Improvements Taking Root in North Bay
Councilmember Zucchet To Plant One of 100 New Trees Throughout the North Bay Redevelopment Project Area at Community Ceremony

SAN DIEGO, CA - Councilmember Michael Zucchet and North Bay community members will participate in a tree planting ceremony that will mark the planting of more than 100 trees in the Second Council District at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 2, 2004. The event kicks-off one of a number of revitalization efforts taking place throughout the North Bay Redevelopment Project Area.

The ceremony will take place at the corner of Sports Arena Boulevard and Kemper Street. Additionally, trees will be planted along major thoroughfares along Midway Drive, Rosecrans and West Point Loma Boulevard among others throughout the summer. The trees are designed to help beautify these stretches of the project area, and create a more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere and encourage increase walkability in the area.

"The addition of trees serves as the symbolic start of several initiatives and improvements slated for the North Pay project area," said Councilmember Michael Zucchet. "The trees signify a change in the face of the Midway community and continue the ongoing citywide urban forestry initiative. I look forward to the continuing improvement of the North Bay area as it becomes a more vibrant community providing an excellent quality of life for residents and opportunities for businesses."

The City of San Diego's Redevelopment Agency, through the Community and Economic Development Department, is providing $50,000 in tax-allocation bond funding to purchase the mature trees. Additionally, the Business Improvement District Council is funding $10,000 for maintenance and the North Bay Association is providing $6,000. Local businesses will continue to fund maintenance and upkeep for the trees once they've been planted.

"The North Bay community is experiencing a great deal of activity and excitement from interested parties looking to improve this area," said Hank Cunningham, director of the City's Community and Economic Development Department. "In the future, North Bay residents will be seeing storefront improvements on Morena Boulevard businesses as well as a number of proposed residential and mixed-use projects on the Voltaire Street Commercial Corridor and other areas designed to restore and revitalize the North Bay area. We're pleased to partner with community and business groups to help make these improvements a reality."

For more information on the North Bay Redevelopment Project Area or redevelopment in San Diego, contact the City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency at (619) 533-4233 or visit www.sandiego.gov.

# # #

The City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency eliminates blight from designated areas, as well as achieves the goals of development, reconstruction and rehabilitation of residential, commercial, industrial, and retail districts. Redevelopment is one of the most effective ways to breathe new life into deteriorated areas plagued by social, physical, environmental or economic conditions that act as a barrier to new investment by private enterprise. The City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency consists of three divisions: the City Redevelopment Division (housed in the City of San Diego Community and Economic Development Department), the Centre City Development Corporation and the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation.