Politics & Government

City Council To Make Dash to Protect Redevelopment Projects

The City Council will hold a special meeting tonight to try and protect certain redevelopment projects from state legislation that would put them on hold.

In a mad dash to protect street-scaping and improvement projects, the City Council is holding a special meeting tonight where it will vote on an agreement designed to lock the projects into place.

The city is trying to beat pending state legislation that would put a hold on all new redevelopment projects while legislators hash out a budget. The 2011-12 budget proposed on Jan. 10 by Gov. Jerry Brown would eliminate redevelopment agencies.

In San Leandro, redevelopment funds have paid for projects such as the Creekside Plaza Office Complex, the Marina Auto Mall and the new downtown parking garage currently under construction.

Find out what's happening in San Leandrowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The agreement to be discussed Monday night would contractually bind the city's Redevelopment Agency to fund four projects:

  • paving a currently unpaved section of Eden Road; 
  • improving the sidewalk and planting trees along MacArthur Boulevard between Lewis and Dutton Avenues; 
  • constructing new curbs and gutters, sidewalks and bike lanes along Doolittle Drive between Davis Street and Fairway Drive; 
  • constructing new curbs and gutters, sidewalks and bike lanes, plus new parking and signal modifications on Hays Street between Davis and East 14th streets. 

The total estimated cost of these projects to be paid for with redevelopment funds is nearly $9 million (see chart below for the breakdown of costs). 

Find out what's happening in San Leandrowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Redevelopment agencies are charged with revitalizing designated areas of the city and eliminating blight. They are funded by the increase in property taxes earned from redeveloped areas.  

The meeting will take place tonight at 5 p.m. in .

Planned Public Improvements

 

Name

Description

Total Cost*

Agency

Payment*

Payment Date

1

Eden Road

Construction of a two-lane roadway along the existing dirt road plus a segment connection the Business Center Drive/Davis intersection with Eden Road, and associated streetscape improvements.

$5,800,000

$1,500,000

July 1, 2012

2

MacArthur Boulevard (between Lewis and Dutton)

Construction of bulb-outs, street trees, site furnishings and sidewalk improvements.

$1,274,134

$1,274,134

July 1, 2013

3

Doolittle Drive (between Davis and Fairway)

Construction of new curbs and gutters, sidewalks, bike lanes, and landscaped medians.

$4,193,611

$4,193,611

July 1, 2014

4

Hays Street (between Davis and East 14th)

Construction of curb and gutter, sidewalks, improved landscaping, new parking, and signal modifications.

$2,000,000

$2,000,000

July 1, 2012

* 15 percent of the project costs shown represent City staffing costs for associated engineering services

Source: City of San Leandro, Cooperative Agreement Exhibit A. 


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