The city council’s decision to ask staff for additional details
about two developers vying to become the first firm the city hires
to begin the redevelopment of downtown, while frustrating, is a
good decision.
Slight delay while more research is done is a prudent move
The city council’s decision to ask staff for additional details about two developers vying to become the first firm the city hires to begin the redevelopment of downtown, while frustrating, is a good decision.
Thursday night, representatives from Barry Swenson Builders and City Ventures presented their tentative plans to fulfill the council’s oft-stated desire to build new homes, a cinema, and retail stores where the current Granada Theater is located and Royal Clothiers one block south. A vote to approve one of the developers would have created a partnership between the city and builder, leading to an agreement to sell the RDA-owned properties as long as the chosen firm built what the council wanted.
Most council members thought the presentations brought up more questions that deserve further consideration. Councilman Greg Sellers said choosing the developer of the sites is a “definitive decision that realizes the vision we’ve developed over many years,” and it should not be taken lightly. And while the council’s perceived inability to make a decision will slightly delay any future projects, it is in this case, smart. The city is embarking on redevelopment projects that will disrupt the downtown for months and impact the future of Morgan Hill’s downtown for decades to come. It’s an important decision in which council members need all the information.
What comes first, housing or anchor tenants, is the key question
Specifically, Barry Swenson Builders presented a plan that anchors housing, parking, and retail development on the sites around two key tenants – a boutique grocery store and a small multiscreen cinema. Once those tenants are established, which the company says will not be difficult, then smaller retail shops, restaurants and drug stores will follow, and the demand for new housing units will grow.
By contrast, City Ventures thinks the two downtown Morgan Hill projects should be based on new housing to support a future cinema and retail shops. Mark Buckland of City Ventures said a downtown grocery store might not be viable.
Therein lies the need for additional study. While both plans may work, the council must decide which has the best chance of succeeding. The right decision could transform the downtown into a vibrant, thriving heart of the city, while the wrong decision, could lead to more vacant storefronts, a waste of money and decades spent fixing the problems.
Yes, a few more weeks won’t hurt, but the council has come this far and now needs to close the loop and get things moving. No more studies. No more reassessments. No more reconsiderations of those who didn’t make the initial cut. No more delays. Pick the contractor you believe will deliver the vision and get moving.
