A deeper look at costs of Gateway Project

On June 24, another article on the Gateway Project, a proposed shopping center the City of Oroville has been trying to get off the ground for over 20 years, appeared on the front page of the Mercury-Register. It noted the real estate was currently valued at a little over $2 million.

I think it’s important for the people to know how much of their money was spent in an effort to advance this project. According to Oroville’s Fixed Asset Schedule, over $3,147,000 went for real estate purchases and related Gateway Project in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Six years after selling it to Snyder Development for one dollar, the city paid Snyder $10,000 to sign off. In June, 2022 the city administrator reported another $1,115,000 had been used for surveys, appraisals, fees, demolitions and maintenance. That’s over $4.3 million, so far.

Now the city decided to invest some more by seeking advice from a consulting firm, MRG of Sacramento. To be fair, I will share, we did double up on our return when the city sold it to Mendez, also for one dollar.

— Steve Christensen, Oroville

Environmental concerns for Oroville development

In response to an article on June 19, 2025, the developer, Premier Enterprise, states interest in Oroville because “in contrast to Chico it doesn’t have … limited areas to develop in its vicinity because of environmental concerns.” Well the proposed Ruddy Creek subdivision at 18th and Feather Avenue sits adjacent to Ruddy Creek and DOES have environmental concerns, which is well documented with the Oroville City Council, Oroville Planning Commission, Butte County Board of Supervisors, LAFCO, Army Corp of Engineers, US Fish & Wildlife & the Wyandotte GSA.

Ruddy Creek is an ephemeral stream, and sits in a FEMA floodplain.

The developer needs to educate itself regarding existing environmental reports, letter from CaliforniaOaks.org and public comments on file regarding the proposal to build the property at 18th and Feather Avenue.

— Kathy Brazil, Oroville

Please don’t mess with perfection

I want to thank Jill Circo and Tom Carter, whose recent and eloquently written letters in support of Option 4, relating to Bidwell Park’s South Park Drive redesign, I fully support. It is the most minimalist of changes and includes the improvement most needed, repaving the street, and little else.

Chico City Council chose Option 2, the most expensive of four options. It shutters the beautiful gated main entrance off Cypress Street to cars, and reroutes them through two additional new entrances off Woodland Avenue. Why? What an affront to steer more traffic down beautiful Woodland Avenue, a street that already shoulders the brunt of constant park activity.

Most egregious, the approved “option 2” will remove healthy trees to literally pave the way for the additional entrances … that’s a non-starter for me. Sorry. I just can’t support it.

As for safety, in all the years (more than 50), that I have walked or jogged or biked through Lower Bidwell Park, I have not feared the cars. It’s the cyclists, especially now, those on motorized bikes, who won’t slow down in the face of a pedestrian. My apologies to cyclists, but there are some inconsiderate apples amongst you. I would cheer loudly for “pedestrian only” trails in Lower Park.

Chico was gifted a most splendid park, still mostly wild and natural, as it was intended to be. With loving care and maintenance, and let’s not forget code enforcement, it will serve Chico for many, many years to come.

— Pam Stoesser, Chico

Let’s preserve classic entrance to park

It’s not “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” but follow East 4th Street in Chico.

This street has been the gateway into Bidwell Park for over 100 years. The Bidwells gave the park to ALL the people to enjoy the natural beauty firsthand when they entered the gate.

Unfortunately, if Option # 2 is implemented, Annie Bidwell in her carriage would not be able to enter this way. Option #2 will change South Park several ways. The most egregious is closing the entrance from E. 4th Street to cars, preventing families in cars from entering between the historical pillars. No longer can they look up to the grandeur of the Giant Valley Oaks that have stood for centuries. However, in the future, only pedestrians and bike riders can experience the awe.

Now, it is successfully shared with pedestrians, bike riders and motorists. Also, parking is planned to be rearranged. This change costs $2.5 million for just half a mile. Plus, the parking spaces will only be used for half a year for the months of good weather.

What is happening to the good Earth and barefoot in the park? We don’t need concrete parking. The beauty and ease to the park is not broken. So please consider Option #4 and encourage further discussion. Thank you.

— Carol Whipple, Chico