FORA to move forward with bond measure to remove barracks
MARINA, Calif. (KION) Old blighted buildings at the former Fort Ord could be getting demolished a lot sooner if a a proposed bond measure goes through.
When the base closed down in 1994, the property value of the land was close to zero, according to the Ford Ord Reuse Authority. But since then, it has shot up to over a billion dollars, and many Marina residents want to see more affordable housing on the land.
Barracks at former Fort Ord property sit dormant and rotting decades after the army left, leaving an eye sore for many residents in Marina.
"There's a lot of art going on there with graffiti. But overall, no, not doing much," Ben Dwyer, a Marina resident.
Ever since the military base closed down, Monterey County has been trying to figure out what to do with the land. The creation of FORA at least put many projects in play over the last 20 years, where about $420 million was spent.
Among the accomplishments, 80 percent of the buildings at Fort Ord were demolished, along with the removal of munitions and the rebuilding of parks.
FORA now wants to push for a bond measure to either destroy or repair some of the old barracks before the group itself dissolves in June 2020.
"It's been predicted the bonding could generate anywhere from 35 to 50 million dollars in funds," said John Phillips, a Monterey County supervisor.
Phillips says things could not move quickly enough under FORA partly because property values were too low to raise grant money for demolitions.
FORA is not funded by city or county revenues, but rather by federal grants, private property taxes at the former base and land sales.
Phillips says the new bond will not raise taxes on residents. Instead, he says, impact fees from developers will help reimburse costs along with cities paying a portion as well.
Residents simply want one thing on the land.
"I think affordable housing for the Monterey Peninsula would be a big plus," said Angela Hudson, a Marina resident.
"I think they could use more homes, especially this area could use a lot of expansion," said Dwyer.
The county is hoping to have the bond measure up in February or March of next year. FORA says cities are already planning to build housing on the land.
