Railroad views, SPTC, area east of 12th Street worry Commissioners

December 15, 2004
Santa Paula News

The Planning Commission was updated on the Redevelopment Agency’s 5-Year Plan at the November 30 meeting, where several commissioners expressed dismay at some views from the tourist train as well as the condition of the Santa Paula Theater Center and the area of the city east of 12th Street.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe Planning Commission was updated on the Redevelopment Agency’s 5-Year Plan at the November 30 meeting, where several commissioners expressed dismay at some views from the tourist train as well as the condition of the Santa Paula Theater Center and the area of the city east of 12th Street.Economic Development Director Charmaine Stouder noted that the legally mandated updated plan must be submitted to the state by the end of the year, as well as interim reports submitted on regular basis. Eliminating blight is a “Principal criteria” of such plans, she noted.After addressing specific RDA projects and programs, Commissioner John Turturro asked if the city can “watch out for the brick painting” in the historic central business district. “That hurts me in the side a little bit, being a scholar of architectural history,” and restorations should concentrate more on brick cleaning and sealing.Later in the discussion, Turturro noted that riders of the Fillmore & Western Railway tourist trains are greeted by blight as they enter the city. As a train passenger, “I thought where on God’s green earth am I? Can’t we throw a little money at that corridor, plant some trees, put up some historic looking signs,” to mask the rundown backyards and junk along the route just east of the city.Stouder noted that part of the entry is outside city limits and county property, but “Limoneira is also very interested in that part of town…”
“It sets the tone and impression and that impression is stay on the train,” Turturro said of the corridor.Also not mentioned in the RDA 5-Year Plan is the Santa Paula Theater Center, formerly the Ebell Clubhouse, Turturro noted. “That façade is in dire need of restoration, it needs a scrape and paint job; the grounds that could be beautiful are not.”Commissioner Gary Nasalroad, a SPTC Board Director, concurred, but noted that the city “lets us use that with a very inexpensive lease; we have the responsibility for maintenance,” and although the building was re-roofed several years ago, painting the building could cost as much as $80,000. “There is no endowment right now and we’re in the process of writing letters to corporations,” for support and exploring grants, noted Nasalroad. The Santa Paula Rotary Club is financing a restoration of Ebell Park, including new trees and a gazebo, he added.Flooding in the 12th Street corridor remains a problem, noted Commissioner Jesse Ornelas, and “I think we should look to how to remedy that situation. Ornelas also suggested that a master plan be prepared for the area and extended along the railroad corridor including housing. In fact, the Main Street corridor and surrounding areas east of 12th Street should also be included.“There should be a plan for that area” that is blighted, noted Ornelas. “The whole area could use a whole new perspective…we have a hodgepodge of housing, manufacturing,” and other uses “all the way to Hallock Drive. That’s a gateway to the city,” that should be examined for improvement.



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