Over the last several years, the city and its partners have worked hard to revitalize our downtown. After talking with merchants and property owners in the area, we rebranded it “Old Town Newhall.” We have also added several public infrastructure projects including the Newhall Community Center, Veterans Historical Plaza, the Jan Heidt Newhall Metrolink Station, the Old Town Newhall Library, new building facades, new street furniture, landscaping and decorative sidewalks, the landscaped roundabout and public art. Regular special events have brought activity and new potential customers to the area via the popular “Thursdays at Newhall” series.

With the loss of redevelopment at the state level, we are seeking new and creative ways to continue our revitalization of this area. Specifically, following the Old Town Newhall Specific Plan, which was created after extensive outreach to and input from the community, the city is interested in finding a development partner to build a mixed-use project, anchored by an art-house movie theater, on the former redevelopment block property across from the Newhall Library.

To achieve this, the city opened a Request for Qualifications to find a suitable development partner. Five different developers submitted proposals, and those were narrowed down. In July, the Santa Clarita City Council selected development partners to negotiate with: Laemmle Theatres for the potential development of a portion of the redevelopment block into a six-screen art house movie theater, and also with Serrano Development Group/Pacific Coast Housing Development for the potential development of a portion of the block into a mixed-use project with new restaurants and retail stores on the first floor and residential units above. A third portion of the redevelopment block is being proposed as a city-funded public parking structure.

While these negotiations are expected to take a few months, and nothing is set in stone, the goal is to bring proposals to the City Council for consideration later this year an all three projects.

I would like to encourage you to stay engaged with the continued revitalization of our Old Town Newhall. Visit www.oldtownnewhall.com for information about these development projects as well as events and happenings.

Thank you for your continued interest and support of our city. I can be reached at kstriplin@santa-clarita.com should you have any questions or comments.

Ken Striplin is the city manager of the city of Santa Clarita.