Desert Local News - Index

Desert Local News - Desert Local News March 18th 2008 Print and Virtual Edition - Index

2 YOUR CITY
DOWNTOWN
By Dean Gray
The renaissance of Desert Hot
Springs was announced by Redevelopment
Agency Director Rudy
Acosta at the last Planning Commission
meeting March 11th. Thirty
million dollars will be obtained by
bonding to make the dreams of the
city come true.
With the flat economy of residential
rooftop development stalled,
city leaders see this as prime time
for downtown to be on the move.
Acosta proudly announced,
“More construction of sidewalks
and repaving of streets is under development”
as well as “redevelopment
of the downtown core, what’s
called the ‘vortex’ of the Palm Drive
and Pierson Intersection.”
“Under consideration is a fifteen
million dollar acquisition campaign
with up to ten million dollars allocated
to streets and infrastructure,”
reports Acosta, “That leaves over
four million for signage and storefront
improvements.”
The “specific plan” is being
drafted by The Planning Center under
the direction of Jerry Ogburn at
a cost of nearly half million dollars.
Drawings, a feasibility study, and
other reporting features are essential
components to creating a successful
downtown experience.
The Redevelopment Agency
of the city will fund this campaign
by a bond that will not raise taxes.
A newly formed Downtown Merchant’s
Association will meet for the
second time on Tuesday, March 18th
for to offer input for the ambitious
plan moving forward by Ogburn.
Other emerging useful developments
raise the confidence of Desert
Hot Springs. The long sought promise
of sustainable retail revenue now
appears to be just around the corner.
City Manager Rick Daniels confirms
that the City is “in active negotiations”
with a major bank (Downey
Savings) a sit down restaurant (Applebees)
and a retail-grocery center
(Super Target) The long awaited
blooming of Desert Hot Springs has
got many residents excited.
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Coming Bands...
3 Piece Hoot -March 22
Kolor Blind -March 29
Blues From Banning
Pizza Special
2 MediuM • 2 Toppings
$ 16 00
Our own Secret Sicilian family Recipe
CORNER Of DILLON AND PALM DRIvE CALL 760-329-3392
RUDY ACOSTA
Redevelopment Agency Director