Redevelopment is a process created to assist city and county government in eliminating blight from a designated area, and to achieve desired development, reconstruction and rehabilitation including, but not limited to: residential, commercial, industrial and retail.

In most cities, the City Councilmembers are also the governing board for the Redevelopment Agency, however, the Council and the Agency are two separate, distinct legal entities. The Agency members hire staff to carry out the day-to-day operations and its redevelopment plans. In most counties, the Board of Supervisors is the governing board.

The area within which actual redevelopment will take place. The project area must first go to public hearing (giving citizens who will be included in the project area a chance to express their views) after which the Redevelopment Agency acts on the adoption of the project area and becomes primarily responsible for future projects.

San Pablo Redevelopment is one of the most effective ways to breathe new life into deteriorated areas plagued by social, physical, environmental or economic conditions which act as a barrier to new investment by private enterprise. Through redevelopment, a project area will receive focused attention and financial investment to reverse deteriorating trends, create jobs, revitalize the business climate, rehabilitate and add to the housing stock and gain active participation and investment by citizens which would not otherwise occur.

A redevelopment plan presents a process and a basic framework within which specific projects will be undertaken. The plan provides the Agency with powers to take certain actions such as to buy and sell land within the area covered by the plan (project area), improving dilapidated facilities and to use tax increment financing.

The basic reason for establishing redevelopment projects is to secure funds that can be used to attract commercial, industrial and residential development in order to eliminate blight and improve an area.

It is important to note that higher taxes from the sale, development or rehabilitation of property reflects a rise in property value and "not" an increase in tax rate. Until a property is improved or sold, assessed values and tax rates in redevelopment areas are restricted by Proposition 13 limitations.

The California Redevelopment Association in Sacramento is a good resource. They can be reached at (916) 448-8760. You may also contact the City's Community Services Deparment at (510) 215-3039.