Community Development
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Redevelopment Agency
In 1960, the Salinas City Council established the Salinas Urban Renewal Agency for the purpose of participating in redevelopment programs as authorized by the State of California Health and Safety Code. In 1981, the City Council changed the name of the Urban Renewal Agency to the Salinas Redevelopment Agency to more precisely reflect the activities in connection with downtown and East Salinas revitalization and neighborhood improvement programs.
The Salinas City Council has established two redevelopment project areas to address conditions of blight, as evidenced by high vacancy rates in buildings, deteriorated infrastructure, and other signs of deterioration and blight. In its role as the Redevelopment Agency, the Council has adopted redevelopment plans for the Central City Project Area (1974) and the Sunset Avenue Project Area (1987), which allows for a portion of property taxes to be reinvested within those areas to implement the plans and to combat blighted conditions.
In addition to the redevelopment plans, the Agency must adopt a 5-year Implementation Plan that offers more specifics on the past and proposed future activities of the Agency. The most recent Implementation Plan was adopted in 2007 and is valid through 2009.
The Salinas City Council serves as the policy-making and legislative body of the City of Salinas as well as the Board of Directors of the Salinas Redevelopment Agency. The mayor serves a two year term and Councilmembers serve four-year terms.
Design Review Board
Design Review Board Projects located in the downtown and East Alisal business districts, and consisting of new construction or substantial modification to building exteriors require review by the Salinas Design Review Board. The ten-member Board, with a representative from the OSA (Oldtown Business Association) and from SUBA (Salinas United Business Association) meets on an as-needed basis, usually within two or three weeks of an application’s submittal to the Redevelopment staff. There is no application fee for this service.
Housing Fund
The Redevelopment Agency is required by state law to set aside 20% of its redevelopment revenue to promote affordable housing. Unlike the remaining 80% funds, which must be used exclusively within the project area, housing funds can be used throughout the City, so long as they are used to develop or promote affordable housing and continue to be of benefit to the project areas.
The Agency has used the Housing Fund for a variety of housing projects both within and outside the project areas. On some projects, the Agency may assist with the purchase of land, while for others, it may offer below market rate construction loans to the developer. Even grants may be considered to assist non-profit developers providing housing affordable to low and very low-income families. In all projects which benefit from Agency assistance, the developer must make the housing units affordable to very low, low, or moderate-income families for a long time period – 45 years for owner-occupied housing and 55 years for rental housing.
Facade Improvement Program
This program offers grants to help commercial property owners and business owners to improve the appearance of their property and storefronts by providing technical architectural services and grants for part of the costs of eligible improvements. Eligible exterior improvements include painting; signs; awnings, storefront facade restoration, parking lot landscaping along street frontage; and related exterior improvements.
Downloadable Maps
- Old Town Salinas Association Business Improvement District (pdf, 246 kb)
- Redevelopment Project Areas (pdf, 268 kb)