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Downtown Palm Springs News- Come See What We've Done!

By Ron Jesser

Real Estate Agent with Real Estate eBroker Palm Springs

January 06, 2012 08:52 AM

The City Of Palm Springs Is Taking Off!

We are moving forward with revitalization plans for downtown and the area in general is seeing a huge uptick in business in general. Both the Uptown Design District and the Downtown Area are alive experiencing growth, increased sales and plans for a whole new Downtown experience under way.

Be a part of a building demolition!

Back in November, the citizens of Palm Springs passed the Measure J sales tax (with no net increase in sales taxes) to finance infrastructure work throughout the city for the next 25 years and to also finance the tear-down of Desert Fashion Plaza with a later redevelopment of that entire section of downtown.

It all kicks off January 26th!

Demo of the former BofA building will begin with a public ceremony on January 26th at the site. Stay tuned for details or call us at 760-322-7822 for information. The city is moving along very fast with plans for the sale of financing bonds with that will complete in April. At that time, the city will take deed to the public properties, streets, and the parking garage.

The former bank lot will soon be a public plaza right away as a signal to the beginning of this very exciting project. And immediate steps increasing public parking to help all businesses in the area. By mid-2013, the entire old mall will be gone and the new neighborhood will begin to rise out of the rubble.

Look for courtyards of shops, a new movie complex, restaurants and public areas. Features of this pedestrian friendly area will include outdoor areas with shade structures and natural convection cooling for year round comfort.

In other news

The Coachella Valley Association reported increases in hotel bookings for events this year (at 137,000 room nights already) and they are talking to Westjet, Alaska Airlines and Virgin Air on promoting the valley as a tourist and sporting destination. Look for special fares from all over Canada and the US.

The Coachella Valley is the #1 Golf destination in North America! What? Yes, we are tops when it comes to golf and a look outside at the weather, a balmy 75 degrees, will tell you why our 125 golf courses do so well. Check out the video below.

The city is working on several fronts to capitalize on the many things happening now:

The needs of downtown and uptown merchants in working with the city will provide for the success of business and comfort of tourists. The Merchants Association and the city work very closely to this end with a common goal of giving business the tools to grow and visitors a fun and rewarding experience.
Promoting business and tourist access as we move into a new era with the Downtown redevelopment projects. Their lists include everything from new newspaper racks to new bike racks, additional crosswalks, lighting, billboard advertising, and radio ads and around the area.
The plan is to promote the entire Downtown and Uptown area at a time when we have the attention of so many around the country and the world with the work happening to revitalize Palm Canyon and Indian Canyon Drive from end to end. The demo of BofA will be the catalyst to set that in motion.

If you would like to stay connected and informed, attending this meeting once a month and joining as a business or as an interested citizen is a great way to stay in the know. And being a member is not required...... meetings are open to the public.