TEMECULA - Meet Al Rattan, the man
with a plan for Old Town Temecula.
Rattan's plan, along with developing three parcels his company owns
into commercial and residential uses, involves putting Murrieta Creek
to work in the summer months. Rattan wants to trap enough water to
create a meandering stream that would be a focal point for shoppers,
diners, office workers and residents.
He says Temecula must take a fresh look at Old Town's residential
and business district with an eye toward making the most use of the
little land that is left. To help his plan gain traction, Rattan has
enlisted a pair of political veterans.
Al Lopez is Rattan's longtime sidekick. He is a 12-year veteran of
the Corona City Council who has served as a Western Municipal Water
District director for the past 5 ½ years. Lopez has spent months
studying river-related projects that anchor the economies of San
Antonio, Texas; Boulder, Colo.; and other communities.
Also on board is Karel Lindemans. He was elected to the first City
Council when Temecula became a city in 1989. He served eight years
over two terms before he opted not to seek re-election in November
1999.
Lindemans, who is 74 and lives in Palm Springs, has no doubt the
trio can turn their vision of an Old Town river walk into reality.
"We can make it happen," said Lindemans. "The creek
can be used for both flood control and aesthetics."
Lindemans' appearance at a July 11 city meeting -- which centered
on one of three Old Town sites owned by Renaissance Ventures, Rattan's
development company -- raised eyebrows among some Temecula staff and
council members. Outside Old Town, Rattan is best known for developing
the upscale Renaissance Estates tract in rural DeLuz, west of the
city.
Long known for his pointed remarks and self-effacing humor,
Lindemans quickly made his presence known at the July 11 meeting.
"I know Karel's love for Old Town," City Manager Shawn
Nelson said in a telephone interview later. "He obviously brings
a knowledge of what happened in the past and he has good relations
with people in the city. I think he definitely brings a lot to the
table."
Lindemans plans to use his Old Town expertise, city ties and
experts from his home country, Holland, where flood control and land
reclamation are intertwined with that nation's past and present.
Lindemans floated the idea years ago, while he was on the council, to
use gates or inflatable bladders to capture and capitalize on Murrieta
Creek flows.
"You'd be creating a long lake in the summertime," he
said. "It takes a visionary, and then it takes a businessman to
make it work."
But city officials are as wary about the river walk concept now as
they were years ago. The first phase of a $95 million federal project,
which is aimed at gaining control of the flood-prone creek, is nearly
finished.
The design of the second phase is almost complete and the Riverside
County Flood Control and Water Conservation District is acquiring land
in preparation for work on the next segment.
The city, county, state and federal agencies spent more than a
decade crafting a flood- control plan, and cobbling together funds to
pay for it to tame the creek, which surges during winter rains but is
frequently bone dry in the summer.
Also, the city is about to seek bids for the installation of a
four-mile trail that would flank the creek and be partially funded by
a $1.21 million federal grant that was approved six years ago.
And, finally, Old Town land values have skyrocketed as city
improvements were made, development sites disappeared and construction
plans were filed for the few remaining open lots.
About $21 million in public funds were spent in Old Town from 1996
to 2005, said John Meyer, the city's redevelopment director.
That public spending jump- started nearly $20 million in private
investments there over the past 18 months to two years, he said.
The city expects to pump another $20 million into Old Town parking
and other improvements over the next three to five years.
That figure will be likely be surpassed, possibly reaching $21
million, in private investments there over the next two years, Meyer
said.
"It's working. It's booming," Mayor Ron Roberts said of
Old Town's economic picture. Roberts and Nelson say winning support
from the flood district, the local agency involved in the creek
widening project, pose the first challenge for Rattan and his team.
Flood officials are the experts and any water-retention methods --
especially because channeling work is under way -- must pass muster
before the river walk plan can move forward, Roberts and Nelson said
in separate interviews.
"The issue of whether it's even feasible or not depends on
flood control," Nelson said.
Steve Thomas, chief of operations for the county flood agency, said
he doesn't know if or how a water retention system would mesh with
work to protect Old Town and Camp Pendleton from damaging floods such
as those in 1993.
"I don't know how it could be done," Thomas said by
telephone Wednesday, noting the creek channel is narrow in places and
dozens of businesses, homes, apartments and public buildings line its
banks.
"We would love to listen to all possible ideas," Thomas
said.
Ed Dool, an Old Town business owner and former council candidate,
applauds Rattan's plan to raise the creek's visibility among visitors
and merchants.
He described Lindemans as "an icon for the city" who has
paid his dues in Old Town and earned the respect of Temecula leaders.
"I would like to see that (river walk) concept. I really
would," Dool, who owns an outdoor pub and leases space to a
barbecue restaurant, said in a telephone interview.
"The creek project would be the icing on the cake."
