A Plan to change "Lights Out Avenue" back to Ligthhouse Avenue

By Ken E. Cuneo

In order for the city to provide funding for its varies functions it must generate monies to accomplish this. Revitalizing the downtown core of Pacific Grove is essential to this process.

As of now, there are numerous stores and properties that are vacant in the downtown area. They do not contribute as they should to our economic vitality. How can we get these properties to produce revenues? It is an issue that we have to plan and implement a strategy to turn this around. There is such a plan!

I believe that we must create "An Economic Downtown Incentive District" in the core or heart of the city. Within the geographical borders of this area, the city could significantly lower the property taxes of the owners of the vacant properties. They would be required to fix up these properties and also give a reduction in rents to prospective tenants. The lower taxation and the reduced rents would be for a set period of three years. This timeframe would allow the tenants to get their fledgling enterprises to flourish. After three years the tax incentives would evaporate and return to the regular tax rates. The results of this plan would be a triple win. First the property owners would get reduced taxes for three years, fix up the properties, and get rent. Second, the small business owner would get a period of decent affordable rent to get the business going. Third, the city would get sales tax revenues. This is a win-win-win for everybody. Strategies such as this are often used in America to rescue blighted rotten parts of urban cities. We must try it here!

Another thing we can do here through the Chamber of Commerce is get all of our Pacific Grove merchants into a plan to provide discounts. This plan would involve a card called "P.G. Pass" along with a list of every participating merchant. The P.G.Pass would be mailed out to every P.G. resident, handed out at the Chamber of Commerce office and be given to every visitor at our lodging facilities. These discount measures will boost our local stores and encourage shopping right here. We should get this going right away!

Finally, we should define the heart of our city with a pedestrian only zone complete with benches, a statue or fountain or both, and grass. European cities have had these zones for centuries. They bring people together, serve as the city center, and enable relaxed easy shopping. This walking zone would put the exclamtion point upon our city. We should carefully design such an area and then build it!

The three ideas listed above will go a long way in "Kicking it up" in our beloved Pacific Grove.