Bertani, groups plan to improve downtown empty lot

A layer of wood chips and a new fence are planned for the empty lot at Taylor and Texas streets in downtown Fairfield. A group of volunteers plan on making the improvements this Saturday. (Brad Zweerink/Daily Republic)

FAIRFIELD — One of Pam Bertani’s campaign promises was to bring an anchor store to downtown Fairfield. More specifically, she wanted to bring it to the empty lot at the corner of Texas and Taylor streets.

A group of volunteers will spread bark Saturday over the lot and put up a fence around the property. That group includes members of Opertion THUGS – The Harvest Unit Gathering Souls – and the Matt Garcia Foundation, Bertani said.

Elimination of redevelopment by the state placed plans for the property in a state of limbo. Bertani wants to at least clean up the lot until the future of the site is known.

“Your front yard has to look good before you invite people over to dinner,” Bertani said. “It’s not a permanent fix on that lot. At least it can look better while we get started on procuring a long-term retail establishment.”

The lot is actually three properties, Bertani said. The city owns two of those and the private owner of the third piece OK’d the improvements.

“We’re going to facelift that lot. It’s at the gateway of our city and it’s an eyesore,” Bertani said. “We’ve just got to make it look better. We want it so you look out and see a beautiful lot. Not a vacant lot with graffiti, cigarette butts and beer bottles. It’s the first step.”

Reach Danny Bernardini at 427-6935 or dbernardini@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dbernardinidr.

Danny Bernardini

Danny is a newspaper man born and raised in Vacaville. He attended Chico State University and has written for the Enterprise Record and the Reporter. Covers the City of Fairfield, education and crime. A's, Warriors and Saints fan. Listener of vinyl, frequent visitor to the East Bay. Registered "decline to state" voter. Loves a good steak.

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