The accomplishments and happy news of 2020 was largely overshadowed by the pandemic, so this year I’d like to take time to highlight some of the work that is being done at the City of Redding. I’ll be sharing how the Council votes on various topics and what you can see in the future or what has recently been completed. The pandemic did not slow the number of projects that deserved attention and like our community always does, it pivoted and rose the occasion. The following is a brief synopsis of work completed in the last 90 days, many of which began the planning and/or construction process during 2020.
Affordable housing is a top priority across the state of California. A few projects that have come online providing affordable housing units within Redding, with close proximity to public transportation and added parking spots are listed below:
Placer Heights
Located at the corner of Placer and Pine Street, was recently completed and tenants are moving in. Place Heights is a four-story, 18,400 square foot property that includes a 6,000 square foot restaurant on the ground floor and 16 one-bedroom apartments. ($4 million project).
Market Center
Market Center is a four-story, 80,000 square foot structure that will be home to an exciting mix of shops, restaurants and contains 82 income-eligible housing units. ($42 million project).
Kennett Court Apartments
Phase I is located at 1081 Lake Boulevard. The development is a 47-unit income-qualifying apartment complex comprised of one, two, and three-bedroom units with an integral community center, office, and laundry room. The development consists of two, three-story buildings. ($18.5 million project).
Public safety is a concern for all of our community and the City Council has been actively working at maximizing our current resources. Recently the Council approved the hiring of 4 more officers for the development of a NPU (Neighborhood Police Unit) for the Downtown and River Trail areas. This spring you will see them on bike or foot proactively patrolling these areas. Chief Schueller has also been working with local law enforcement agencies for the roll out of a Crisis Intervention Response Team, CIRT. These will be plain clothes officers from multiple agencies coordinating with a mental health worker aiming to address those in crisis and get them into care in a helpful manner.
Though the Council is committed to the increase of presence and outreach of public safety personnel, we are still feeling the burden of hiring within this field. The City of Redding has had at least 5 vacancies for the last 2 years. With the added 4 that will backfill the Downtown NPU, we now have 7 vacancies. We have 16-18 officers set to retire in the next year or so which makes recruiting officers a continued top priority. Check out the City of Redding Podcast for an interview with the Chief to learn more.
Downtown District
If you haven’t already done so, take a moment to walk, bike or drive along the newly reopened downtown Market Street. The architecture combines the modern with the historical. Underground and street parking make it convenient to visit the Cascade Theatre and its surrounding eateries to the south, and a quick stroll to the north takes you to coffee, ice cream
and other food options. I’m looking forward to the continued growth of our local businesses within the downtown district.
My commitment to safe parks and trails remains and after Carr Fire some of these spaces needed extra attention. The City Parks and Recs Department continues its work on the Buenaventura Trail, you may know it as 10 Bridges Trail. The trail is formally closed through April to install a water line for a new drinking fountain and irrigation line. Work to widen and smooth the trail alignment continues. Crews are installing stabilization grids and compacting a mixed aggregate base for the finish. New steel bridges will be here this summer, courtesy of FEMA.
Caldwell Park Grant Project is progressing. The Skatepark expansion will go out to bid next month. The bike park, parking lots, and other amenities will be bid out later this year, with
construction in 2022. Two new sand volleyball courts will be constructed by summer at Lake Redding Park.
The artist selection for the public art installation at the Stress Ribbon Bridge will be announced
by June. The project is funded by the George Emmerson family.
Work has begun on the new 3-mile Canyon Hallow Trail in the greenbelts between three westside subdivisions – Country Heights, Ridgeview, and the future Westridge.
Six new Pickleball courts will open by June at Enterprise Park. A community partnership with 300+ local Pickleball enthusiasts.
This week, Parks and Rec staff submitted an $8.5 million grant proposal for a new gym and park at Panorama and Lake Blvds to CA Parks.
The fish channel at Nur Pon Open Space (formerly Henderson) is almost complete. Two bridges will be installed, allowing visitors to walk over the channel to access the island, over the next 60 days. New amenities including trails, a parking lot, a kayak launch and a restroom are complete. A community grand opening is planned for June.
The California Soccer Park Project to replace four new turf fields, add new shade structures, and other facility enhancements is complete. The Park is organizing spring playing leagues now for youth and adults.
The construction industry and our need for infrastructure improvements did not slow during 2020 and during the last 90 days we’ve made some progress in necessary projects.
The I-5 Northbound On-Ramp Project to facilitate development in and around the Bonnyview Interchange with I-5 was completed.
Over the last year, Council provided design review, inspection and acceptance of Public Improvements for the Highland Park, Centre Court, Stonesfair, Salt Creek Heights, the Terrace, and Churn Creek Park subdivisions, paving the way for residential development and growth. These developments coupled with the mixed-use and mixed-income housing projects puts Redding on a good trajectory relating to housing availability.
Construction has begun on the Diestlehorst to Downtown Bicycle and Pedestrian Project linking downtown to the River Trail. Creating yet another way for us to be a walkable, bikeable, and easily accessible city.
We currently have 18 capital projects under construction with a total value of over $43M
We recently completed the Biosolids Master Plan. This will be helpful with compliance as CA’s new organic wastes laws go into effect.
We recently secured new Air Service to Seattle and reinstatement of Air service to LAX.
The City of Redding was recently awarded two Active Transportation Grants to provide safe bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Victor and Cypress Ave and the Convention Center/Turtle Bay area. Grants totaled more than $14M and will be allow us to plan for the future paths of travel relating to these areas. Look for posts on my social media regarding community input opportunities on these projects.
While this may have felt like drinking out of a fire house, I hope I’ve left you with a wealth of information regarding what the Council and City Staff have been working on in the last 90 days. I look forward to sharing more with you in the months to come. As always please reach out if you have any comments, questions, or ideas. I want to hear from you and I value your feedback. I will continue to post noteworthy content on my social media listed below and the City now has a podcast which dives a bit deeper into all topics relating to the City of Redding. All links can be found below.
Mayor Erin Resner
City of Redding
@resner_citycouncil – Instagram
@ErinResner – Twitter
eresner@cityofredding.org
