City of San Rafael

What is Redevelopment?

The purpose of the Redevelopment Agency is to provide economic stimulus within the Redevelopment project area.  Redevelopment seeks to capitalize on the characteristics and resources unique to Central and East San Rafael and to reestablish the image and awareness of this area as the vital center in Marin.  The Agency accomplishes this general goal through the provision of capital and infrastructure projects, elimination of blighting influences, affordable housing development, and aggregation of properties to allow private reinvestment where market forces are stymied. 

The Redevelopment Agency also serves local businesses through technical assistance, site selection, permit processing, and support of San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District (BID).

Since 1972, The Redevelopment Agency has completed a substantial number of projects involving traffic circulation, parking, aesthetics, drainage, public facilities, housing, development projects and various economic development studies.   The Agency's projects are set forth in a five-year implementation plan as required by California redevelopment law.

The Redevelopment Agency has a Citizens Advisory Committee on Redevelopment, whose purpose is to provide residents, business people, and property owners with a means to express their views regarding the nature and operations of the various redevelopment projects in an advisory capacity to the Agency.  It is the intent that this will allow the Agency to carry out a program which will fully meet the needs and desires of the project area and the community as a whole.

The Economic Development Department is the staff for the Redevelopment Agency.  The City Council members comprise the Redevelopment Agency's Board.