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3. The Motor Pool Site is a valuable piece of property that could be used for revenue-generating uses for San Mateo County (see conceptual studies in Appendix A). With the current economic conditions in the Bay Area and the rest of California, local governments are struggling to pay for government services and employee salaries due to low revenues. Unfortunately, decision makers have made tough decisions in eliminating vital services, closing public facilities, and forcing layoffs or unpaid leaves of absences. Many local governments, as well as the State of California, are looking for innovative ways to help close budget gaps and create new revenue streams that will help avoid cutting services or closing facilities during the next economic downturn. Although the economic downturn has significantly dampened development throughout San Mateo County and the Bay Area, development interests in Downtown Redwood City are expected to cycle back again due to the direction the City has taken in revitalizing this area and the increase in value the Downtown Precise Plan as well as City investment in high value infrastructure has created. San Mateo County can take advantage of this opportunity by holding or offering the Motor Pool Site for future development prospects. The site could potentially be sold off or leased to a developer for an office or residential mixed-use development. The County could earn top dollar when market conditions are ripe again. As noted above, property owners on either side of the Motor Pool Site are moving forward with large-scale mixed-use developments on those sites, indicating substantia I potential val ue to the County's Motor Pool Site, which is currently underutilized. The Motor Pool Site could be developed with new office or mixed-use development. Redwood City recommends that the Sheriff's Office have the property appraised in light of its attractiveness to the private development community. The asset this property represents in terms of economic value to the County if it were sold should play significantly in the overall evaluation of jail replacement sites. Because Redwood City is very interested in the potential this site offers for exciting new urban uses, the City has developed study plans that show how the Motor Pool Site could support dense, attractive development consistent with Downtown Precise Plan objectives. Appendix A of this report presents four conceptual studies that show how thoughtful and creative redevelopment initiatives could re-establish a city-block street grid, maintain the "Our Place" child care center, and accommodate significant new building spaces for civic, office, residential, andjor mixed-use. 4. Downtown Redwood City is an ABAG Priority Development Area. FOCUS is a regional development strategy that promotes a more compact land use pattern for the Bay Area. It unites the efforts of four regional agencies into a single program that links land use and transportation by encouraging the development of complete, livable communities in areas served by transit. As part of this strategy, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) has identified priority development areas, which are infill development opportunity areas near transit, where amenities and services can be developed to meet the day-to-day needs of residents in a pedestrian-friendly environment served by transit. Concentrating housing in these areas offers housing and transportation choices for all residents, while helping to reduce traffic, protect the environment, and enhance existing neighborhoods. Downtown Redwood City, within the Downtown Precise Plan area, has been designated as a priority development area by ABAG. Priority development areas support focused growth by accommodating growth as mixed use, infill development near transit and job centers, with an emphasis on housing. Redwood City 24 Site I nformation for Alternative Locations for the Proposed Replacement Jail September 2, 2009