom line is that the downtown area is no longer on the main thoroughfare for North and South traffic for this part of California. This is unlikely to change. So re-invigorating the downtown will not work.
I would sell every parcel and building the City owns in the downtown area to the private sector. Hopefully, they will find a solution that is profitable. With the City nearing a fiscal crisis, caused by it’s overly generous pay and benefit obligations to employees, we can no longer afford to throw taxpayers’ money at a 40 year old experiment. While this may invoke emotion in some, reality must be faced.
One of my primary goals is to create new and better jobs in our area. In order to attract business and industry, we must become the “Low Tax Haven of California.” New enterprises will in turn create these jobs, if the environment is pro-business and anti-tax. The wellness of family income is critical to the people of the community. Having high unemployment and minimum wage jobs is unacceptable. New priorities must be set and making the downtown area prettier, is not one we need.
James McDilda
I was approached in June ‘07 by Viva Downtown to transform what would be a very quiet location into a busy holiday centerpiece. Jim McDilda Christmas Spectacular display was a huge challenge with many problems to overcome. The final outcome was at least 50,000 visitors bringing life back to Downtown that hasn’t been seen in decades. This was the business community at its best, leading the charge to make a difference. The Christmas parade was the largest in the city ’s history. I feel that some additional contributions by the city could truly enhance the event. The combined efforts of the business community along with volunteers like me and city government together can make the Downtown and the whole Redding area a center for holiday shoppers and visitors. It is my intention, with the support of the business community and local citizens, to continue this new holiday tradition. If elected, I will develop and introduce to City Council an incentive program to lure new businesses to the Downtown area. The continual restoration of downtown is essential to revitalization. I want to make it happen.
Gary Cadd
With the completion of the roof removal of the Downtown Mall well in sight, I am in favor of promoting voluntary incentives for storefront improvements within the Downtown area. People will be more inclined to access existing businesses, providing an economic stimulus for both business owners and City coffers.
It is also necessary to streamline the permitting process and use resources to encourage developers to build affordable housing and commercial buildings on infill lots and improving properties as projects become available. Projects such as the Downtown 300 project will produce 28 mixed-income-for-sale units, 20 senior rental units, 3 rental units and 1 market rate rental unit. These types of projects need to move forward with willing participants.
Improving downtown also requires us to look at the streets that connect it. There are several streets in the downtown area that are in need of rebuilding rather than patching. We must also reconnect Market Street through the Mall. Traffic flow in downtown must be restored if we want business and commerce to be successful.
John Wood: No response.
Terry Oxley: No response.
1,572 views
The dowtown improvements are so appreciated by those who work and live down there. After all, this is the heart of Redding, where it all began. I, for one, am pleased that our heritage is being restored. When Riverfront Playhouse relocates and with all the great little shops springing up, it will be such a nice place to go. Thank you for those candidates who support this. Viva Downtown!
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What Russel Hun doesn’t seem to understand, and all of the other candidates do, is that being a “tax haven” is just one piece of the puzzle to attract business and industry. Other very important pieces include a thriving academic community, an active cultural scene and a healthy urban core. I can speak for many residents of Redding that I know - old timers and transplants both - who do not want to see Redding become a suburban, sprawling, business park laden city. Old timers have great memories of downtown and transplants bring with them a desire for some of the urban elements from the places they left. Whether old-timer or transplant, residents here value the beautiful surroundings, easy access to open spaces and heritage. And a huge part of that heritage, one that has been long neglected in the name of suburban “progress” is this city’s historic downtown buildings and the spirit embodied by pioneering downtown entrepeneurs. The progress downtown so far is HUGE - the new college building, the Cascade Theater and Market Street and now the removal of the mall roof (our wheels are already spinning about events there). So, to suggest that these projects be abandoned is a slap in the face to everyone who has worked tirelessly to preserve this community’s culture and history. This subject is way more than “emotional to some.” The subject of downtown revitalization and the response to this question are a direct reflection of how each candidate feels about making Redding a better place to live for its residents - not corporations.
Adam Mankoski
HawkMan Studios
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Throwing money at an old shopping area never works. The economics of retail are not favorable for the Downtown because the types of spaces retailers need as well as customers are simple not there. Having run a business and having a degree in business, gives me enough expertise to see that tossing millions more in taxpayer’s money is not going to work. Look at the number of businesses that come and go down there. Does that not tell you something ?
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Missy McArthur said this, “If elected, I would call for a downtown summit to address obstacles to further growth, including the growing use of downtown motels to house parolees.”
You want to put paroless in downtown Redding to mingle with folks coming down for dinner, art shows, Marketfest, Cascade productions, families, single women, out for an evening? I think this is a very bad idea. The two do not mix Ms. McArthur.
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Russell is an old troll / crank / kook who thrives on attention. Ignore him and he’ll eventually move along.
Also, I’m lollin’ at Karen C.’s reading comprehension.
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I think Russell Hunt has good thinking… we need better paying jobs. To get the better paying jobs, we need to recruit the business to Redding. Better paying jobs will result in more money being spent in our local economy. More money being pumped into our econmy will equal more tax revenue to pump into programs and downtown Redding. We need to fix our broken wages in Redding so people have more money to spend. Lets invest money into the industries that will pay people better so they have more money to spend!
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I read Ms. McArthur’s response quite differently than Ms. Calanchini. My take was this: using downtown motels for released parolees is an OBSTACLE to development. Janet T.
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No one asked, but I’ll chime in anyway.
There are many fine restaurants and eating establishments in downtown Redding that could use a little boost. Here’s what I propose:
Institute a “Take A Parolee To Lunch Day” wherein average citizens swing by one of the local motels/hotels and invite a parolee to have lunch with them. You’re downtown, you’re having lunch anyway, why not have a little company? Maybe you’ll learn something. I took a parolee to lunch just the other day and it was really nice, and Mom had a great time. After I dropped her off at her motel I felt a little better about myself. I’m sure the diner at least broke even on the deal (Mom did help herself to some “amenities” like silverware, an ashtray, salt and pepper shakers, a bottle of Tabasco and a nice, plush bench seat.)
When I suggested the”Take A Parolee To Lunch” program some of my friends thought it was a great idea and joined in. Jim Dyar learned so much about operating a business out of your home from his “guest” that he was able to quit his “regular” job! All it took was an investment in some oil drums, some tubing and about 25 cases of cough syrup and he was on his way. How cool is that? Business must be good because Jim said he hasn’t slept in over three months!
If the lunch program works, we can add other businesses to the mix. We could have a “Buy A Parolee Some Shoes” day or maybe, “Help A Parolee Get A Tan & Pedicure” day.
I have lots of other great ideas, too. Not just these. Wait’ll you hear ‘em.
Thanks for listening.
(This comment was typed taking advantage of “Buy A Vagrant A Laptop” technology.)
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Hey Phil, Did you see that stuff about the fire, leather and women downtown? Top that, Russell, with your “private sector!”
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Hey Karen,
I read that the same way Janet did. Parolees in downtown are an obstacle. I hope that problem can be solved.
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Philbert D for city council.
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Is Parolee the politically correct word for Sex Offender? The downtown and No. Market St. motels are full of them, and I didn’t think they were suppose to mix with other parolees and yet they have rooms right next door to each other. They don’t belong with each other, and certainly not downtown.. pjp
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Ms. Tyrrel read my answer correctly: Parolees ARE an obstacle for downtown.
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All of us regular people are going to let Phil take all the sex offenders out to lunch. Maybe if they are really “nice” he will take one to the park for that lunch.
Aim low and deliver is better than promising a bunch of stuff that us poor tax payers can’t afford.
I can swing a lunch with company, but Arnold’s one cent tax hike is out of control. You would think with all these high gas prices, the extra sales tax would help out. Where is it all going?
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Could wwe possibly have the minutes of these council meetings? I would be willing to pay a couple of bucks for them. I am unable to get to the meetings. Also, one question should be posed to those running for office: Why are you running?
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Pmarshall, have I got a website for you: City of Redding, Agendas, Staff Reports and Minutes. Years of records are available FREE for the clicking. And now they’re offering web video of the meetings, segmented so you can jump to the topic you want. Spread the word.
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Here’s my newcomer’s perspective on downtown: The first time I tried to find something on Market Street I checked MapQuest then got hopelessly lost in the twilight confusion of downtown Redding. The address didn’t exist, as far as I could tell. Around in circles I went as the Market Street address continued to elude me. The unmarked parking structure on California Street provided no evidence to the average driver that businesses even existed on the other side of the lot. Weeks later I learned there was a mall on Market Street, and the business I’d sought was inside. What I had thought was just some public parking was actually the mall parking lot. It looked to me like a huge, ugly building fell out of the sky in the middle of town and now everybody just drives around it. My husband and I have always wondered what happened to the downtown area. We could have a really nice little Old Town California district, but it seems as though Redding can’t figure out what it wants to be. the city is like a big house where every room is decorated in a different theme. Although, as Mr. Hunt points out, Market isn’t the main North/south road anymore, I think if the downtown is restored it will draw business. Oh, and parolees in the hotels? Who came up with that? This is a perfect example of Redding’s identity crisis: One room is decorated in Quaint Old Town California Tourist District, and the next room is Convict Housing.
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Kelly, I think the old downtown will be just fine the way it’s going to develop into a vibriant
business district. It’s got it’s distracters , of course, but I think those who are forward thinkers
will over come these difficulities and build a new downtown just fine.
Negative thoughts and pessimissm never get anywhere. Look to the future and plan with those
who want a better downtown Redding.
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