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Merchants and residents press Placentia council to proceed with Old Town streetscape
Summary
Multiple Old Town business owners and property-owners urged the council to proceed with the Old Town Streetscape project, saying improvements would boost safety, reputation and private reinvestment; speakers warned that redirecting restricted county funds would squander a limited opportunity.
Several Old Town merchants and property owners told the council on April 1 that the city should move forward with the Old Town Streetscape project rather than reallocating funds to other priorities.
Heidi Manky, owner of Broken Timbers Brewing, said the project would "help to deter crime by making Old Town more attractive" and cited a merchant meeting she hosted where attendees overwhelmingly supported the streetscape. "If we work together to revitalize Old Town, we will make Placentia better for everybody," Manky told the council.
Property owner Cameron Irons said he purchased an Old Town building expecting rail improvements and investing in renovations; he urged the council to use county funds he estimated at roughly $3,000,000 that "cannot be used for any other purpose." Several other residents and business representatives echoed calls for better lighting, shade trees, planters, bicycle racks and repaving.
Council members acknowledged existing investments in Old Town but said further private-sector facade improvements and coordinated merchant actions could accelerate revitalization. Councilmember Yamaguchi said the matters discussed tonight would also be addressed in the CIP/budget study session later on the agenda.
What’s next: Citizens and business owners asked the city to keep the funding dedicated to Old Town and return with a clearer timetable; staff will include downtown priorities in upcoming CIP discussions.
