Thrive! Morgan Hill has been involved with various aspects of the revitalization in the following ways: 

- one of our members served on the Community Review Committee in assisting the city manager in his recommendation to the Council of a potential partner in the development of downtown 

- two of our members served on the Beyond Measure A group which is gathering community input through a workshop process as to what their ideas are for a successful downtown 

- one of our members serves on the Chamber of Commerce Business to Business Advocacy Committee which has the goal of helping with business retention (especially in the downtown)

 

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 eliminate redevelopment agencies as of October 1, 2011 unless the sponsoring city agrees to enter into an Alternative Voluntary Redevelopment Program (AVRP) and pay a hefty yearly fee. The City Council voted to enter into an AVRP and continue its operations. The future of Redevelopment Agency funding is not set in stone as (see sidebar) as the California Supreme Court issued a partial stay on the budget legislation designed to eliminate RDAs. A decision is expected January 15, 2012.

In the meantime, the City of Morgan Hill already had previous funding committed to the certain downtown related projects. Among them are the Monterey Streetscape Redesign, the Hale extension, and the Butterfield extension projects.

Monterey Road Streetscape Project

The City Council - Redevelopment Agency has discussed the future of Monterey Road on Wednesday, October 19. Thrive! Morgan Hill has submitted a comment letter on the issue. The Council has decided to put the plans on the back burner until better economic times arrive.

Hale Extension 'Santa Teresa Gap Fill' Project

The City has released designs for the new intersections for the north-south extension of Hale Avenue (Main Ave to DeWitt Ave). The purpose of the extension is to provide a safer, more efficient north-south connection in the western part of the city. After three community workshops, City Staff presented the two-lane roundabout concept for the interchanges. It was presented to the Council on August 24/11 for approval so that staff could move forward on the design phase. 

Butterfield Boulevard Extension Project

As mentioned above, the extension of Butterfield Blvd south to Monterey Road is still alive and well. The City is currently acquiring the necessary rights-of-way and preparing to start construction in late fall (the construction contract has already been awarded).

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, 2011 may be the year that a solution is finally chosen. Two options were presented to the Morgan Hill City Council - one which would widen the creek along its current path, through both public lands and backyards, and a second option which would leave the creek in its current form with a box culvert placed under Britton field for excess run off. Either option has approved funding in partnership with the Santa Clara Valley Water District with construction scheduled to begin in 2014. The possibility of including a ‘creek walk’ along a small portion of the creek making it more of a recreation area is also under discussion.

The next step will be another yet-to-be-announced community meeting organized by the Santa Clara Valley Water District.


 

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