Cascade Theatre Restoration Project (Contact Person: Larry Morgon, 225-4393)
The Cascade Theatre, built in 1935, is located in the heart of Downtown on the Market Street demonstration block. For six decades, the Theatre was a magnet to Redding’s Downtown, drawing people to see motion pictures, vaudeville acts, and musical performances. Partnering with the JPR Foundation and the Cascade Theatre Restoration Committee, the Agency has committed $449,000 to the revival effort to restore the Theatre into a multiple-use performing arts venue. The funding has assisted with structural improvements to the building, as well as facade improvements. Once restored to its original grandeur, the Theatre will be a place that reconnects the community to its history, provide a first-class performance space, and stand as an icon of community pride and accomplishment. Renovation of the exterior storefront and marquee is finished and the project is scheduled to be complete in 2004.

Storefront Improvement Loan Program (Contact Person: Larry Morgon, 225-4393)
The Redding Redevelopment Agency’s Storefront Improvement Loan Program offers matching loans up to a maximum of $7,500 per storefront for facade improvements and $1,500 of free architectural design services. The three areas this Program targets are Downtown and the North and South Market Street corridors leading into Downtown. Eligible improvements include: awnings and canopies; doors and windows; exterior facade improvements such as painting, cleaning, and repair; exterior lighting; signs; and landscaping. The principal and interest will be forgiven on an annual basis over the term of the loan (three years) provided the property is adequately maintained. Loans are available on a first-come, first-serve basis based on available funding. To date, two projects have been funded in Downtown, and two in the South Market Street corridor.

Downtown Circulation Improvements Project (Contact Person: Larry Morgon, 225-4393)
One of the key recommendations in the Downtown Redding Specific Plan calls for the removal of the roof and rebuilding the streets through the Downtown Redding Mall, thereby improving local Downtown circulation, providing visibility and access to the buildings in the interior of the Mall, adding on-street parking, stimulating retail development, and visually upgrading the entire area.

The City is currently determining how best to allocate $12 million in available State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds to improve circulation in the Downtown. There are three possible projects - the Downtown Mall Circulation Improvement Project, the Downtown Railroad Grade Separation Improvement Project, and the Railroad Switching Operations Project. In September 2002, the City Council entered into an agreement with Trilogy Architecture to prepare design drawings, cost estimates, and a traffic analysis for removing the roof and reintroducing traffic to the Mall. Likewise, a contract will be awarded to a separate consultant to provide a feasibility analysis for the projects. The final products and recommendations of each of these consultants will be provided to a seven-member citizens committee appointed by the City Council to review the consultants’ work and to solicit community input about the potential transportation projects. After reviewing all of the pertinent information, the Committee will provide a recommendation to the City Council by May 2003 on how best to allocate the $12 million between the projects.

NORTH AND SOUTH MARKET STREET LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS (Contact Person: Larry Morgon, 225-4393)
Using a combination of Agency and Community Development Block Grant funds, the Agency authorized spending up to $2,000,000 on North and South Market Streets to improve the appearance of these two key gateway corridors leading into Downtown.

South Market Street Landscape Improvement Project (Contact Person: Larry Morgon, 225-4393)
The South Market Street landscape improvements are to be completed in three phases. The first two phases of the project have been completed. Phase One involved landscaping the existing medians with trees, shrubs, groundcover, and river cobbles at the ends of the islands, as well as the installation of new and additional street lights. Phase Two provided for the construction of storm drain improvements and “bulb outs” at three key intersections – Wyndham Lane, Ellis Street, and Grange Street – to provide landscape areas and reduce the distance to cross the street from one side to the other. Curb, gutter, and sidewalk were also installed in some areas.

The final phase is the improvement of the intersection at South Market, Angelo, and California Streets. In order to improve the efficiency of the intersection, the traffic signals will need to be relocated, travel lanes repositioned, and some driveways closed or modified. An added benefit will be the creation of additional landscape areas to improve the corridor’s appearance.

North Market Street Landscape Improvement Project (Contact Person: Larry Morgon, 225-4393)
Subsequent to the installation of the traffic signal and sidewalk improvements at the intersection of Benton Drive and North Market Street, work commenced on the landscape improvements to be completed at the intersection. These improvements, completed in February 2002, included the installation of trees, shrubs, and permanent irrigation.

In August 2002, the Redding Redevelopment Agency contracted with Ralph J. Alexander & Associates to prepare design and construction documents for the North Market Street Landscape Project. The work will address median landscaping and lighting improvements, and a possible water feature, between Quartz Hill Road and Lake Boulevard. This work is being coordinated with Caltrans’ planned roadway rehabilitation work scheduled to commence in 2003.

DOWNTOWN SAFEWAY (Contact Person: Kurt Starman, 225-4083)
The City of Redding is currently in the process of planning for improvements to the section of Cypress Avenue from Athens Avenue to Pine Street which are scheduled for completion by year end. The $2.2 million in planned improvements include widening Cypress Avenue from four lanes to six lanes; installing and landscaping new medians; and placing the overhead utilities underground. Financing for this project is from State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds. In addition, the Redding Redevelopment Agency has allocated up to a maximum of $100,000 to assist with the aforementioned improvements. Due to the City’s and Agency’s commitment to improving this important entry into Downtown Redding, Safeway Stores undertook the construction of a new 50,000-square-foot store with a fuel center at the west end of Cypress Avenue where the former Safeway, RiteAid and Maximum Comfort structures were located.

BLUE SHIELD OF CALIFORNIA (Contact Person: Kurt Starman, 225-4083)
Blue Shield of California announced that it intended to open a new customer service center in Redding. The customer service center is planned for development in two phases. Phase I includes an 82,000+ -square foot office building that will accommodate approximately 450 employees. Phase II, which could include an additional 100,000+-square feet of office space, may be developed in the future to accommodate the expansion of the customer service center. The development of this customer service center will require approximately $1.4 million in public improvements. In September 2002, the Redding Redevelopment Agency, as part of its development partnership program, allocated up to $832,000 to assist with the construction of these required public improvements. In return, Blue Shield has agreed to create a minimum of 450 new full- and part-time jobs in Redding over the next ten years. In addition, Blue Shield has agreed to maintain its customer service center in Redding for a minimum of ten years.

BROWNING STREET (Contact Person: Sharon Dent, 225-4351)
The Redding Redevelopment Agency has authorized the reconstruction and widening of the existing segment of Browning Street east of Hilltop Drive and construction of a new roadway that will extend to Canby Road. The street initially will provide two 12-foot-wide travel lanes and a 6-foot-wide bicycle lane, but have a design that will support future widening to four lanes. With the first phase, the road will function as a local commercial street to accommodate the current traffic needs. Expansion to four lanes will occur as adjacent commercial and multiple-family residential properties develop. Once completed, Browning Street will provide an efficient east-west circulation alternative around the regional commercial area to the south, thereby helping ease demands on Dana Drive and other area streets. The Agency has budgeted $2,000,000 for right-of-way acquisition and construction of the first phase of the street. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring 2003.

TURTLE BAY MUSEUM EXPLORATION PARK (Contact Person: Sarah Haddox, 225-4041)
The Turtle Bay Exploration Park, when completed, will be a major cultural and scientific center focusing on the Sacramento River’s ecosystem and its surrounding forests. The grand opening of the museum was held in June 2002 and contains permanent, interactive exhibits, including underwater fish viewing, and two large special exhibition galleries. The Arboretum is scheduled for completion in 2003 and will include garden and wildlife exhibits. The Agency has approved up to $7 million to assist in the development of this project, with remaining funding being provided by The McConnell Foundation, State park bond proceeds, and various other grants and public and private donations.

Turtle Bay Pedestrian Bridge (Contact Person: Terry Hanson, 225-4009)
Designed by the internationally renowned architect Santiago Calatrava Valls, the Turtle Bay Sundial Bridge will complement and enhance the unique environment setting of the area. The Agency’s investment for the bridge totals approximately $1.7 million, with the balance from The McConnell Foundation and various grants. The bridge is scheduled for completion in 2004.

CLOVER CREEK PRESERVE (Contact Person: Sarah Haddox, 225-4041)
During the formation of the SHASTEC Redevelopment Project, flooding problems in the Clover Creek drainage basin was identified as a blighting condition. While the improvements were not anticipated for 10-15 years, a $2 million loan from the City of Redding and $5 million in funding provided by Proposition 13 will allow the improvements to be completed in fall 2003. Activities include the development of an earthen dike and storm-drain detention basin, along with habitat restoration and development of passive recreational amenities, such as walking trails. These improvements will provide effective flood control and floodplain management in the Clover Creek basin from Hartnell Avenue to the Sacramento River. It is anticipated that with construction of the facility, surrounding acreage will be recovered from the floodplain and be suitable for development, thereby improving both the Project Area’s physical and economic conditions.