August 2024 Cities Civil and Municipal Public Sector

Fillmore, California – Ventura County

August 26, 2024

Fillmore, California

A Charming Rural City in Southern California

Providing an enviable lifestyle in an already beautiful state

An idyllic community, nestled in the picturesque landscape of California’s Santa Clara River Valley, Fillmore is often referred to as a “little piece of paradise.” Just a short drive from both the bustling Interstate 5 and the serene beaches of the Pacific Ocean, this small, close-knit community has long been anchored by its agricultural roots.

Recently, however, Fillmore has begun to see a surge of growth, attracting new residents from surrounding cities, drawn by its affordable housing and improving school district. This classic small town, reminiscent of the fictional “Mayberry” is also recognized as a prime filming location for Hollywood movies, TV shows, and commercials.

Revitalizing the Heart of Fillmore

Central to Fillmore’s recent developments is the downtown revitalization effort, spearheaded by the Fillmore Action Team, a group of business owners in the city core.

“Last year with the ARPA funds, we provided funding for all of the businesses within our central business district to do some facade improvements if they wanted to participate,” expands City Manager, David Rowlands.

The reopening of the Fillmore Town Theater has become a focal point of these downtown efforts, bringing new life to the area. The historic theater hosts comedy shows, plays, student performances, and other events, adding vibrancy and cultural richness to the community.

Rowlands notes, “Sean McCulley, who owns the theater has been a really good partner, working with us and the downtown merchants to have them grow and work with the city over the past couple of years.” Mayor Carrie Broggie adds, “That theater was built in 1920. To have that open up again, that will be the hub of the downtown district.”

Roan Mills Bakery is a popular new establishment in the city. “They have customers coming from over 60 miles to get bread,” shares Rowlands. “They also provide a variety of high-end restaurants in Beverly Hills in Los Angeles. And they’ve put Fillmore on the map for other individuals to come out here and visit our area.” The city is also home to a unique and diverse restaurant scene, including La Fondita, described as, “Worth the Trip to Fillmore.”

In 2022 Fillmore hired the consultancy firm Retail Strategies, to put together a five-year strategic vision for the downtown area. “We’re in our second year of implementation of various projects,” Rowlands recounts. “We had a new branding logo developed for the city. We’ve also taken a look at how we can incorporate the businesses, trying to reach out to get them involved more with city decisions that impact the downtown area.”

Laying the Groundwork for Growth

Fillmore is also making strides in enhancing its broadband infrastructure. An upcoming project in collaboration with Ventura County aims to bring high-speed internet access to all residents.

“This will provide access and give the city two dark fibers to use if we want to provide internet access to our residents or allow anybody else to come along and provide high-speed internet to all of our residents,” expands Rowlands. This initiative, which is expected to begin by the end of 2024 is crucial in supporting new residents, particularly those working from home, who have expressed the need for reliable internet connectivity.

Attracting Growth and Investment

Fillmore’s business-friendly environment is underscored by its streamlined approval processes for developers. “We’re very upfront with all developers and we tell them exactly what they’re going to need to get a project approved, right from the very beginning,” Rowlands conveys. The city is currently in discussions with developers about two major industrial sites, each featuring 150,000 square-foot buildings. “From talking with their brokers, they are very pleased with how we have responded to the request for information and our willingness to work with them,” he says.

Recently the city has welcomed Rotorcraft Support Inc. to its business park. Mayor Broggie elaborates, “It’s a helicopter repair company that moved from the van Nuys Airport to Fillmore. It is a tremendous operation that services helicopters from all over the world and now resides here in our own little Fillmore.”

The recent success of businesses like the Red Engine Brewing Company further highlights the city’s growing appeal. “They’re a brewpub with some of the best pizza in the region. They do a lot of special events at their location, bringing people in,” Rowlands describes.

Balancing Growth and Community Character

Mayor Broggie emphasizes the importance of controlled growth in Fillmore, as it works with developers such as Hearthstone, Comstock Homes, and Williams Homes to bring more housing to the community. The city has seen significant residential development, such as The Bridges, a large project that reflects the community’s preference for maintaining its small-town charm.

“Kevin (McSweeney) has an eye for what fits in Fillmore, and the concept of adhering to what people in Fillmore want to see,” she explains, “A lot of it is just continuing with the Mayberry feel of the town. When we’re talking to developers, in these residential areas, we ensure that they have that same mindset, balconies and wrap around porches and things of that sort, which is important to Fillmore. That’s the look that we have, that we want to retain.”

The city is also committed to providing affordable housing, successfully partnering with nonprofits like Many Mansions to create low-income housing options. “We’re not talking about cement concrete apartment complexes that are going in for low income, we’re talking about really pristine housing,” Broggie maintains.

“This goes back to the demands that the planning department has put on developers to adhere to what the citizens want these new developments to look like. It’s a beautiful, beautiful complex.” In partnership with another nonprofit, People’s Self-Help Housing, the community will soon break ground on another affordable housing project. Fillmore is also anticipating an upcoming development at the gateway to the downtown area. “The plan is a multi-purpose development, with housing on the second floor and the commercial down below. So, there’s mixed-use going in there,” she relays.

Furthering the efforts to meet the needs and expectations of the community, each new development is required to include parks, ensuring that residents have access to green space. Referring to the Bridges community, McSweeney outlines, “There will be two parks integrated into the development, that will be maintained and paid for by the surrounding homeowners through an assessment district. One is 4.4 acres, the other one will be 8.8 acres, and it will be constructed within two to three years.”

In addition, Fillmore is expanding its outdoor amenities, guided by a master bike path plan. “We’re only two and a half square miles but we’ve constructed about six miles of bike paths,” McSweeney details, noting that the new development will add another three miles of bike paths, which will be integrated into the community.

A Bright Future

Looking ahead Mayor Broggie says there will be a continued effort to bring employment opportunities to the city. “The difficult part about where Fillmore is located, despite how gorgeous it is, is that it is a bedroom community. We have proximity to LA County, San Fernando Valley, and Santa Clarita to the east. And then to the west, we have the city of Ventura, and even beyond that, Santa Barbara,” she acknowledges. “People commute to work. We are trying to bring in the businesses here to the community and move away from the bedroom community status that we’re in right now, and I think we’re starting to see the pendulum start to swing the other direction.”

Despite its development ambitions, Fillmore remains committed to preserving its rural charm and heritage. “We are such an agricultural community, with so many ranches and farms. That will never change,” Broggie emphasizes, underscoring the value of county initiatives that protect agricultural areas and keep many residents employed.

Remarking on the exciting growth and opportunities on the horizon, she concludes, “There is nothing but good things to come down the road for us. I’m thrilled with the direction that Fillmore is headed.”