Earlier this month, California’s Department of Finance notified the City of Fremont that the former Redevelopment Agency was officially out of business.

This is a major milestone for Fremont. The State has acknowledged that all debts and obligations of the former Agency have been satisfied, and that the oversight committee appointed to oversee the Agency’s dissolution has completed its work. As best we can tell, Fremont is one of the first mid- to large-size cities in California (based on population) to successfully navigate the complicated and confusing process established by the State to unwind the financial affairs of a large Redevelopment Agency.

California’s 400 Redevelopment Agencies were a major funding source for important infrastructure improvements, neighborhood revitalization, and affordable housing in cities throughout the state. We did not want to see our Agency dissolve. However, when the State eliminated Redevelopment in 2012, we moved as quickly as possible to close the financial books.

Now that we’ve succeeded in that effort, the time spent by policy makers and staff on the necessary but unproductive task of closing the Agency can be put toward more rewarding activities, including City priority projects in the Downtown and in the South Fremont/Warm Springs area.

Given the circumstances, the official end of Redevelopment in Fremont is something to feel good about.

The Redevelopment chapter is closed, but Fremont remains committed to its vision for Strategic Urbanism and utilizing new tools and creative partnerships to realize that vision.