THE REDEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT:  BUILDING A BETTER COMMUNITY

City of Taft has one of more than 386 active redevelopment agencies in the State of California.  It is called the Taft Community Development Agency (TCDA).  Redevelopment agencies are probably the least understood local government entities that exist; however, they represent the most important tool a community has to breathe new life into areas in need of revitalization and economic development.

Redevelopment activities create jobs, expand opportunities for business, develop shopping centers and industrial parks, provide affordable housing for the workforce and seniors, assist in the rehabilitation of homes, reduce crime through proactive code enforcement, construct and improve vital infrastructure and cleanup of environmentally-threatened and rundown areas.

The following are important key facts about redevelopment:

• REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES ARE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES USUALLY CONTROLLED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR A SEPARATE APPOINTED BOARD.  THE TCDA IS CONTROLLED BY THE TAFT CITY COUNCIL

Because they are locally-governed, redevelopment agencies are in the best position to identify exactly what a community needs, and to work with private investors on local projects to meet those needs.

• WITHOUT REDEVELOPMENT, IMPORTANT COMMUNITY PROJECTS DO NOT GET DONE

A vacated gas station or bank doesn’t turn into a vibrant retail space overnight,
And affordable housing doesn’t build itself.  In other words, the revitalization of deteriorated areas doesn’t just happen; an agency must make it happen. 

In the case of the City of Taft, the TCDA is that agency.  Currently, the TCDA is purchasing the Sunset Rail Corridor to develop a mixed-use walkable community.  In addition, the Agency is also working to enlarge its project area to generate more funding for development and revitalization projects.  Finally, the TCDA is working with the Downtown Business Committee to revitalize the Downtown District.  These projects include a facade program to improve the fronts of buildings, the mixed-use rehabilitation of certain two-story buildings, new landscaping, signing and streetscape and a banner and lighting program.

The Downtown Committee meets the second and fourth Tuesdays, at 5:30 p.m. at Taft City Hall, in the Council Chambers Conference Room.  All those interested in the development and revitalization of the Downtown are invited to attend.

• THE CORE FUNCTION OF REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES IS TO SERVE AS THE CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION PROJECTS—PROJECTS THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN

A redevelopment agency has the power and authority to partner with the private sector in economic development ventures that can improve and revitalize the community.  These partnerships can be for such things as new housing, new business ventures, business improvements or industrial park development.

• HOW A REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY WORKS

When redevelopment agencies make improvements to deteriorated areas, property values within those areas rise, resulting in an increase in property tax revenues. State law allows redevelopment agencies to use a portion of this increase to pay for the revitalization of the area.  Some of these funds can be leveraged by the issuance of debt, and used to rehabilitate the area at a much greater pace. 

The TCDA uses its funds to acquire property, build public improvements and infrastructure, construct affordable housing, rehabilitate older homes, clean-up contaminated soil and do other things necessary to improve the conditions of the property. In addition, the TCDA’s commitment of funds attracts private investment, and creates a chain reaction, wherein the ultimate economic output can be larger than the original public investment.

California Redevelopment Association
www.calredevelop.org