Five Fallbrook projects to receive CDBG funding

The County of San Diego’s final 2006-07 annual funding plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships, Emergency Shelter Grant, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS programs includes CDBG funding for the Fallbrook Community Center interior remodeling, land acquisition for Clemmens Lane Park, and three Fallbrook sidewalk projects.

The supervisors’ 5-0 vote May 9 recommends $230,000 for sidewalks along Old Stage Road, $170,435 for the community center remodeling project, $100,000 for the Clemmens Lane Park land acquisition, $50,000 for the East Alvarado Street sidewalk project, and $35,000 for preliminary engineering for sidewalks elsewhere on Alvarado Street. The final plan will be submitted to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides the funding for the programs.

The Fallbrook portion of the final recommendations did not change from the preliminary recommendations approved at a March 14 public hearing. The only changes from the March 14 preliminary recommendations involve minor financial updates for reallocation of cancelled projects or projects completed with money remaining. One of the cancelled projects was the Fallbrook Mental Health Services building expansion, which received $198,701 of 2004-05 funding. Money from that and other projects will be used for the regional fair housing administrator, the regional shared housing program, and the CDBG housing development fund.

The St. Peter’s Organizing Ministry submitted a list of proposed sidewalk projects to the county Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) along with priorities for the sidewalk projects. HCD recommended the organization’s highest priorities for funding. The Old Stage Road sidewalk project will construct sidewalks on the west side of Old Stage Road between Clemmens Lane and Aviation Road, the East Alvarado Street sidewalk project will design and construct approximately 50 feet of sidewalk on the south side of Alvarado Street between the Fallbrook Family Health Center and South Brandon Road, and the other Alvarado Street project will provide preliminary engineering for the installation of sidewalks on the south side of Alvarado Street from Potter Street to one-half mile west of Mercedes Road.

The Old Stage Road sidewalk project has an estimated total construction cost of $641,000, and if the supervisors subsequently approve county staff’s recommendation of $411,000 of gas tax revenue to be spent on the project the gas tax funding will supplement the CDBG award. A previous CDBG grant funded design of sidewalks on one side of Old Stage Road between Clemmens Lane and Aviation Road; the design phase is currently 90 percent complete. Old Stage Road is used by children who attend Maie Ellis School and children who take the bus to La Paloma School, and completion of the sidewalk will also provide connectivity between existing sidewalks for pedestrians using neighborhood services and public transportation. The sidewalk construction has an estimated completion date of June 2007.

The East Alvarado project will extend a sidewalk network and allow safe travel to access Fallbrook Hospital, the health clinic, and a nearby school. The project has an estimated completion date of June 2007.

The preliminary engineering project for the Potter-Mercedes segment would also lead to the extension of sidewalks on Alvarado Street and would provide a continuous walking path for pedestrians using Alvarado Street for La Paloma School, the hospital, and the health clinic. The engineering phase has a June 2007 completion estimate.

The Community Center interior remodeling also has a June 2007 completion estimate. That project will provide the first phase of the planned overall building remodel. Final costs for Phase I have not yet been determined, although the County Service Area No. 81 Advisory Board has recommended $100,000 in PLDO funds (or funds provided by developers to fund park facilities in the development area) to supplement the CDBG grant. The 2004-05 CDBG funds included $60,000 to develop design concepts for the remodel of the community center’s interior; the study was intended to result in design options for future upgrades of the building to meet community needs. An architectural firm was hired for the study and the construction plans are expected to be completed later this year.

The CSA No. 81 Advisory Board has also recommended $100,000 of PLDO funds to supplement the Clemmens Lane Park land acquisition. The lot in the 200 block of West Clemmens Lane is currently owned by San Diego Gas and Electric but is vacant. The .35-acre lot is surrounded by multi-family apartments, and residents of the immediate neighborhood have requested that the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation purchase the property. A concept plan includes potential park locations for a basketball/volleyball court, a soccer cage, playground equipment, and a picnic area. A complete appraisal has not been completed, but based on square footage costs for similar properties the estimated purchase cost will be between $150,000 and $200,000. Future development of the park is expected to cost approximately $300,000. The purchase of the land is expected to be completed by December.