Stillwater Business Park...Open or Not?

Last week I was invited to join others in the Redding Chamber of Commerce for a morning briefing…and then a noon-time business and community briefing. Both meetings were very informative. So, today I had the opportunity to take a business owner that is considering a move to the North State out to see Stillwater. His observations

and comments were most enlightening, and not surprising.

First, as we approached the Business Park from Airport Road, he looked puzzled and said, “we are out in the country…where are we?” I explained that we were near the airport, and that we are really pretty close to everything, etc….

Then, as we approached Old Oregon Trail, he commented “this place looks deserted”. Sure enough, no signs or much indication that we are approaching the touted Stillwater Business Park. As we drove into “the Park”, we stopped at the Gate and walked around a bit, for it was still cooler in the morning, and he commented, “this looks like a vacant failed commercial subdivision”. And, it does look pretty “ignored”, with weeds grown up along the road; with no signs of any kind of building site, etc. Now, granted, everything looks dry now, but the Park looks as if it has been deserted. The gate was closed, but not locked, so we drove in. Some very pretty sections and views as we drove along the wide streets, but nothing indicated to us that anything was planned or going on. We did get to see a plane take off, and that was encouraging, but that was the extent of civilization as we drove on.

Well, he asked the hard questions….who is responsible for the Park? who is marketing the Park? who is maintaining the park? are there any prospects for the first tenant?…and on to a few more. I answered as best I could, but, quite frankly, he had some very good points. And, as supportive as I am of the concept of a Business Park, Stillwater does not give one the impression that it is the “Business Park of the Future” for Redding and Shasta County, and as with my guest, perception becomes reality…and the perception of the Park is not too exciting to the outsider.

Being a solution type guy, and I mentioned this to some of our leaders last week, we need to objectively look at the Park as others are seeing it. Most new residential subdivisions are very well signed….from the Open House to the lots and homes that are sold, etc. And, the subdivisions look inviting, with cut grass and watered plants. Maybe this is how we might approach Stillwater…is it an inviting looking place and what are we doing to make it look as attractive as it can be. A huge amount of money has been spent on the Park, and much of the work was done by local contractors that gave us great prices…but let’s look at where we can go from now. Are there any extra hours that City or County work crews could “cut the weeds”? The answer to that question will be “they are too busy now and we cannot afford overtime”, but this is hard to believe when I see numerous workers standing around a work project doing nothing. What about volunteer groups? Have they been asked to help?…and so it goes.

In summary, Stillwater Business Park is a great idea…but now it has to become a reality….and that reality may rest in an aggressive promotion program, starting with signs and making the Park attractive. Not too much to ask, in my opinion.