Conservancy awards City of South Lake Tahoe $425K to plan downtown 56-acre project

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Tahoe Conservancy has awarded a $425,000 grant to the City of South Lake Tahoe to help plan the future of the 56-Acre site, a south shore hub of civic and recreation activity across Highway 50 from Lakeview Commons.

“The 56-Acre site is already a vibrant gathering place for community members and visitors alike, and it has the potential to be so much more,” said South Lake Tahoe City Councilmember and Conservancy Board member Tamara Wallace.

The City owns 14 acres of the 56-acre site, with El Dorado County owning the rest. The City leases the county's portion to house the senior center, museum, and campground. That 50-year lease is up in 2023 and discussions started two years ago on the new lease. The lawyers on both sides are currently discussing the new lease said SLT City Manager Joe Irvin.

To start the process, the City is making room for its Rufus Allen street maintenance yard to move to another location, thus freeing up more prime recreation and community space.

The Conservancy’s grant builds upon its $6 million investment in 2010 when they partnered with the City and County to construct Lakeview Commons. The grant awarded Thursday will provide funding for the City to partner with the County and the local community to complete a master plan for the remaining areas of the 56-Acre site. Future plans that have been discussed could include a new government center, a new recreation center, an outdoor music amphitheater, and additional lakefront improvements.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to build on the important collaborative work done in the mid-2000s by the City of South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County, and the Conservancy,” said El Dorado Supervisor and Conservancy Board Chair Sue Novasel.

Novasel said they are moving forward collaboratively and the strategic plan will include input and ideas from all sides.

The Conservancy Board also awarded a combined $900,000 in grants to improve lakefront public access and recreation. These included:

• $650,000 to California State Parks to relocate and rebuild the pier at Kings Beach State Recreation Area;

• $150,000 to the Sierra Business Council for outreach and education to paddlers using the Lake Tahoe Water Trail; and

• $100,000 to State Parks to improve the Rubicon Trail and facilities near Vikingsholm at Emerald Bay State Park.

The Board also approved $676,000 for three grants to California State Parks, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, and the Great Basin Institute to help reduce carbon emissions from forest restoration efforts. The grants will fund the transport of woody biomass from forest thinning projects for bioenergy, wood products, home-heating fuelwood, and other uses.