SALINAS, Calif. -- Central Coast News took another look at the proposed Alisal Marketplace project, a major development on the East Side of Salinas, and responded to comments from the community.
The City of Salinas is looking to replicate the project after a man-made island in Vancouver, Canada, called Granville Island.
Since Central Coast News first talked about the project, many people have been sounding off on social media with questions.
The Alisal Marketplace will take up about 52 acres of the east side of Salinas in the area between East Market and East Alisal streets.
A new police station is expected to go in the area of Alisal and Murphy, while the rest will be commercial and residential.
To put this all into perspective, we're taking you all the way to granville island in vancouver... where the alisal marketplace project is modeled after, with a local twist.
Yes, Canada.
There's everything from food, shopping and the arts on a man-made island, and it's what the east side of Salinas could resemble because of its success.
But Rachael Singleton wrote on the Central Coast News Facebook page: "Salinas isn't an island, so how is this going to work?"
In reponse, Mayor Dennis Donohue said not to be distracted by the island and look at the big picture of reusing and repurposing existing businesses for a new use.
Other people sounded off wondering if the project is even worth it.
Michael Marlow wrote: "Take care of the murder rate first. Having something nice like that does not make sense. Make it a nice place to live first."
Donohue said the Alisal Marketplace would significantly expand the city's tax base and put everyone back to work and off the streets, and a new police station is planned for the marketplace.
He said by re-building the east side, it will improve the quality of life and make the place more attractive to live and do business.
The next step for the project is city staff will come up with a design plan for the police station property, currently owned by Monterey County, and present it to city council in the next few months.
Central Coast News will be following the project every step of the way.
If you have questions, you can post them online at the Central Coast News Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/yourcentralcoastnews
