For immediate release
Nov. 1, 2005
Contact: Anita Yoder, 530-889-4012, or
Mike Fitch, 530-886-4515

BOARD ALLOCATES REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS FOR SEVERAL PROJECTS

The Placer County Board of Supervisors agreed Oct. 25 to help fund phase four of the Tahoe City Lakeside Bike Trail and to boost financial support for Main Street Programs in Kings Beach and Tahoe City.
At the meeting, the board also approved hiring an architectural firm to do design work for a three-level parking garage to be built at the Tahoe City Marina.
In each case, funding is being provided by the county redevelopment agency as part of its efforts to revitalize the downtown business districts of Tahoe City, Kings Beach and Tahoe Vista.
Supervisor Bruce Kranz, the board member who represents North Lake Tahoe, said he’s pleased the County, business associations, public utility districts and North Lake Tahoe Resort Association are working so well together.
“I think we’re moving along just great,” he said.
In Tahoe City, the redevelopment agency has participated in the downtown sidewalk project, Commons Beach Park improvements, the Lake Tahoe Dam Outlet Improvement Project at Fanny Bridge and several business façade remodels.
In Kings Beach and Tahoe Vista, agency activities include work on three parking lot projects, planning for sidewalk and streetscape improvements in Kings Beach, housing-rehabilitation loans, business façade-improvement loans, and the demolition of a dilapidated motel along North Lake Boulevard.
Managed by the Tahoe City Public Utility District, the Lakeside Trail has become a public promenade used by bicyclists, pedestrians and others who simply want to get a good look at the lake.
Work on phase four is scheduled to get under way next year. It will connect the Outlet plaza to Commons Beach and extend the existing Commons Beach trail to Grove Street.
The public utility district expects the total cost of phase-four work to be more than $1.2 million. The California Tahoe Land Conservancy is contributing more than $890,000 to the project.
The $250,000 from the county redevelopment agency will pay to install lighting along the new section of trail, which will make the trail more attractive for bike and pedestrian use into the evening hours.
The agency is fully funding the marina parking garage. It will have about 134 new parking spaces.
Preliminary estimates peg construction costs at $5.5 million and total project costs at almost $8.2 million.
The Main Street Programs seek to revitalize the traditional commercial districts in Tahoe City and Kings Beach. At the Oct. 25 meeting, the Board of Supervisors agreed to increase funding for each program to $60,000 in redevelopment funds over 12 months.
The North Tahoe Business Association created the Main Street Program for Kings Beach and Tahoe Vista to help property and business owners create a community identity through improvements in four areas: community design, publicity of events, economic restructuring and downtown development.
The association has sponsored many activities that contribute to the economic well-being of the two communities, including business education workshops, a farmer’s market, arts and crafts fairs, a fine arts fair and holiday celebrations.
Created in 2004, the Tahoe City Downtown Association is implementing the Main Street Program in its community. The association supports the Lakeside Summer Concert Services, a farmer’s market, Wildlife Wednesdays, the Tahoe Talks lecture series and monthly First Friday dining and shopping promotions