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National City Isn’t Just Polishing, It’s Rebuilding An Economy
Sitting in a well-worn booth at La Hacienda, about as authentic a neighborhood restaurant as you will find, National City Mayor Ron Morrison pauses before taking a bite of barbecue beef to ponder a question: How is his city of 54,000 doing economically? “We are doing very well,” he says, and then adds a caveat: It is thanks to a 1 cent sales tax increase. Before the boost to 8.75 percent was passed, the city was laying off employees and preparing for more cuts. The reprieve is temporary.
Tapping Into The Bayfront Economic Might
National City’s three-mile-long bayfront is a humming example of a working waterfront, one so successfully administered by the San Diego Unified Port District that it seems inevitable that even greater days lay ahead. Yet the adjacent city feels locked out of the economic party.
Investing For An Extra Community Return
City Manager Chris Zapata is working with National City’s City Council on an innovative way to invest some of the city’s cash — at times it has up to $30 million on deposit in a California Local Agency Investment Fund.
New Housing Remains Affordable In National City
New housing is at the heart of National City’s renaissance. In the past two years, 259 new homes were built in the city with nine condo conversions under way that will add 529 for-sale units.
Businesses Pick Up Where Redevelopment Leaves Off
National City’s 2,500 businesses and City Hall have an extraordinarily close relationship and are mostly in tune on everything from raising the sales tax and expanding redevelopment initiatives to dressing up storefronts and remaking medians on key city streets.
The Small Business Toolbox
As part of its recently adopted strategic plan, National City has created what it calls Tool Boxes. One is to help residents improve properties and the other is for businesses.
National City History
The second oldest city in San Diego County, National City was established in 1868 when the Kimball brothers – Frank, Warren and Levi – bought the 26,000-acre Spanish land grant of El Rancho de la Nacion. The city incorporated on Sept. 18, 1887. It is about to celebrate its 120th birthday.
A Very Local City Council, And Government
When members of the National City City Council take action, they know well their decisions will effect friends and neighbors they’ve known their entire lives.