RESTORATION PLANS STALL FOR NEWHALL CITY, DEVELOPERS SLOW TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN.

Byline: JUDY O'ROURKE

Staff Writer

NEWHALL -- City leaders waxed poetic about renovating Newhall's downtown core more than a year ago when they adopted a specific plan. But their dreams have yet to materialize.

No projects have been approved since the Santa Clarita City Council adopted the plan in November 2005.

"It's a little slower than we had hoped for," said Chris Price, an assistant city engineer. "We are trying to put into place some new strategies to make more things happen there, and in the next couple of months you will see more things."

He declined to elaborate.

Some developers view redevelopment investments as risky, and Price attributes the sluggishness to the recent slowdown in real estate overall. Developers are counted on to spur renewal, but in their absence the city will take the lead.

With plans to infuse the $1 million redevelopment blueprint with $7 million up front for civic buildings and parking lots for 800 cars, the city had planned to show developers it meant business. So far, the city has spent less than $2 million, but Price said things will heat up in the next year.

Getting squeezed

Retooled zoning codes permit denser commercial development in the area, allowing developers to squeeze more onto their lots -- stashing restaurants, galleries and theaters on the ground floors and offices and living quarters above.

A parking structure between Eighth and Ninth streets was expected to lead the way, but it's on hold, replaced by a road restriping project.

Plans call for adding a lane to Railroad Avenue, eliminating a lane from San Fernando Road, which it parallels in the downtown area, adding angled parking and T-ing off San Fernando at Lyons Avenue -- perhaps in April. The city rejected construction bids this week because the apparent low bidder submitted a substantially unbalanced offer, forcing the $750,000 project out to bid again.

Some are concerned that closing off the road to create a more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere is premature.

Tony Maric, who owns Newhall Paint and the building it occupies on the corner of San Fernando and Ninth Street, is sitting pretty and sitting tight.

"We'd like to see San Fernando -- the closure down to two lanes -- after the skyscrapers are built," he said while adding, "We're positive about it, we'd like to see it happen."

He has one unanswered question, though.

"Is the paint store part of the equation, or are we going to be singled out like the automotive guys?"

The area's numerous auto-repair shops will be urged to relocate elsewhere in town, but if projects more in line with the future vision are proposed for their sites -- and they must move "involuntarily" -- the city will provide substantial assistance, Price said.

Alternate uses

The specific plan suggests alternate uses for many occupied properties in the area, but not for Maric's site. A developer wants to buy a chunk of the block in the hands of four property owners, but one -- not Maric -- is holding out. Maric has owned the property for 20 years and is open to offers.

Adriana Gammert was alarmed early on to find an open-air market was destined for her property between Eighth and Ninth streets. She united others in a peaceful but vocal revolt -- Price said the market's on hold -- and she hopes the absence of a developers' stampede at City Hall causes officials to embrace a more grass-roots renewal.

"I think (the city) has to come in and work with the people, and work with their ideas, see what their needs are, see what they are willing to do with their individual properties," she said. "With developers (saying) 'We'll take this block, this building,' it isn't the way to restore an historical downtown."

That could materialize if the city approves a plan for a mixed-use conversion at San Fernando Road and 14th Street, where a restaurant, retail shops and underground parking are proposed by an existing owner.

Backing in

Meanwhile, a plan to create back-in parking spaces has Gammert and others scratching their heads.

"It's outrageous. The fact that people are going to have to back into a parking space isn't feasible for most people to do," she said. "If you're backing into a parking space and not used to doing it, you could go through a window -- it's definitely a very inconvenient way to park."

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