Redevelopment Hard at Work on South Raymond? Big Toy #1?

Hey, that's not a bad looking elevation!
Hey, that's not a bad looking elevation!
Fullerton has a whole gaggle of Redevelopment “project managers” looking for something to do. One of them, Nicole Coates, was quoted in an August 4th, 2009 Barabara Giasone Register article with regard to the sale of the old Stone Container plant on S. Raymond Avenue –part of the new redevelopment expansion area. Hmm.

Supposedly the property is being sold out of a bankruptcy court to a Newport Beach developer for a song. According to the article the new owners are going to try to use the physical plant on an interim basis, until it can be demolished – and, presumably, redeveloped.

Here today, gone tomorrow...
Here today, gone tomorrow...

But redeveloped as what, and with whose money? In the article, the new owner makes no promises after “demolition.” Will the land remained zoned for industrial use? Maybe. Maybe not. Barbara didn’t ask.

We’re picking up the strong vibe of a big new toy for our redevelopment staff to play with that will provide job security and lots of new property tax increment. What kind of toy? Use your imagination. “Mixed Use” springs most readily to mind, although the site is a loser for commercial retail – which means the usual formula would be applied: lots of housing and some facade commercial just for appearances.

But they did such a nice job at the Platinum Triangle!
But they did such a nice job at the Platinum Triangle!

It seems pretty obvious that the Redevelopment expansion map-makers have had their eye on this site for some time. We wonder if discussions with redevelopment staff were going on before the City Council even voted for the Redevelopment expansion.

And we wonder what they are planning for us.

4 Replies to “Redevelopment Hard at Work on South Raymond? Big Toy #1?”

  1. Seems like business is vacating a once promising town. Since Hughes and Hunts have left there are darn few of these good jobs left. Beckman Coulter is on its way out (a few hundred from over 3,000). Perhaps the city fathers should ask why.

    The biggest mistake is to convert comercial property into retail — or worse — high density housing. It may be good for the sales tax base, but it takes a lot of retail to make up for the jobs created by companies that actually MAKE something.

    Think anyone thought of that?

    jc

  2. James, you’re right. People follow jobs. If they have to go to L.A. or Irvine to find work, how many will still want to live in Fullerton? When the price of gas goes back through the roof, say goodbye.

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