By Andrea Papagianis
City Council members on Tuesday were once again called to provide leadership and act upon revitalization plans for the Dana Point Town Center by a coalition of citizens and local business owners.
Plans were approved back in 2006, but since, little movement has been made.
“The council can no longer be gripped by paralysis or inaction,” said Robert Hows, a resident and long-time realtor in Dana Point. “The time to put aside all of these old ideas and misconceptions is now.”
Hows expressed concern over the upcoming budget process, in which the city’s budget for the next two fiscal years will be determined, in what he said “could be the most important budget cycle to affect public goods in the city since it was founded.”
Over the next several months, the City Council and staff will prepare the city’s next budget, to be adopted prior to June 30. According to City Manager Doug Chotkevys, the process will focus on economic recovery and the impact on the city.
Other speakers pushed the city to take a risk and invest capital in the project.
“When I start a new project in my business, if I focused on the reasons not to do it, I would never have any projects, ever,” said Mike Powers, owner of Greenfield Communications. “Either explain to us why it can’t be done, or show leadership, find those hurdles and let’s overcome them.”
On February 15, Chotkevys and Brad Fowler, director of public works, will be on hand at the Dana Point Civic Association Coffee Chat to provide the latest information on the Town Center project. Coffee Chats are held the third Friday of every month starting at 8:30 a.m. at Coffee Importers, 34531 Golden Lantern St.—at the Harbor.
Finally, people pushing for this to get accomplished. thank you
As a former business owner (Fatal Attraction Lingerie & More 1987-2006)I had visions of grandeur that Dana Point Town Center would become a very classic destination for residents & visitors. 26 years later, I’m still waiting. We have a unique geography of business’s spread out in three locations; Monarch Beach, Dana Point Proper & Capo Beach. We have 3 major hotels, one that continues to state it’s in Laguna Niguel which should use some of the marketing money to provide free shuttles (like in Laguna Beach) to take residents or, visitors about town. Soon,the quaint beautiful Harbor (OC property)is going to be demolished & rebuilt into a two story monstrosity with limited parking & less boat slips instead of remodeled & left as a quaint little Harbor. With the economy still up in the air, locals & business owners cannot support the infrastructure that is needed to grow. Business owners will need reasonable rent to survive. We do need the tourist & visitor dollars. But, we need to give them something back so they continue to come back. After all repeat business is the reason why small business’s survive. Whatever the plan I hope it works because all the new beautification projects going on are just going to make the City beautiful but, we’ll still have less business.