Tour of Taft Blight

Greater Taft Economic Development Authority Tour of Taft Feburary 15, 2013

Report #1 March 5, 2013

Top photo. 406 Montview (alley) in South Taft.

Below. South Street at Asher St.

Welcome to the Greater Taft Economic Development Authority

The Greater Taft Economic Development Authority is a joint powers agency created by the City of Taft and the Kern County Board of Supervisors. The Authority was re-established in November, 2012 and is committed to furthering the economic reach, strength, and viability of the community of Taft through advocacy, education, partnering, and organizing.

Following the in-depth input and assessment program through the Office of Community and Economic Development, Cal State University, Fresno, and the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) Rural Development Center initiated by the GTEDA in January, 2013, the Taft EDA intends to make substantive and enlightened recommendations to both the City of Taft and the County of Kern for both the direction and progression of the future of Taft.

This report is the first of those planned to chart the beginning and the ongoing efforts of the Taft EDA to make Taft a formidable player in the competition for new economic enterprises in the coming years.

On Friday, February 15th, Taft City Manager Craig Jones, Councilman Orchel Krier, Chamber of Commerce Director Dr. Kathy Orrin, Bill Black and EDA Chairman Michael Long took a tour of Taft and the entrances to the city to review blighted properties and create a list of blighted properties that are of concern to the image of the community of Taft.

An assortment of photographs is included in this report to dispel the notion that the standards for acceptability were at too high a level. These photos give a partial picture of the conditions of the entrance roads into the City of Taft and properties in the adjacent neighborhoods.

This report, and the reports that will follow, are intended to highlight the severity of the blight that has become the initial impression to which visitors to our community are subjected.

The Greater Taft Economic Development Authority is seeking recognition of this issue, acknowledgement of its negative impact on the community, and support in the form of funding through grants and direct contributions to the EDA.

Greater Taft Economic Development Authority Tour of Taft Report #1 February 15, 2013 Done ü

Address

City/Co

Conditions

Lot west of Conley School, South St. Lot in back of lot on South St. Hwy. 33, near 119, City Welcome sign Hwy. 33, between Taft and Maricopa, CalTrans signage SE corner Wood/ Montview

Co

Boarded-up duplex

Co City

huge tree needs trim, sat dish, Jacuzzi, mattress discarded Weeds, debris

Huge tree and sat dish gone City

Co

Signs faded

CalTrans

Co

(Lot next to 406 Montview-Burn house) 2 boats, tires car truck, building matls.

Burn house Trash

406 Montview White house on lot between 211 and 217 Montview 325 Wood 307 Montview 331 Montview 415 Montview 417 Montview 430 Montview Old Browns’s Mkt. on Wood, between Montview & Eastern Lot, Corner Asher & Wood Blue house in corner Shattuck and South 101 Pico, Corner 10th & Pico Campos Tires Old Water Co. Lot, 10th & Pilgrim

Co Co Co Co Co Co Co Co Co Co Co

Co Co Co

Looks abandoned, old truck in back, trash clean-up Posted Posted Posted Posted, Trash in front yard Burned out mobile home Junk in side lot, someone living in travel trailer in side lot, Building boarded up Debris, garbage Posted Roofing shingles on ground, in street How many tires is too many?

Debris

Comments/Owner

ü

Lot, Main & 10th Corner Kern and 10th Old Rest Home, 111 West Ash

Co Co City

Cedar Village (“Heroine Heights”, “Victory Square”) 303 Madison 114 Madison 316 Monroe 500 Monroe

Co

200 Harrison Old Chief Auto Parts 6th Street 517 Kern Next to Welcome Inn, Kern Street—No address 716 North House behind Artz Liquor 313 Kern Street (House next to Hall Ambulance) 123 North 716 North 322 Cente3r (lot by bank) 517 Kern St., access thru ally off 6th street, behind tool place

Co Co

Debris and weeds along tenth Suckers on Trees on 10th Broken windows, graffiti, mattress, evidence of inhabitants No screens on windows, trash receptacles on street Posted, next to Heroine Hts. Posted Posted Graffiti on house and in empty pool in back yard Trash, debris, graffiti, Parking Lot

Co Co

Weeds Vacant

City City City

Posted Is supposed to be torn down Watch, have spoken to them.

Lots of junk in front Posted Posted Weeds, debris CARETRAN van and Escapade travel trailer (appears to be inhabited) in back. Trash between fence and alley, perforated siding over windows of business.

Back of house has lots of weeds. Back half of roof almost missing. House appears to be vacant

Co Co Co Co

City City City City

519 Kern St., access thru ally off 6th street

City

Lierly & Pico, 2 houses, Blue across street NE corner Wood and Lierly 207 Naylor 117 Lierly 207 Taylor 230 Center

Co Co

Co Co Co City

Boarded up, Burned Slated for demo Slated for demo Slated for demo Windows need to be replaced with glass, not plywood

Gone

To Council 3-5-13 To Council 3-5-13 To Council 3-5-13

Ken Shugarts

Greater Taft Economic Development Authority Michael Long, Chairman Orchel Krier, Member Ken Anderson, Member Bob Leikam, Member Dr. Kathy Orrin, Secretary Teresa Binkley, Treasurer 400 Kern Street Taft, CA 93268 (661) 765-2165