Business owner seeks to improve Auburn Blvd with new ‘development collective’

By Sara Beth Williams–
Citrus Heights business owner Dan Howes is championing a new Auburn Boulevard development collective, in an effort to improve one of the city’s key commercial corridors.

Howes, who owns Good Hands Massage on Auburn Boulevard along with two other businesses, said he previously paid to be a member of the now defunct Auburn Boulevard Business Association (ABBA) before the association became stagnant. Now, Howes wants to form a new group under the name Auburn Corridor Development Collective.

“ABBA is gone,” Howes told The Sentinel last week, adding that he is forming a new business collective because he didn’t want to take over something that wasn’t his to begin with.

Howes’ vision for how the Development Collective will operate is different than that of the previous association. Howes wants to focus on improving development along the Auburn Boulevard Corridor, starting with collectively committing to maintain the outward appearance of businesses along with helping hold building owners accountable for the appearance of vacant or abandoned buildings along the corridor. Buildings with boarded-up windows discourage new businesses from coming to Citrus Heights, he said.

Monthly meetings aren’t necessarily in the framework of the collective, Howes said, explaining that he wants a group of businesses to come together as needed to address concerns such as vandalism and blight.

To garner interest in the new collective, Howes recently facilitated a meeting on May 21 and reported that roughly 20 people were in attendance, including eight business representatives besides himself.

Prior to that meeting, Howes said he personally handed out printed flyers to 75 businesses along Auburn Boulevard on two occasions, inviting business representatives to the meeting.

In addressing the lower-than-expected turnout of business representatives, and the creation of a new collective, Howes said he is “confident” that more people will come as they realize the value of such a collective.

“Sort of a ‘If you build it, they will come’ scenario. All I have to do now is build it,” Howes said.

Last week’s meeting featured four speakers. General Services Director Regina Cave spoke about what businesses can expect during phase 2 of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets Project and also volunteered to be a liaison between the construction company and Auburn Boulevard businesses, Howes said.

Related: City Council green lights 2nd phase of Auburn Boulevard revitalization project – Citrus Heights Sentinel

Citrus Heights Chief of Police Alex Turcotte addressed the issues of retail theft, vandalism, and illegal dumping by highlighting the See Click Fix app, which allows residents to report blight and other concerns directly to the city.

Turcotte also stressed the importance of businesses reporting issues to the Police Department so that the Department can assess what police resources are truly needed for the Auburn Boulevard Corridor.

Economic Development and Community Engagement Director Meghan Huber told attendees that the city will be providing signage for the reporting of illegal dumping to businesses on a first come first serve basis, complete with mounting brackets.

Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheri Merrick spoke on the value of the local chamber and “emphasized the value of shopping local,” Howes said.

Several businesses expressed to Howes that future construction along Auburn Boulevard could hurt revenues, but Howes said he feels the city is doing “a ton to make it an easy process.”

“People resist change, it’s in their nature, but this will be a much-needed improvement,” Howes said.