Waterford gears up for makeover

WATERFORD -- By the end of this summer, streets downtown should have a different — and, officials hope, more welcoming — feel. And not long after that, City Hall will relocate from its current portable building to a permanent building at the edge of downtown.

Most of the money for the $1.5 million downtown improvement project came from federal grants, City Administrator Tim Ogden said. The city had to contribute only $25,000.

The city is accepting bids now; they'll be opened next month and construction should start soon after that — "as soon as the rain goes away," Ogden said.

The city has struggled to attract and keep businesses downtown, which has a 30 percent vacancy rate.

Darin Nelle, who bought Quesenberry's Waterford Pharmacy on Bentley Street in May, said downtown is a difficult place to do business, but he's hopeful the project will bring renewal to the area.

Nelle said many retailers have moved out to the area along Yosemite Avenue - Highway 132 — where the IGA grocery store is. Some fast food outlets are there, as well.

"As a business owner, that's probably a superior spot for me," he said. "There are a lot of new people who may not know that Quesenberry's is there."

Nelle said he appreciates the city's concern over the downtown core, and hopes that the new sidewalks, benches and amenities the project brings encourage more visitors and more businesses.

"It's certainly a step in the right direction," he said. "I'm thankful the city is bothering to take care of downtown and support the businesses that are downtown."

Business owners took part in two community meetings the city hosted to develop the downtown plan.

"It's a good start," he said.

Ogden said sales tax analysis shows Waterford could use clothing stores, a second grocery store and more food services. Staff is working with brokers to better market the vacant storefronts. Waterford doesn't have a chamber of commerce, but Ogden said it's a goal.

The 6,000-square-foot City Hall will go into a spot on E Street between Yosemite and Welch Street.

The long-planned building has gone through a few incarnations. It originally was planned as a government center that also would house a substation for the Stanislaus County Sheriff, as well as an expanded library branch. But then the economy plummeted, and plans were scaled back.

Still, the new building will serve as a gateway into downtown. It will allow the City Council to move its meetings from the community center, where they're now held.

Between them, Ogden said, the two projects will bring new focus and an improved appearance to an area that's suffered for years.

"It's going to dramatically change the look of downtown," he said.

Bee staff writer Patty Guerra can be reached at pguerra@modbee.com or (209) 578-2343.