12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 6-12, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com In the decade since the Salinas City Council approved a plan to revitalize downtown, the changes have been aplenty: the burnt-out Bruhn building has become apartments and commercial space, the building at 301 Main St. is now a brewery and studios, there are new trees and sidewalks, and even an arch spanning the street proudly proclaiming the name of the city, among other things. Many of these projects can be linked to investments made by Salinasbased vegetable processor Taylor Fresh Foods, which bought and renovated properties throughout downtown, including opening its own headquarters on Main Street. Now, Taylor Fresh Foods is set on another downtown project: transforming two worn-out but well-used parking lots around Salinas City Hall into housing, retail space and a hotel. The parking lots, owned by the City of Salinas, are located along West Gabilan Street at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue, across from the Salinas Transit Center. Parking Lot 12, as it is referred to, has 120 spaces currently used for jurors serving in the nearby Monterey County Superior Court as well as for city vehicles, while Parking Lot 8 offers 63 spaces of permit parking. At one point eyed for a parking garage, these lots were outlined in the 2015 Downtown Vibrancy Plan as future redevelopment sites. In 2021, the council rezoned the properties to allow for mixed-use developments, putting them up for sale, drawing interest from Taylor Fresh Foods. On Nov. 5—after the Weekly’s deadline—the Salinas Planning Commission was set to review a development agreement between the city and Taylor for the properties before it heads to the council for approval. Parking Lot 12 is slated to include 67 units of workforce and low-income housing, says Taylor Fresh Foods spokesperson Mindi Mayhew. A hotel and commercial space is proposed for Parking Lot 8. A report to the Planning Commission states there is no specific timeline for when construction finishes, only estimating it will happen within the next decade. Under the draft agreement, Taylor Fresh Foods must seek city approval for developing Parking Lot 12 within a year of the agreement being finalized, while for Parking Lot 8, that deadline is within five years. What Taylor Fresh Foods will pay for the properties will be determined by an appraisal that has yet to take place, according to the agreement. When voters passed Proposition 1 in March 2024, replacing the Mental Health Services Act with the Behavioral Health Services Act, it heralded a major shift in behavioral health services in California, one that focuses on helping people with severe mental health and substance use disorder issues and getting them into housing. It also means a big shift in how counties spend behavioral health funds. As counties figure out that shift, and in the leadup to the BHSA going into full effect in July 2026, the County of Monterey is seeking input from behavioral health nonprofits and agencies through the newly formed Monterey County Behavioral Health Transformation Collaborative. The goal is to create a space where the partners can connect and participate in the planning and decision process, says Fabricio Chombo, assistant Behavioral Health Bureau chief. Ultimately they want to align efforts and build a system where residents can access care from any point, rather than having to reach out to various agencies, says consultant Dustin Anderson of ThoughtLink, who specializes in understanding the nuances of the BHSA. The first Collaborative meeting in October introduced BHSA requirements. There are four additional meetings scheduled through March, in time to meet the deadline for a required report to the state detailing how the County will implement the act. Beginning July 1, 2026, the state will keep 10 percent of Prop. 1 funds for statewide prevention efforts. Counties will be required to spend 35 percent of the funds they receive on full-service partnerships focused on prevention efforts (previously 79 percent), 30 percent on housing interventions and 30 percent on services such as workforce education and early intervention, with 51 percent focused on early intervention for those age 25 and younger. Some nonprofits may have to realign programs— Chombo says they are analyzing future funding impacts. Rising Up Taylor Fresh Foods plans to turn two Salinas parking lots into housing and a hotel. By Erik Chalhoub NEWS MOBILITY MATTERS Share your thoughts on transportation needs in Monterey County by taking part in the Community Mobility Forum. County officials also present early plans for shared mobility projects. 5:30-7:30pm Thursday, Nov. 6. Castroville Library, 11160 Speegle St., Castroville. Free. tinyurl.com/ MontereySharedMobility. PARKS AND REC Salinas Recreation-Park Division hosts a workshop to gather feedback on the future District 5 Recreation Center. Design options will be presented. 6-8pm Thursday, Nov. 6. El Gabilan Library, 1400 N. Main St., Salinas. Free. (831) 758-7328, anaa@ci.salinas. ca.us. BE PREPARED With winter on its way, now is the time to prepare. Carmel Prepares offers storm safety tips and hands-only CPR instruction, along with breakfast and raffle prizes. 10-11am Saturday, Nov. 8. Sunset Center, Carpenter Hall, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. Free. (831) 620-2020. READY FOR ANYTHING Learn tips on emergency resources during the Pajaro Emergency Preparedness Fair. Local first responders and organizations will be on hand to answer questions and help residents prepare for a disaster. 10am-3pm Saturday, Nov. 8. Pajaro Middle School, 250 Salinas Road, Pajaro. Free. estradaa1@countyofmonterey.gov. SALUTE TO SERVICE Honor local veterans at ceremonies throughout Monterey County. 11am Tuesday, Nov. 11: Central Coast Veterans Cemetery, 2900 Parker Flats Cut Off Road, Seaside; Seaside American Legion Post 694, 33007 Marina Drive, Marina; American Legion Post 512, Devendorf Park, Ocean and Junipero, Carmel; Point Pinos Lighthouse, 80 Asilomar Ave., Pacific Grove. 11am-4pm: Salute to Veterans Jamboree, Veterans Transition Center, 220 Twelfth St., Marina. 11:11am: Monterey County Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Veterans Way, Salinas. 1:11pm: American Legion Post 41, 1110 Veterans Drive, Monterey. 2pm: Greenfield Veterans Day Parade, El Camino Real between Apple and Elm streets, Greenfield. LISTEN UP County Supervisor Chris Lopez’s listening session for San Lucas has been rescheduled. Attendees are invited to share their thoughts about the community. 6pm Thursday, Nov. 13. San Lucas Elementary School, 53675 San Benito St., San Lucas. Free. (831) 755-5033, district3@countyofmonterey.gov. Talk Therapy Better access to behavioral health services is the focus of a new county collaboration. By Pam Marino A housing project is proposed for this parking lot on the corner of West Gabilan Street and Lincoln Avenue in downtown Salinas. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX The parking lot is slated to include 67 units of housing. ERIK CHALHOUB
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