Business View Magazine | October 2019

325 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2019 YUCA I PA , CAL I FORNI A BVM: Can you tell us about Yucaipa’s exciting uptown revitalization efforts? Toomey: “Our uptown reconstruction endeavor is probably the most visible impact in the community; something that started with a streetscape project in 2011 that was completed in 2012 and triggering a number of façade improvements, further enhancing the Uptown transformation. And most exciting, was the recent completion of our Performing Arts Center, along with an urban park/outdoor stage venue located in front. The objective has been to revitalize an uptown that was in decline; historical central business districts often go through that phase. As communities develop elsewhere, the older part of downtown deteriorates and then cities have to undertake revitalization efforts to attract new visitors. “In our case, it was a significant change from a four-lane arterial running through the middle of downtown, to a two-lane roadway with two roundabout intersections that we’ve enhanced with some sculptures and dynamic features. That’s