SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif- Mixed-use developments are popping up all around downtown San Luis Obispo. About 7 mixed use developments are either underway or proposed in the city of San Luis Obispo, and the city hopes this is one step to bigger goals. "Reduce pollution provide housing and also create a stronger sense of community," said Mayor Jan Marx.
For developers at Marsh Street Commons the demand for this kind of housing was strong. "We felt the demand pressure, we had certainly done some research and we knew that there was a market for it," said Chris Richardson of Richardson Properties.
Marsh Street Commons is still under construction, but has already pre sold 7 of the 8 single family homes and 3 of the 4 lofts. What's left to sell is the retail space. There has been some interest from both mom and pop shops and big box stores. "We have had some interest from a regional company, we are just evaluating who the interest is and try to see if we can put the right pieces together before we commit," said Richardson.
Mayor Marx said these kinds of developments are economically viable for the city. "Commercial space does bring in sales tax, housing and such does not bring in very much revenue to the city we do get some property tax but not very much," said Marx. Besides revenue, the city is hoping for change.
"In the evening it pretty much turns into an area where there is some celebrating going on and some partying going on, if we have more people actually living in the downtown then we will have more of a normal kind of neighborhood," said Marx.
Mayor Marx admits it won't be without some initial problems. "It will definitely be an issue because there will be a clash of lifestyle but that's a kind of issue that the community is going to have to process and work through," said Marx.
