Oxnard--On a split vote, the City Council approved its continuing commitment to Downtown Oxnard on April 4.
The Council declared surplus land sites in the City, with six being Downtown. Those sites include Plaza Park North, the Oxnard Transit Center (OTC) South Side, Plaza Park East, the Gold Wings building, the vacant lot between Fourth and Fifth, known as the Petting Zoo, and Plaza Park South.
“Those were declared surplus, and we went through the process to dispose of those sites,” Housing Director Emilio Ramirez said.
Ramirez said an effort was made in 2016 to produce a vision for Downtown with development and identified ideas that included transforming Oxnard Blvd. into the City Street, creating a Main Street area along A Street, the connection of Colonia to Downtown, plus focusing on the Plaza Park area, and infill opportunities surrounding Plaza Park.
“The establishment of an Arts Hub, and just infill development in Downtown and the establishment of a parking strategy,” Ramirez said.
The City Council was to adopt the vision plan and took several actions from that point, including a study to identify the Downtown parking inventory and creating a pilot parking program with outdoor dining.
“Adopting a five-year…
