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In the last eight years, the landscape of downtown Stockton has changed and will continue to change dramatically. There has been an amazing amount of carefully planned brick and mortar constructed in the city’s core which has become the most visible outward sign of the revitalization of our downtown. Getting the revitalization pendulum to swing forward often seems an impossible task. But once the momentum starts, there’s no stopping it. The most exciting element consistently present in revitalized downtowns across the nation is this continuous recharging of energy and constant evolution.
For Stockton, it began when Mayor Joan Darrah created and chaired the “Waterfront Revival Task Force” in 1995. The Channel Head consisting of 10 acres of land was the topic of discussion for numerous development proposals. On this site, Captain Charles Weber built the first permanent residence made of adobe and redwood in San Joaquin Valley after acquiring 49,000 acres through a Spanish land grant in 1849. Despite some early opposition to the plan, Mayor Darrah’s vision for a public space to be enjoyed by all the residents of Stockton prevailed, and Weber Point Events Center opened in 1999 to a crowd of thousands with entertainment by the Beach Boys. In June, the Downtown Stockton Alliance honored Joan Darrah at their annual Forum with the first ever “Stockton Skyline Award” for her vision, leadership and courage to be the catalyst for changing the landscape and preserving the public’s access to the waterfront.
During this same period of time, the Gateway Project, ten years in the making, finally began construction. The private owners of Stockton Gateway LLC successfully transformed the southeast corner of El Dorado and Center Street into a Union 76 and McDonald’s Restaurant in 2001. This was the largest, and so far only, completed redevelopment project south of Highway 4. Currently, Gleason Park is starting to experience redevelopment with an elementary school and new housing community.
Just west of the Hotel Stockton was the “sinking parking lot”. The asphalt was so deteriorated it was breaking away and exposing the waterway underneath. This blighted Brownfield was redeveloped by the City into a beautifully landscaped and architecturally significant public urban square, incorporating the channel’s headwaters. The public space was dedicated to Dean DeCarli, Mayor of Stockton in 1955 for two terms, and officially named Dean DeCarli Waterfront Square in June of 2001. The City was awarded The Phoenix Award for transforming an abandoned and blighted property. Directly across the street, and to the south of Dean DeCarli Square, the Stewart Eberhardt Building was erected with an 800 space parking garage to house City of Stockton Police and Fire Departments in 2001.
While public opinion at that time was “all redevelopment is happening in the waterfront area”, renovation was also taking place at the original Stockton Rail Depot between East Miner and Weber Avenues. The first floor designs were restored to their original use and feature a passenger lobby, baggage area, boardroom, ticket office and ACE Customer Service office. The Stockton Rail Depot renovation was completed in 2003 and dedicated to the late County Supervisor, Robert J. Cabral, due to his tireless efforts and vision that made the Altamont Commuter Express a reality.
There was history in the making as an entire city block surrounded by Miner, El Dorado, and Hunter Streets was razed to construct a 16-screen Cineplex and retail plaza. An archeological dig at the construction site unearthed artifacts from the “Sing Lee Laundry” and the Tretheway family now on display in the Hotel Stockton. The City Centre Cinemas held a grand opening in December of 2003 and has enjoyed record breaking attendance ever since. Within a short time, the Cinema retail plaza was fully leased.
Also underway was the renovation of the historic Fox California Theatre. Built in 1930, the theatre was closed for over two years while a historically accurate and painstaking restoration was completed. Naming rights were sold to Alex G. Spanos and the theatre was officially reopened and named the Bob Hope Theatre, at a Gala in September 2004. Main Street was closed for the evening as crowds enjoyed dinner and were entertained by comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
October of 2004 saw the completion of a significant project east of California Street. The Council of Governments (COG) chose a parcel of land at 555 E. Weber Avenue to build their new three-story Regional Center and successfully advanced redevelopment eastward.
The historic Hotel Stockton, built in 1910, underwent a major renovation, incorporating apartments on upper floors and retail, office and restaurant use on the ground floor. The upper floors were completed in December of 2004, while the ground floor is currently being developed. The Hotel Stockton connects with the City Centre Cinema plaza creating a very popular and vibrant space, filled with outdoor dining, a water feature and live entertainment.
In 2005, the Record Newspaper dramatically expanded its facilities on Market Street to encompass another entire city block, now housing a brand new printing press. Guaranty Bank relocated in 2005 to newly constructed regional offices on Hunter Street next door to the new Ed Coy Garage, which incorporates ground floor retail space and provides an additional 600 parking spaces in the heart of downtown.
Demonstrating the power of private investment in downtown Stockton, the S.H. Kress Building on Main Street has been renamed the Kress Legal Center, and is fully leased to the San Joaquin Law Library, the San Joaquin County Bar Association and legal firms, following a $2.5 million renovation.
2005 continued with a record number of completed projects in downtown Stockton. In the spring, the Ports Baseball said “good bye” to Billy Hebert Field and relocated to their waterfront Banner Island Ballpark. In the fall of that same year, WorkNet completed their new building south of the waterfront on Lincoln Street. The Stockton Events Center was completed in December and almost immediately began hosting hockey, soccer, and arena football, and entertainment from concerts to ice shows to bull riding.
2006 saw the transformation of the Cal-Main Building, 500 E. Main Street, once labeled the most blighted property in Stockton. Now proudly reclaiming the corner of California and Main Streets, it is the new home for the County Assessor and Tax Collector. Visionary Home Builders of California (formerly ACLC, Inc.) recently completed a stylish interior and exterior renovation of their new building at 315 N. San Joaquin Street. Public transportation has dramatically increased its profile and services in downtown with the opening of the San Joaquin RTD Regional Transit Center on Weber Avenue.
Scheduled for completion in 2007, we await the opening of the Stockton Sheraton at Regent Place. The project includes three floors of downtown’s first condominiums, most with spectacular views of the Delta. Paragary’s Bar & Grill and the downtown Marina will both add another interesting element to the downtown environment and attract new visitors. Soon, there will be additional waterfront restaurants next to the arena, where diners can choose to drive or boat in.
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