Manteca Mayor Gary Singh wants to do what two of his predecessors were unable to do — create a high profile plaza honoring veterans.
He also wants to up the ante by adding a new home for American Legion Post 249 that would double as a small community center just like the city built for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6311.
In fact, the Legion Hall that Singh envisions would be built to the east of the city-owned Moffat Community Center that has been leased long-term by the VFW.
The area between the existing building would be developed into some type of plaza honoring veterans.
The project, should it happen, would include expanding the existing VFW parking lot to the west of the existing community center built in 2015.
Two things are already working in favor of Singh’s effort. The city owns the land and Congressman Josh Harder has secured $850,000 to go toward the endeavor.
The other two efforts involved land the city did not own and there was no seed money.
One proposal was to have used part of the northwest corner of Main Street and Yosemite Avenue where the Manteca Bedquarters parking lot is for some type of monument.
The other was on property owned by the redevelopment agency at the time on the northeast corner of Daniels Street and Milo Candini Drive.
Renderings for the second project included an expansive grass area surrounding a “tidal basin” along with separate flag poles for the flags of each branch of the military.
Singh’s project would include filling in a temporary storm basin that the mayor indicated is no longer needed as the city can now handle the flows from Eckert’s Cold Storage without it.
Once the proposed Legion Hall is completed, it that would be exchanged with the post hall in the 200 block of East Yosemite Avenue that is now in the process of being remodeled.
Singh indicated that hall could be used for events to support the fledgling Downton Business Association as well as things such as art shows.
The Manteca Recreation & Community Services could also program classes at the downtown hall especially those involving dance as it has a wooden floor.
The project is not for sure nor would it happen overnight.
Singh would need to find adequate funding and the city would need to pursue it as an official project.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwytt@mantecabulletin.com