Incentive Programs and Revitalization Efforts in Progress in Lompoc
Jarrod Zinn
LOMPOC, Calif. – Incentive programs and revitalization efforts are in progress in Lompoc.
Residents and city leaders are excited about these developments.
Many long-time residents remember Lompoc being much more of a vibrant community than it’s been in the last decade, but they’re anticipating a healthy comeback in the next few years.
The city of Lompoc is making several efforts to incentivize new arrivals, both domestic and business related.
“We have a chance for ourselves for 2400 housing units,” says James Mosby, mayor of Lompoc. “The state is kind of requiring us to build through our arena plan and we have River Terrace that’s pushing through. And I know a lot of the vacant property, people are now approaching, especially with the economic incentives that we’re putting forward.”
In response to Governor Newsom’s order last year, the Lompoc riverbed has been largely cleared of the presence of homeless encampments, and law enforcement is urging those who stay there to get the help they need.
“They’re doing a good job out there working on it,” says mayor Mosby. “Cleaning up the Lompoc Fire has been involved, local police departments involved, the sheriff’s involved.”
By reducing impact fees, city officials seek to reduce the cost on developers, incentivizing new affordable housing developments.
“Hopefully they bring their businesses back here or the people working at the base can find Lompoc again,” says mayor Mosby.
And one project many locals are looking forward to is the restoration of the Lompoc Theatre, which is moving along on schedule.
“It’s coming back,” says David Ramsey, Lompoc Theatre’s general contractor. “You can see it everywhere, all over the city. You can see that things are coming back and this building is going to make it really, really wonderful.”
Another way the city is trying to make things more affordable is by issuing credits to residents on recent electricity bills in the range of $200 per meter, a stimulus that comes just in time for school to start.
The Lompoc Theatre is expected to open its blackbox theatre early next year, and city officials look forward to more progress for other businesses.
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