Facing the Issues
Calistoga is a great place to live, but there are certain signs that indicate some problems our town is facing today.
- Virtually no new development for several years due to an inadequate infrastructure for water and sewer services
- Economic downturn due to external forces such as "9/11"
- Increased competition from neighboring towns with recent development projects
- More competition from towns with easier access to the Bay Area, but without thermal hot springs
- Flight of families with moderate to low incomes due to the high cost of housing.
These problems have resulted in too many empty store fronts and too much turnover among retailers. There has been downward pressure on tax growth from tourism-related businesses. There is an aging infrastructure. And finally, Calistoga experiences cyclical business with very slow activity midweek and during the winter months.
The Turnaround Has Begun
CALISTOGA has rolled up its sleeves and tackled the issues head-on. Water and sewer capacity was expanded in 2004, thus opening up opportunities for carefully planned development. And this has brought new investment money which promises to play a critical role in the revitalization of Calistoga with premier properties like the new Solage Resort and Spa, the complete refurbishment of the Village Inn, and plans for a number of other resorts and spas to follow suit with major improvements. Local city government has become more proactive and supportive of growth as long as it is consistent with the General Plan and other governing documents. City officials are also actively pursuing grant monies to help fund local projects, and they are welcoming new development as a critical component of a healthy future economy.
The City Council formed the Economic Vitality Group (EVG) in 2006 in response to growing concerns about problems facing the Calistoga community. Members of the EVG assessed Calistoga’s economic challenges and opportunities and helped create a strategy to ensure a vital future for Calistoga, spending more than a year meeting, discussing, and researching issues critical to the future of Calistoga. They asked themselves: what do we, the citizens of Calistoga want to say, and hear others say about Calistoga in 5 or 10 years? At the end of its mission, it produced a final report which was thoughtful, comprehensive and sensitive to the needs of Calistoga residents. The overriding conclusion in the EVG report was that improving the quality of life for citizens, while simultaneously creating a unique experience for visitors, should be the essence of Calistoga's economic strategy.
Then followed the recommendation of the EVG to hire consultants to come up with an Urban Design Plan which flows out of the General Plan and other visioning studies, but which provides a detailed, focused approach to designing and developing downtown Calistoga over the next twenty years.
Today, the Calistoga Vitality Group has taken up the baton from the EVG group and is working to help implement the ten initiatives for revitalization. We understand that nothing gets done no matter how worthwhile without planning, producing and promoting. We tackle key issues by forming a strong working partnership with the City of Calistoga, by building coalitions of residents, businesses, and non-profits, and by finding funding sources for projects. The future is too important to be left to chance.