Downtown Improvement: Wed. meetings for merchants, residents to address plan

September 10, 2004
Santa Paula News

The Downtown Improvement Plan and its implementation will be the focus of two separate meetings on Wednesday for merchants and residents living near the central business district as well as for those interested the future of the area.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe Downtown Improvement Plan and its implementation will be the focus of two separate meetings on Wednesday for merchants and residents living near the central business district as well as for those interested the future of the area.Both meetings are open to the public, according to Economic Development Director Charmaine Stouder.The first meeting on September 15 will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Depot and is geared towards downtown merchants. The second meeting – from 9 to 10 a.m. - will shift emphasis to issues targeted to residents of the downtown area.Not only will the meetings address the Downtown Improvement Plan but also include related issues including code enforcement, among others, said Stouder.
The early session with merchants will allow downtown businesspeople to let the city know “what’s on their mind, what their concerns are, sticky issues we need to be addressing,” Stouder noted.The meeting will also be an opportunity for discussion on the city’s new micro-loan program for businesses (the California State University Channel Islands partnership program also offers business consulting services), downtown plans for the upcoming holidays and a planned merchandising seminar.The 9 a.m. meeting with property owners will be similar although the emphasis will be placed on issues related to those who live in the downtown area.The Downtown Improvement Plan was subject to an update utilizing consultants, merchants and residents. The city’s historic downtown is considered to be the physical and psychological heart of Santa Paula.Plans in the Downtown Improvement Plan call for the creation of districts within the downtown and surrounding streets for commercial/retail, office, entertainment and mixed-use with a housing component.



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