The growth of Merced and what it means

Last week, I attended a summit about the current state of journalism.

It was held on the campus of the University of California, Merced. First, that campus is quite amazing. One person remarked the last time he was there it was a couple of double wides and not much else.

Now it is a sprawling university that is first class with construction happening everywhere. It is impressive and a place probably many people don’t realize even exists.

The other obvious part of this campus growth is just how much Merced has evolved over the past decade with the growth of the university.

First, I want to say I have been a fan of Merced since I moved here. Sure, it gets a bad rap and, in some ways, deservedly. However, they are making changes and it shows.

The night before, we had dinner as part of the summit in downtown Merced. It was at The Mainzer, a former movie theatre that has been transformed into a restaurant, game room and so much more. Someone invested a pile of money to restore that place.

Across the street is The Tioga, a newly restored and renovated hotel with palm trees and purple lights that make an impressive sight. Ditto on the pile of money.

The transformation of downtown Merced has been incredible to watch. There are vibrant shops and restaurants, people everywhere and a completely different vibe than it was when we moved here nearly 10 years ago. There is even a branch of the university campus that looks sleek and modern in the downtown.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Along Yosemite Avenue, the transformation is just as impressive. There are medical offices everywhere which means one thing — good medical care.

More impressive are the number of apartment buildings that have been, and continue to be, constructed. There have to be thousands of people now living in modern, safe apartments along that road.

Of course, this is the area near the university, so it makes sense there has been a lot of housing growth in that area. But there is also housing growth on the south side of town, where single-family and townhouses are springing up everywhere.

Sure, Merced still has its problems with homelessness. But what town doesn’t? I know there are gang problems there, as well. That is at least one thing people who live in places like Mariposa County don’t have to deal with.

But I have to believe with the explosion of growth because of the university, officials will at least try as best as they can to deal with the dark side of things. Just the increased tax revenue will help.

One question that always enters my mind when I drive along Yosemite Avenue and see those quality apartment buildings is this: “Why can’t we just have one of those in Mariposa?”

Maybe a couple.

There is no doubt we need housing desperately in Mariposa and the county in general. That is not even a point that can be disputed.

So why can’t we get places like that here?

I don’t really know the answer to that question but I do, as always, have some thoughts.

First, it seems obvious to me the city of Merced and Merced County have made a focused effort on making sure growth like that can take place.

I haven’t researched it thoroughly or anything like that, but it’s common sense to realize that city and county officials have made the path to development streamlined and easy. That type of growth just couldn’t happen without that kind of commitment.

I’ve heard from some people around here it didn’t used to be that way in Merced. I have no reason not to believe what they are saying.

In the past, I am told, the city and county governments clashed and builders and developers struggled when trying to invest in the city. That’s not hard to imagine.

But somewhere along the line, likely when it became clear that UC Merced was going to explode in growth, something changed. What most likely changed were attitudes in city hall and the county government.

That’s what it takes for a region, like a county, to grow. It doesn’t matter how much of that “it’s always been this way” attitude exists, if elected officials truly want growth, they have to make hard decisions.

Those decisions may include pissing off those with the “always been” attitude, but so be it. We don’t elect people to sit on their hands and act like the rainbows always form over paradise.

We elect them to consider how they can improve the lives of the people who live and work in that area. That’s a basic premise of any town, county or region in America.

Or at least it should be.

I realize having a university completely changes a town. However, even with a university, the attitude among those in power still has to be open and understanding of making those changes.

When you think about it, what’s so hard? You have developers and builders who want to invest millions of dollars in a community. They have the money and only need the cooperation of local officials.

Sure, they have to abide by the rules and regulations, but that’s true anywhere else, as well. It would seem bizarre that officials would not want to let them spend money to grow the tax base, the population base and the quality of life.

We can see this unfolding before our very eyes in Merced.

And don’t think it’s just Merced. The western portion of Mariposa County is benefiting from that growth. Many of the professors seek a rural lifestyle to get away from the hectic world of academics and young, immature students.

Some have chosen the Catheys Valley area to make their homes. I am certain more will want to make that same choice.

So are we ready to welcome them and be a part of the growth of California’s newest university? I would hope we are ready and would do everything in our power to assist developers and builders create homes and even apartments and condos in that area to accommodate a quickly growing population.

Will we?

That’s a question that lies in the hands of our elected and appointed officials. They will have to make those decisions.

Will they?

Time will tell.

Greg Little is editor of the Mariposa Gazette and can be reached at greg@mariposagazette.com