Greater Taft Economic Development

AuthorityTour 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 Eco-nomic Development, Cal State University, Fresno, and the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) Rural Develop-ment 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 ac-ceptability 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, acknowledge-ment 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 Address City/Co Conditions Comments/Owner Lot west of Conley School,

South St. Co Boarded-up duplex

ü Lot in back of lot on South St.

Co huge tree needs trim, sat dish, Jacuzzi, mattress discarded

Huge tree and sat dish gone

Hwy. 33, near 119, City Welcome sign

City Weeds, debris City

Hwy. 33, between Taft and Maricopa,

CalTrans signage

Co Signs faded CalTrans

SE corner Wood/ Montview Co (Lot next to 406 Montview--Burn house) 2 boats, tires car

truck, building matls.

406 Montview Co Burn house

White house on lot between 211 and 217 Montview

Co Trash

325 Wood Co Looks abandoned, old truck in back, trash clean-up

307 Montview Co Posted

331 Montview Co Posted

415 Montview Co Posted

417 Montview Co Posted, Trash in front yard

430 Montview Co Burned out mobile home

Old Browns’s Mkt. on Wood, between Montview &

Eastern

Co Junk in side lot, someone living in travel trailer in side lot,

Building boarded up

Lot, Corner Asher & Wood Co Debris, garbage

Blue house in corner Shattuck and South

Co Posted

101 Pico, Corner 10th & Pico Co Roofing shingles on ground, in street

Campos Tires Co How many tires is too many? Old Water Co. Lot,

10th & Pilgrim Co Debris

Lot, Main & 10th Co Debris and weeds along tenth Corner Kern and 10th Co Suckers on Trees on 10th Old Rest Home,

111 West Ash City Broken windows, graffiti,

mattress, evidence of inhabitants

Cedar Village (“Heroine Heights”, “Victory Square”)

Co No screens on windows, trash receptacles on street

303 Madison Co Posted, next to Heroine Hts. 114 Madison Co Posted 316 Monroe Co Posted 500 Monroe Co Graffiti on house and in empty

pool in back yard

200 Harrison Co Trash, debris, graffiti, Old Chief Auto Parts

6th Street Co Parking Lot

517 Kern Co Weeds Next to Welcome Inn, Kern

Street—No address Co Vacant

716 North City Posted ü House behind Artz Liquor City Is supposed to be torn down Gone

313 Kern Street (House next to Hall Ambulance)

City Watch, have spoken to them. Lots of junk in front

123 North City Posted To Council 3-5-13

716 North City Posted To Council 3-5-13

322 Cente3r (lot by bank) City Weeds, debris To Council 3-5-13

517 Kern St., access thru ally off 6th street, behind tool

place

City CARETRAN van and Escapade travel trailer (appears to be inhabited) in back. Trash between fence and alley,

perforated siding over windows of business.

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

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

Lierly & Pico, 2 houses, Blue across street

Co

NE corner Wood and Lierly Co Boarded up, Burned

207 Naylor Co Slated for demo 117 Lierly Co Slated for demo 207 Taylor Co Slated for demo 230 Center City Windows need to be replaced

with glass, not plywood Ken Shugarts

Greater Taft Economic Development Authority

Michael Long, ChairmanOrchel Krier, Member

Ken Anderson, MemberBob Leikam, Member

Dr. Kathy Orrin, SecretaryTeresa Binkley, Treasurer

400 Kern StreetTaft, CA 93268(661) 765-2165