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In December 1998, the Redding Redevelopment Agency adopted a Five-Year Housing Plan which included emphasis on Target Neighborhoods. The concept is to focus the majority of the City's resources, specifically staff time and money, on three neighborhoods – Parkview, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Downtown.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Neighborhood
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In February 2003, the City Council and the Redding Redevelopment Agency adopted the MLK, Jr. Neighborhood Revitalization Plan (Plan). The goals and objectives of this comprehensive plan for improvement of the MLK, Jr. Neighborhood focus on six areas: 1) land use and neighborhood appearance; 2) housing; 3) transportation and circulation; 4) public infrastructure and services; 5) public safety and crime prevention; and 6) open space and recreation. Since adoption, implementation of the Plan has stimulated significant positive change in the Neighborhood. Through a combination of both public and private investment in the Neighborhood, new development is occurring at an unprecedented rate. Rehabilitation of existing structures is also contributing to the new face of the Neighborhood. The following summarizes the major revitalization activities undertaken over the past fourteen months. Linden Avenue Affordable Housing Development
Code Enforcement Utilizing a combination of redevelopment and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, a targeted Neighborhood code enforcement effort was initiated in July 2003. This activity is focused solely on identifying and resolving existing code violations occurring within the City's target neighborhoods. In the MLK, Jr. Neighborhood, a total of 86 owners of non-code-compliant properties were provided with information regarding existing deficiencies as well as information on available housing program resources. As of May 1, 2004, code compliance has been achieved on over 80% of these properties. For the remainder, code enforcement staff is continuing to work with individual owners to reach resolution, if possible. Residential Infill Development One of the priority goals stated within the Plan was the development of additional new housing units within the Neighborhood, especially new development on numerous vacant infill lots. To date, in addition to the 46 units to be completed on the Linden Avenue site described above, four additional projects totaling 12 - 14 new units are either under construction or in the planning stages. Two projects, consisting of two triplexes each, are under construction on infill lots on Milo and Eugenia Avenues. One duplex project, to be located on Grant Street, is currently being evaluated by staff, and a third project, consisting of four to six single-family homes on Henry Street, is anticipated to be under construction in 2005. Residential Incentive Package The Residential Incentive Package includes a wide range of grants and loans available to both rental property owners and new and existing homeowners within the target neighborhoods. Through features such as below market interest rates, forgivable loans, flexible amortization, and reduced owner contributions, the package provides a means for many property owners to participate in the revitalization of the neighborhoods through the improvement of their properties. All property owners in the MLK, Jr. Neighborhood were invited to an initial open house held in March 2003 to highlight the available housing programs. Follow-up by staff included letters and door-to-door visits. Several home ownership workshops have also been held to provide basic information to interested renters regarding achieving homeownership. The following is a summary of the achievements under this activity through May 1, 2004, in the MLK, Jr. Neighborhood:
Miscellaneous Revitalization Activities
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The Revitalization Plan for the MLK Neighborhood provides a road map for the transformation of one of Redding's older areas into a comfortable, attractive, economically-vibrant neighborhood. The Plan addresses several key areas including infrastructure deficiencies, housing conditions, recreational amenities, and crime and safety issues. This draft Revitalization Plan is available for your on-line viewing.
Parkview Neighborhood 
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Adopted in January 2001, the Parkview Neighborhood Revitalization Plan set the foundation for a series of strategic projects aimed at rebuilding a long-neglected neighborhood. The Revitalization Plan's goals include developing new housing, improving the existing housing stock, improving infrastructure, developing parks and open spaces, and developing mixed uses on Parkview Avenue. The Revitalization Plan is designed to facilitate the tremendous infill potential of the Parkview Neighborhood. The two-year Action Plan adopted on January 2, 2001, is available for your on-line viewing. One of the underlying goals for each of the projects is to set a design and development standard for revitalization efforts throughout the community. Pedestrian orientation, traditional styles, efficiency, and ample common open space all are priorities of new housing design. In addition, attention to various design aspects including connections, views, visibility, consistency, building articulations, and orientation are of high importance. Through the Revitalization Plan, the City and the Redding Redevelopment Agency (Agency) seek to demonstrate that affordable housing can be attractive, unique, and desirable, and that design is a fundamental element of revitalization. Redding's First Infill Subdivisions
Traffic Study In July 2003, the Agency initiated a traffic study in the Parkview Neighborhood aimed at evaluating and improving traffic circulation in and around the Neighborhood. Specifically, the traffic study will evaluate the potential expansion of Eastside Road, traffic calming measures for Freebridge Street, and redevelopment of Parkview Avenue to create a bicycle and pedestrian-friendly interface between the Neighborhood and the Civic Center. The Agency retained the services of Willdan to prepare the study. Over the past several months, Willdan has collected data, including traffic volumes, turning movement counts, a license plate survey, and radar speed surveys within the Neighborhood. A Neighborhood traffic questionnaire was distributed to over 500 property owners, business owners and residents in the Neighborhood, and several meetings were held to collect input, share ideas, and address community concerns. The findings and recommendations from this process will be incorporated into a draft study report which is anticipated to be available for public review in July 2004. Neighborhood Residential Incentive Package The City Council and Agency adopted a residential incentive package which provides programs to encourage property owners to improve their properties and first-time homebuyers to purchase homes in the Neighborhood. These programs provide a unique opportunity for the public and private sector to form partnerships for the betterment of the community. To date, the City and Agency have assisted four first-time homebuyers and participated in the rehabilitation of 25 units in the Neighborhood. In addition, as part of our beautification efforts, paint vouchers were issued to assist with the cost of exterior painting of 133 units occupied by low- and moderate-income households. |
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| In 1999, a planning process with extensive neighborhood involvement was initiated to develop a long-range revitalization plan that addresses both the problems and the opportunities in a comprehensive approach. In January 2001, the Parkview Neighborhood Strategic Revitalization Plan was adopted by the City Council and Redding Redevelopment Agency (Agency). The Parkview Neighborhood Committee was an integral part of the planning process and the neighborhood group remains actively engaged in the revitalization effort. | |||||||
A range of significant activities and projects with corresponding budget appropriations are authorized by the Plan. In addition to developing new housing, activities include rehabilitating existing housing stock, improving infrastructure, developing recreation and open space amenities for the Neighborhood, and developing mixed-uses on the Parkview Avenue corridor. The two-year Action Plan adopted on January 2, 2001, is available for your on-line viewing.
This in-fill project consists of the development of approximately 4.5 acres of property in the MLK, Jr. Neighborhood owned by the City of Redding and the Redding Redevelopment Agency. The property is situated between Railroad Avenue and West Street at the location of the former Linden Avenue. A master site plan has been developed that provides for a mixed development of 30 affordable two- and three-bedroom rental units, 13 transitional rental units for 
homeless families with children, and 3 single-family homes for first-time homeowners. Agreements have been reached with three separate nonprofit organizations to undertake the development of the three components. Habitat for Humanity Shasta Cascade (Habitat) initiated the construction of the homeownership units in early 2004 and anticipates being completed by the end of the summer. Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) and FaithWorks Community Coalition, Inc. (FaithWorks) are working together to undertake the site work and utility undergrounding necessary for the subsequent construction of the affordable rental units and the transitional component. Site grading is anticipated to begin in late summer under one contract covering the entire site with construction of the individual component projects beginning in the spring 2005. Photos courtesy of Habitat for Humanity
Under the terms of a Disposition and Development Agreement between the Agency and New Urban Builders, Inc., 
Following completion of the first phase at Lanning Avenue and Fell Street, construction of 56 more units will begin on an undeveloped site at the southeastern edge of the neighborhood. This site will feature over two acres of restored wetlands and provide a much needed pedestrian connection through the neighborhood to Juniper Academy. In addition to bungalow courts and traditional detached units, this phase will feature two-story row houses oriented on a public green.
Other projects include the construction of homes designed under the Agency's direction and then developed by the nonprofit Community Revitalization Development Corporation. The Agency also owns other land for residential development that will be offered for development through a Request for Proposal process. For more information about development opportunities in the Parkview Neighborhood, please contact Shawn Tillman at 
A new natural park and extension of the City's renowned Sacramento River Trail have been completed at the easterly edge of the neighborhood along the Sacramento River. Paved and unpaved trails, picnic areas, and a footbridge over Linden Creek all are features of this beautiful 8.5 acre park which emphasizes preservation and restoration of native vegetation.
Along the northerly edge of the Neighborhood, Parkview Avenue serves as a transition between the larger scale, higher intensity uses to the north and the residential neighborhood to the south. The Revitalization Plan envisions commercial uses that serve the needs of the neighborhood as well as office uses that benefit from a close proximity to the City government center. Parkview Avenue is also an ideal setting for mixed-use opportunities such as live-work building types and apartments with ground floor commercial. The Agency seeks to initiate such projects through development of various Agency-owned parcels along Parkview Avenue.