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downtown. At the time the City Council included the downtown as a redevelopment <br />project area, it made the following determinations: <br />“1) The existence of buildings and structures used or intended to be used for <br />living, commercial, industrial or other purposes which are unfit or inappropriate to <br />occupy for such purposes due to deterioration and dilapidation, age and <br />obsolescence, mixed character of buildings, shifting uses, faulty interior <br />arrangement and exterior spacing, and defective design and character or <br />physical construction; and <br />2) The existence of properties which suffer from deterioration and disuse <br />because of: inadequate public improvements, facilities and utilities, which cannot <br />be remedied by private or governmental action without redevelopment, <br />particularly deficiencies in the street and circulation systems; parking facilities; <br />and storm drainage, water and sewer systems; and the existence of parcels that <br />are of irregular form, shape or size for proper usefulness and development; and <br />3) A prevalence of social maladjustment; and <br />4) A prevalence of impaired investments and economic maladjustment. <br />Such conditions are causing and will increasingly cause a reduction and lack of <br />proper utilization of the area to such an extent that it constitutes a serious <br />physical, social and economic burden on the City which cannot reasonably be <br />expected to be reversed or alleviated by private enterprise acting alone, requiring <br />redevelopment in the interest of the health, safety and general welfare of the <br />people of the City and the State. This finding is based on the fact that <br />governmental action available to the City without redevelopment would be <br />insufficient to cause any significant correction of the blighting conditions, and that <br />the nature and costs of the public improvements and facilities and other actions <br />required to correct the blighting conditions are beyond the capacity of the City <br />and cannot be undertaken or borne by private enterprise acting alone or in <br />concert with available governmental action.” <br /> <br />The Projects contemplated by the City/RDA loan assisted in eliminating several blighted <br />conditions identified above. The Projects, Jefferson Underground Parking Garage and <br />Block 2 Parking Lot in particular, would assist in providing adequate off -street parking <br />to serve current and future uses in the downtown. Such off -street parking was <br />constructed to minimize on-street parking issues and to allow the streetscapes to <br />become more pedestrian and bicycle friendly, thereby creating safer pedestrian mobility. <br />The Projects were proposed to support development of the many parcels in the area <br />that are too small to accommodate development that includes parking necessary to <br />support such use. Furthermore, the Projects, including the historic Courthouse façade <br />improvements, were a true investment in the heart of downtown, fostering a sense of <br />place, enhancing community pride, and creating a comfortable, inviting “outdoor living <br />room”. Finally, the Projects enabled private investment in the downtown. These <br />Projects, in collaboration with other redevelopment efforts, revived the downtown as the <br />hub for community activities, and assisted in making the downtown the entertainment <br />center for Redwood City residents, and for the Peninsula. <br /> <br />6.1.D. - Page 3