DEL REY OAKS - While cities across the central coast deal with cutbacks, the city of Del Rey Oaks is looking to expand.
On Tuesday night, the city will meet to decide whether to make a deal with a developer to build on about 300 acres of land on the former Fort Ord.
"We can draw people in from other parts of the Monterey Peninsula to come Del Rey Oaks as a destination location," said Jerry Edelen, mayor of Del Rey Oaks.
A downtown destination at that, Edelen said.
Right now, the land off of General Jim Moore Boulevard and South Boundary Road is just a one-way stretch of road, with not much to look at.
This is the city's third go-around to try and develop the area and now the city is hoping Brandenburg Properties of San Jose can help turn the area around.
"Basically Brandenburg has the money where they can come in and do the development themselves. We wont have to put any money up," Edelen said.
Edelen said the city can afford to expand because it has a surplus budget and isn't staring bankruptcy in the face like other cities with high employee pensions.
He hopes this time the city will finally have a new downtown to call its own.
"Things have looked down for so long that now it seems like a very bright future," he said.
The city said once it secures a developer, it will hold several town hall meetings to get the community's feedback on what it thinks should go on those 360 acres.
