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Resident pitches reuse of vacant commercial buildings for artists; council member points to vacant‑property toolkit
Summary
Julia Gutierrez proposed a plan to convert long‑vacant commercial buildings into affordable studio and storage space for artists; Councilmember Andre Gonzales said the city already has a vacant‑property registry and nuisance toolkit and offered to follow up.
Lifelong Bakersfield resident Julia Gutierrez presented a project plan to the council seeking to decrease vacant‑building fires and return economic activity to empty commercial properties by converting them into affordable artist workspace and storage.
Gutierrez listed specific properties she considered, including the former Tina Marie’s Cafe (1416 20th Street), a commercial building at 2001 Chester Avenue, and addresses on Nineteenth Street and the Hopkins Building’s upper floors as possible locations. She said her plan contains blueprints, cost estimates and ideas for programs to help rehabilitate youth and involve local stakeholders.
Councilmember Andre Gonzales thanked Gutierrez for bringing solutions and noted the city already has tools that address vacant buildings, including a chronic nuisance property toolkit and a vacancy registry requirement. Gonzales offered to follow up with Gutierrez after the meeting and said some of the specific properties cited already have pending redevelopment: he said Tina Marie’s would be occupied again and 1918 Nineteenth Street would become a chiropractic office in coming months.
No formal action was taken at the meeting; Gonzales said staff and council would continue to pursue redevelopment and invited Gutierrez to meet with him.
