Elsewhere in the city the business community is also seeing benefits, with new projects such as Aston Shell, the gas station with a fast food component, nearing completion at the corner of Hallock Drive and Highway 126. Margolin noted that Applied Silicon is opening for business with about 50 new employees, and Bendpak – also located in Lemonwood Industrial Park - is planning yet another expansion.On the west side of the city, Santa Paula Chevrolet ranked second in sales among Central Coast Chevrolet dealerships and the Bender Center on Faulkner Road is filling with tenants, including a furniture store and Pet Headquarters, the latter among several businesses that are expanding into the new commercial space. The Vons remodel with Starbucks is complete, and the city continues to work closely with Wallace 7 Theaters on customer service and marketing issues, among other business activity. The new headquarters at Calavo have been completed, and head office operations relocated from Orange County.The city is also assisting the Downtown Merchants Association by encouraging new and existing businesses to participate, developing a three-year marketing plan and coordinating daily trash removal in South Alley of items generated by the Goodwill and Salvation Army operations. Margolin noted that the city also worked with the Downtown Merchants Association to stage promotional campaigns, including Dinner and a Movie and the Holiday Cookie and Window Decorating contests.
Council: Ripple effect from Downtown Business District improvements
February 24, 2006
Santa Paula City Council
With the historic Downtown Central Business District seeing more and more activity, the effect elsewhere is much like dropping a peddle in water… rippling out in all directions, according to a recent report to the City Council.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesWith the historic Downtown Central Business District seeing more and more activity, the effect elsewhere is much like dropping a peddle in water… rippling out in all directions, according to a recent report to the City Council.The Downtown is bustling with various projects, including the soon to be completed Paseo, where Gallery Zapastista will be opened by De Colores Founder Xavier Montes and Carmen Guerrero. Funding has been approved for improvements in Green Alley, where the narrow strip leading to Main Street will be turned into a pleasant walk-through from city parking.Sidewalks are now cleaned three times a week and steam-blasted four times a year, and five downtown storefronts will soon be transformed by the Façade Demonstration Project. Economic Development Director Rochelle Margolin said that a Signage and Storefront Merchandising Program now being developed will educate merchants about codes and good business practices, and technical assistance to merchants and landlords will help with business and marketing plans.