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Wagon Wheel developer presents proposals for area
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The future of Oxnard's Wagon Wheel property could include wide bicycle and pedestrian paths, a transit center, high-rise residential towers and a mixed-use "Main Street" featuring shops, restaurants and living space, a planner for the project said Wednesday morning during a presentation on the project.
Jasch Janowicz, planning director for the DalyOwensGroup, spent about 45 minutes describing the concept for the 64-acre redevelopment project, then answered questions from a group of about 40 community members who attended the presentation.
"We're really trying to create a gateway for the city of Oxnard," Janowicz said.
The Wagon Wheel project, named The Village, was the focus of this month's Housing Issues forum sponsored by Housing Options Made Easier, or HOME, an advocacy group that supports housing growth, including affordable housing, in Ventura County.
Oxnard Village Investments LLC purchased the Wagon Wheel property in 2003 and hopes to put 1,500 residential units and 50,000 square feet of retail space on the site. The project is subject to approval by the Oxnard Planning Commission and the City Council.
The conceptual design for the project features European architecture and an emphasis on "smart growth" principles such as access to pedestrian and bike paths, a transit hub and connections to the existing transportation system.
"If we do this right, I think we can have a significant reduction in traffic," Janowicz said of the plan.
The environmental impact report on the project could be available for public review within a few weeks, he said, and the developers hope to seek Planning Commission and council approval within a few months. Ideally, the group would like to begin demolition on the site before the end of the year, Janowicz said.
"We feel like we're close" on the EIR's completion, he said, "but we still have a lot of work to do."
The housing would include about 225 affordable units in a mix of rentals and for-sale property for very-low, low- and moderate-income residents, Janowicz said. Residents of the Wagon Wheel mobile home park, which would be demolished as part of the redevelopment, would have first priority for the affordable housing, he said.
The mobile home park is about 75 percent occupied now. The rest of the property, which is south of Highway 101 and west of Oxnard Boulevard, is a mix of industrial and commercial buildings and is about 25 percent occupied, Janowicz said. The site's namesake hotel and restaurant were closed in late 2006.
If construction begins as hoped in early 2009, build-out of The Village would take about five years, Janowicz said.
HOME hosts the Housing Issues forums every other month, outgoing chairman Brad Golden said. The next event is expected to feature Camarillo's Springville project. That event is scheduled for May 14.
For more information, call 218-8879.
Posted by CloudyDaze on March 13, 2008 at 5:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This development should be ready in time to provide very low income housing to those who previously purchased homes in Riverpark and have seen their homes either wash away or become virtually worthless with the collapse of the real estate market.
Posted by desdave on March 13, 2008 at 6:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This certainly sounds like another of these pie in the sky plans that Oxnard officials get fired up about periodically. I agree that the entire wagon wheel area needs to be bulldozed to eliminate the eye sore that it is now. However, the focus on low income housing doesn't bode well for this becoming a shining city of the future in it's place.
Posted by frank14 on March 13, 2008 at 7:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What will the developers do to address the chronic flooding problem on Wagon Wheel Road? They have to close it every time we get a quarter inch of rain. River Park managed to escape any responsibility for correcting the flaw even though resident use the road to access Oxnard and avoid the traffic jams on Vineyard. Don't let these millionaires get away with ignoring it!
Posted by kbaker4us on March 13, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I will miss the Wagon Wheel. Having grown up in Oxnard during the 50's and early 60's, it was one of the wonders of the town. (go ahead and jump on me for saying that) I hope that the area can be turned into something that helps the less fortunate residents of Oxnard and preserves the area as it should be.
Posted by Hueneme_girl29 on March 13, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"If we do this right, I think we can have a significant reduction in traffic,"
HUH? Yeah, 50K space in retail and 1500 residential units......sounds great.
Posted by cslaurie on March 13, 2008 at 7:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How about the city forcing the developer to clear the land before discussing any future plans? Talk about urban blight. But I guess the abandoned school on Fifth St is an acceptable standard in Oxnard. On the other hand the old hospital is looking great - finally.
Posted by shaver_one on March 13, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
High-rise buildings at the old Wagon Wheel site, AND high-rise buildings at the old Levitz site, in addition to the already existing high-rise buildings at the Financial Center...Wonderful. Can anyone say Los Angeles skyline?
Posted by lrgvanman on March 15, 2008 at 5:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't comment without being in violation or causing the replacement of this article.
Posted by CamarilloMan on March 15, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is great! tiredofviolence, by "if we do this right" they mean, if all involved, the city, and all the agencies that have a say come together on the project. I applaud them for using smart growth. Developing Wagon Wheel further will dovetail with River Park and the Esplanade further taking away retail tax dollars from Ventura which does not seem to get a clue on how to raise funds to pay for police and fire protection. Now if anyone can figure out how to redevelop south Oxnard, Pleasant Valley, Hueneme Road, then that will lower traffic through the Oxnard/Saviers and Ventura Road Corridors.
Posted by YaitsmeJennieG on March 17, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There was a time when Wagon Wheel was quaint but unfortunately it had remained an eyesore and a place to harbor the lowest of the low convicted criminals on parole,pedophiles,drug users etc. We are ready for change here in Oxnard DO NOT LET US DOWN AGAIN CITY "Officials" There is project that was completed in Rancho Cucamonga,Ca. called the "Victoria Gardens " why not look into a project like that?
Posted by Spinocity on March 20, 2008 at 10:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Wagon Wheel is a potential landmark not because of what it looks like, but because it was Martin V. Smith's first development project. A 18 foot high sound wall with high rises behind it would make Oxnard look like every other city in the state/country. If the WW was restored to it's hey day as a western themed roadside attraction, then it could be used as a farmers market, school, arts collective, themed steak house, visitors center... see beyond the deplorable condition of the building. Blame the developer for "demolition by neglect". There are few mid-century roadside motels of this type worth saving, but because of who Martin V. Smith was, it is important, and needs to be restored.
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