IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers OLD-TIME CHARM—Located on the corner of Second Street and Pacific Avenue, the Miss Bessie Printz Colony House, built in the late 1800s, is one of the few remaining historic structures in Old Town Simi. As part of the General Plan update, the city is evaluating Old Town as an opportunity area for additional multifamily housing, but some are concerned about preserving Simi's roots. Part four of a seven-part series

A goal of the city's General Plan update is to find places for additional housing to accommodate growth in Simi. A possibility for future high-density residential development is Old Town.

Old Town is where Simi Valley first began, and the semirural character of its streets and structures are tied to the historical roots of the city, dating as far back as the late 1800s when the area was originally settled.

While the aging district may be due for an update, it is the uniqueness of the neighborhood that gives the City Council and planning commission pause when it comes to redevelopment.

"These are people's homes; they've been there a long time. It is Old Town, and I think it (lends) a quaintness to our community," Councilmember Barbra Williamson said.

Located south of Los Angeles Avenue, the area covers several blocks bordered by California Avenue and the Arroyo Simi to the north, First Street to the east, Ventura Avenue to the south and Sinaloa Road to the west.

The General Plan update suggested increasing housing within the area over time, noting that it is adjacent to a number of other uses, particularly retail commercial along Los Angeles Avenue and First Street.

Designating the properties along California Avenue as highdensity residential, with two- to three-story multifamily homes, would be part of the plan.

The rest of the area—south of Pacific Avenue—could be designated mixed-density residential. It would call for an average density of 15 dwellings per acre. These master-planned developments would include homes abutting one another on small, 4,000-square-foot lots or town houses with 18 or more dwellings per acre.

Councilmember Glen Becerra said that many residents he has spoken to would like to improve the area yet keep Old Town as a singlefamily residential neighborhood.

While Becerra said he was okay with studying the area, he would oppose any changes in the historic city core. He said he was not impressed with the highdensity, multifamily development located in the southeast corner of the area.

"It is the historic town center, and the streets weren't designed for large capacities like apartment buildings," he said. "As far as upgrading that area to a higher density, I would totally oppose that."

Williamson agreed, saying that her preference is to leave the area alone for now.

"I think we're going to be opening up a can of worms if we go higher density there," she said. "To start messing around with that, I think we're looking for trouble."

Commissioner Keith Mashburn, however, saw potential for positive change in the Old Town neighborhoods. "When I look at this area, and I see the apartments that are in it, and I see the closeness to the Mountain Gate area and the closeness to the Arroyo, I have a vision of a bigger plan." Mashburn said that plan would include the revitalization of the blighted Mountain Gate Plaza shopping center and the Arroyo Simi.

Building additional housing in the area would stimulate the economy by generating increased demand for local businesses and services, while direct access to the Arroyo would provide an opportunity for the city to create pedestrian connections to open space and promote the wash as a community amenity, a staff report said.

Mashburn, who grew up in the area, said that much of the cultural character of Old Town has been lost throughout the years because previous generations did not feel the need to preserve the area.

According to a staff report, the General Plan Advisory Committee was divided on changing land-use designations in Old Town. Some wanted to promote new investment and development, while others were concerned about maintaining the historical character of the area.

Though the GPAC ultimately recommended further evaluation of Old Town, members asked the city to protect historic structures in the area and provide design guidelines for historic architecture in new developments.

Mayor Paul Miller agreed that the area was worth studying but also said a balanced approach needs to be taken in regard to Old Town.

"We shouldn't take anything off the table but be sensitive of what is there," he said.

To view the full staff report and find more information on the General Plan update, go online to generalplan.simivalley.org.