Ventura council backs Westside, Downtown tracts for Opportunity Zone nod

Ventura is asking the state to designate two census tracts as Opportunity Zones, a federal program meant to steer private capital into distressed communities.

The City Council voted July 14 to approve a resolution supporting the nomination of Census Tract 06111002302 (a portion of the Westside) and Census Tract 06111002400 (a portion of Downtown) for Opportunity Zone designation, adopting the action as Resolution 2026-46. Deputy Mayor Doug Halter recused himself from the item, disclosing a conflict of interest from property he owns at 1188 and 1190 Buena Vista Street, 137 North Hemlock Street, and 2235 North Ventura Avenue.

The nomination follows a June 24 staff report prepared by Economic Development Manager Meredith Hart. The Westside tract covers roughly 4,938 residents with a median household income of about $70,657, 56 percent of the area median, and a poverty rate of 22.6 percent. Homeownership sits at 26.8 percent. The tract holds industrially zoned land, redevelopment sites, and a pipeline of nearly 158 planned housing units, per the staff report.

The Downtown tract is home to 2,902 residents but supports 4,415 jobs, making it a regional employment and tourism center. Its median household income is roughly $79,911, about 64 percent of the area median, with around 22.0 percent of residents below the poverty line. Homeownership is 10.3 percent. The area has seen roughly $29 million in public investment for infrastructure, coastal resilience, and downtown improvements, the report shows.

Five Ventura census tracts meet U.S. Treasury eligibility criteria. Staff selected these two based on development potential, housing opportunities, and alignment with the UPLIFT Central Coast Regional Plan and California Jobs First initiative. The Economic Development Subcommittee unanimously backed the nomination June 11.

The state will select about 25 percent of all nominations submitted. Selection criteria have not yet been released. If approved, the designation would come at no direct cost to the city.