City discussion on using portion of Rabobank building for apartment units continues

The Salinas City Council is continuing its discussion into how office spaces at an old Rabobank building can be converted into apartment units.

They will do so during a council meeting scheduled for Tuesday night. The discussion will tap into the building’s history as council may move to designate the site as a “historic resource.”

If they do so, there’s a trickle-down effect which could happen as the property would then be eligible for a “Mills Act Contract.”

This is a contract which would be signed by the city and the property owner allowing for lower property taxes as long as the building’s designated historic characteristics are preserved, maintained or improved.

A report by the city’s community development team says the owner of the building has expressed a desire to convert the office spaces located on the 2nd floor and above into about 50 residential housing units. Being under the Mills Act Contract would essentially heat up discussion if not get closer to solidifying the project into becoming a reality.

“The city has all these plans to beautify downtown but we still have a lot of problems with the homeless and the upkeep of things we have already,” says Kurt Dillard–a business owner near where the building is located. “We can’t put all new stuff and let it go to the pot like we already have.”

Dillard is one of a few other business owners who expressed skepticism over the project.

He says revitalizing the area isn’t much of the issue but the wave of construction for sidewalks may force customers away for some time.

And then, should the Rabobank project work out, parking may become an issue.

“I don’t know where they’re going to build parking for these people to put their cars but I’m afraid it’ll take parking away from our customers,” Dillard explains.

Plans to revitalize the area continue at the time of this writing and an example of that can be seen with some of the sidewalk work going on.

What residents say they would hope to see is a new parking structure should the Rabobank project be approved–one which would be for both shoppers and new residents in the area.

Skepticism from some business owners was met with hope from others, however, as there are some who also believe it will help boost businesses as well.

Regardless the Rabobank project is not exactly set in stone yet. The city still has some decisions to make in regards to its discussion with the property owner.

Salinas City Council members will hear a report from its Community Development team during a council meeting scheduled for Tuesday night at 4pm.