South Mill Creek Plaza Maya Cinema Complex

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Feature Story:

South Mill Creek Plaza Maya Cinema Complex

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new South Mill Creek Plaza Maya Cinema Complex Tuesday evening. Mayor Harvey L. Hall, Councilmember Sue Benham, City Manager Alan Tandy and Maya's Montezuma Esparza and Frank Haffar were among the evening's speakers. The invitation only event provided a preview of the beautiful facility as well as refreshments, entertainment, and previews of the Maya Indie Film series.

View photos of the event.

Project Overview:

In April 2000, the Bakersfield City Council and Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency began working with developer Ray Olmscheid and the D.W. Sivers Company of Oregon, to develop the “City Center Project” which called for cinema, a community sports facility, a multi-purpose stadium, additional senior housing, retail spaces, and numerous restaurants.

The proposed project remained in the predevelopment stage for approximately six years as the theater industry on a national basis experienced financial restructuring. During this time the project scope and project name changed into what you see before you this evening.

The developers, with significant personal investment in the project did not abandon their commitment to complete a downtown entertainment project. The scope of the newly designed project includes the 80,000 square feet 16 screen “state of the art” cinema, about 28,000 square feet of retail and commercial space and over 700 parking spaces . The project development is expected to cost about $32 million.

Successful completion of this cinema project will have several significant impacts to the City, Redevelopment Agency and community.

Several positive factors to note include:

Maya Development is envisioned as a self-sustaining master planned mixed-use development that includes a “main street” feature - a pedestrian friendly boulevard that will have gathering places, water features, overhangs and major landscaping. The cinema and its 50’ high marquee will serve as the projects primary landmark.
Maya Development is estimated to generate over $1 million in annual ticket sales.
Maya Development will generate annual tax increment of approximately $208,000 to the Southeast Redevelopment Project Area when fully built out.
The Maya Theater will create 80 full time permanent jobs in the Southeast Redevelopment Project Area and provided 200 construction jobs over the past year. Most of the theater jobs will be filled by residents from the Southeast and East Bakersfield areas. Many of the jobs will be available for youths. Currently, the operator of the theater has a program in their sister Salinas Theater to financially reward youth employees for their educational accomplishments.
The Maya Theater development will be a large destination anchor and a community amenity, spurring additional development of the area, especially assisting in the development of South Mill Creek Village and Mill Creek which are located immediately east.
The design and integration of various retail types, entertainment and dining facilities along with multiple kiosks will create a synergistic and vibrant environment to compliment the existing Bakersfield Ice Sports and McMurtrey Aquatic Center, generating increased attendance at these venues as well.
The Maya Theater will provide the Southeast Redevelopment Project Area with a key anchor along the California Avenue corridor setting a new investment and design standard for the area in addition to more job opportunities for the surrounding neighborhoods.

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