Vacancy Project
What’s up with the vacant storefronts and empty lots in Petaluma?
Petaluma has a vacancy problem. Sure, restaurants and boutiques in downtown come and go, and there is the inevitable turnover of storefronts. But key streets and intersections have vacancies on them that have been there for decades. Most of the vacancies predate the COVID-19 pandemic, and even the advent of e-commerce which caused many brick and mortar establishments to falter.
Is all this vacant property a problem?
Yes!
Vacant lot at the corner of Keokuk and Washington
The community does not just lose out on a great opportunity to reinvigorate the city when land remains vacant for extended periods of time. The long-standing and widespread commercial vacancies in key parts of our City creates a bad impression about what Petaluma is and what it could be. Moreover, our community incurs financial and other costs when it allows vacancies in our vital downtown and central Petaluma areas to proliferate.
The Vacancy Project team is focused on bringing visibility to empty, vacant (and yes, some blighted properties) and proposing solutions for this drain on Petaluma’s vibrancy.
The project team is currently completing a walking assessment of vacancies and an analysis of the costs to the City of empty parcels and empty storefronts.
Vacant lot for sale on Liberty behind Petaluma Market.
In Petaluma, most of the new business investment is outside the City’s downtown and central core, as local, regional, and national chains continue to move into shopping malls on Petaluma’s east side and the Lakeville Highway area. Given the growth of industry and housing in these areas, the City likewise invests much of its funding for capital improvements into these regions. Meanwhile, parcels that could provide great infill development opportunities to support the downtown and the riverfront areas, provide for greater shopping and employment opportunities on the west side, or foster the environmental sustainability of the City with additional green space, walking and bike trails, and recreational opportunities, continue to sit idle.
Former Northbay Kitchen & Bath. The building is tagged as unsafe for occupancy.
