In Benicia, spending is a key issue

How about starting allowing more stores that cater to anyone but the town's 35 plus y.o. females in town?

Historic preservation and cultivation of the already thriving artist community in the Benicia Arsenal is of the greatest importance to those of us who call that city home. We risk loosing the very thing that makes Benicia unique and desirable, if the Arsenal is developed in a way that focuses on high-income housing developments and corporate franchises that drive out artists, crafts-people and small businesses (not to mention all of industrial operations that are incompatible with non live/work residence and high profile tourism). First street has already lost so much character and history to over development. Let's not make a similar mistake by turning the Arsenal into a touristy facade of community and culture, like Old Sacramento or Cannery Row. Let's encourage world-class artists, like Robert Arneson and Manuel Neri, to develop here. Let's nurture the vibrant yet fragile community of the Arsenal and help property owners restore their historic buildings, so that we can make a contribution to world culture, while enriching the place that we live.

Don't spend like a Democrat! You'll regret it later! B-U-D-G-E-T!

Nancy wrote:

Don't spend like a Democrat! You'll regret it later! B-U-D-G-E-T!

Thankfully, there's little cost in preserving the culture and community that we already have. Alternately, it would take millions of dollars to convert the Arsenal in to the more "profitable," uses proposed, and that's money that will come from our taxes, only to benefit already wealthy developers.

I think it is possible to enhance the appeal of our historic assets with a "city branding" effort that would attract people to the historic resources of our town, and engage in some development options in the Benicia Arsenal area without negatively impacting the art community. The bottom line is balance. We can't go overboard on the touristy stuff like old town Sacramento, as you said, but we can highlight our resources and bring in visitors that will benefit everyone. We should follow the old maxim from Marcus Aurelius; "all things in moderation" when developing and restoring the Arsenal area.

Brian Northway wrote:

Historic preservation and cultivation of the already thriving artist community in the Benicia Arsenal is of the greatest importance to those of us who call that city home. We risk loosing the very thing that makes Benicia unique and desirable, if the Arsenal is developed in a way that focuses on high-income housing developments and corporate franchises that drive out artists, crafts-people and small businesses (not to mention all of industrial operations that are incompatible with non live/work residence and high profile tourism). First street has already lost so much character and history to over development. Let's not make a similar mistake by turning the Arsenal into a touristy facade of community and culture, like Old Sacramento or Cannery Row. Let's encourage world-class artists, like Robert Arneson and Manuel Neri, to develop here. Let's nurture the vibrant yet fragile community of the Arsenal and help property owners restore their historic buildings, so that we can make a contribution to world culture, while enriching the place that we live.

I agree wholeheartedly, Jubal! The Arsenal buildings are historical and architectural treasures, many of which would certainly benefit from some preservation measures. Likewise, as an industrial park the sidewalks and pathways of the Arsenal have never seen the type of attention from the parks department that keeps non-industrial Benicia so beautiful. Some development is already happening, as new businesses find homes here, but large scale projects, such as condominiums, hotels or shopping malls could hardly preserve the history or charm of this unique area, in my opinion.

Jubal Biggs wrote:

I think it is possible to enhance the appeal of our historic assets with a "city branding" effort that would attract people to the historic resources of our town, and engage in some development options in the Benicia Arsenal area without negatively impacting the art community...
<quoted text>