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Downtown Morgan Hill Redevelopment The City of Morgan Hill has relied on Redevelopment Agency (RDA) funds to help bankroll the many projects beneficial to our community. The redevelopment of our downtown is one such project. However, new laws enacted by the State eliminated redevelopment agencies as of October 1, 2011. The City has been working diligently to ascertain the status of its obligations and assets. Most relevant to downtown development is $19 million in bond proceeds the City has allocated to projects in the downtown, such as the redevelopment of the Downtown Mall. The status of those funds – whether or not the City will be able to retain them - is currently being determined with resolution expected in April 2013. Below is a short-list of some of the projects the City of Morgan Hill already had previously funded to one degree or another and where they stand at this time. Monterey Road Streetscape Project The City has decided to defer a decision on the project until some yet-to-be-determined point in the future of downtown development. Hale Extension 'Santa Teresa Gap Fill' Project Currently there is no funding to go past the initial design phase of this project. The intent of the Hale extension is to provide a safer, more efficient north-south connection in the western part of the city. Butterfield Boulevard Extension Project The extension of Butterfield Blvd south to Monterey Road at Watsonville Road is on schedule and expected to be completed in early 2013. Downtown Flood Protection Project Every time heavy rains fall in Morgan Hill, downtown businesses and residences flood. After more than 50 years of planning to take downtown out of the 100 year flood plain, a solution has finally been chosen.
Design and environmental clearance efforts are funded and moving forward but monies for construction remains a significant challenge. The current cost estimate to build the project (both the Morgan Hill and San Martin portions) has increased to $132 million. The federal portion of the funding is the major sticking point. One of the largest obstacles to obtaining federal funding for the construction of the project is meeting the benefit-to-cost ratio. The Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) has identified $116 million in funding sources.The SCVWD will hold a public meeting in October (date to be determined) to review the project and learn about the new Safe Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection initiative. The SCVWD has earmarked $39 million of the Safe Clean Water ballot initiative to this project.The City Council support this ballot initiative that also includes funding for Anderson Dam repairs. It is hoped that the project will begin construction in 2014 and end in 2016. Depot Street Parking Structure and Multi-Modal Transit Hub A feasibility study presented at the April 4, 2012 City Council meeting showed a plan to move the current Caltrain/VTA platform to the Depot Street side of the railroad tracks. The proposed multi-story, 381 space parking structure at the new platform will cost $7.8 million of the $19.3 million remaining bond proceeds acquired in 2008. A townhome development is proposed for the current 6 acre Caltrain/VTA parking lot combined with the adjacent 1.78 acre parcel (where currently the Morgan Hill Community Garden resides along with a City-installed "Native Plant Garden"). City staff has proposed moving the Community Garden across Butterfield Blvd to the berm in the middle of the storm water detention ditch along the boulevard. Information regarding daily access for gardeners was not provided.
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