The majority of the Visalia City Council is backing a preliminary plan put forward by member Greg Collins to lay out the new Civic Center facing a planned park and waterway. The council earlier this month( May 5) approved the location of the first building in the east Downtown plan. The Visalia Emergency Communications Center (VECC) along School St. will cost $15 million and be completed by December 2015.
In its approval, Council also requested to retain the 50-foot offset of the Jennings Ditch to retain the landscaping and future potential trail and enhance the park-like setting of the area.
Collins argued to help create excitement over the plan and draw in private development he wants to do a multi-year plan to construct the streets and lay out the area around a centerpiece, the new Civic Center facing an oak-studded green area and lake.He would invite the private sector to participate but not spend the millions it would take to build a new Public Safety building there, saving to construct the new Civic Center. To bolster finances he would sell off a number of city owned properties in the Downtown area including the current planning building, east of the Convention Center.There he would invite a hotel to build – bringing in more conventions to the city.
Collins’ design, shared with council, suggested buildings be located up to the sidewalk with parking behind.His plan shows parkland and several blocks where the city would work to attract private sector construction of retail office and restaurant uses.