MEMORANDUM
February 8, 2024
TO: PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Manpreet Kaur, Chair
Bruce Freeman
Bob Smith
FROM: Christopher Boyle, Development Services Director
SUBJECT: Downtown Housing Capacity Analysis
This report aims to lay the groundwork for a presentation on the potential for downtown Bakersfield to accommodate a growth of 10,000 residents. The presentation will be delivered by Mr. Eric Bagwell, Senior Project Manager at ECONorthwest.
OVERVIEW
A goal of City Council is to increase the number of residents living in downtown Bakersfield by 10,000 by the year 2030. In response, ECONorthwest was tasked to provide a Downtown Capacity Analysis by: (1) defining a specific study area; (2) identifying the current downtown population; (3) collect ing market data and identifying infill prototypes; (4) assessing market value of developable land; and (4) test ing the financial feasibility of prototypes and estimate feasible resident capacity of new development.
To realize this goal, the Downtown Housing Capacity Analysis recommends: (1) strategically up -zoning lower- density portions of downtown; (2) providing incentives for more residential in the C-B zone; (3) leveraging City or other publicly owned parcels to catalyze development; and (4) devis ing an infrastructure strategy to support downtown development.
RECOMMENDATION
The information provided is informational in nature. No action by the Committee is required.