The small businesses that have defined the character of Old Town Newhall for generations now find themselves in a fight for survival in the face of a new mixed-use development. 

The proposed mixed-use development on Main Street in the heart of Newhall threatens to displace longtime establishments, including essential community resources like KHTS Radio and the historic Santa Clarita Alcoholics Anonymous chapter.

David Doyle, a main organizer for SCV’s chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous, affectionately known as “Rafters,” voiced his concerns about the potential loss of their long-standing meeting place. 

“We have helped tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of individuals and families,” he said. 

“Rafters” AA – The center provides alcohol abuse services primarily for Santa Clarita Valley residents. (Jade Aubuchon)

Rafters holds the distinction of being the longest-standing Alcoholics Anonymous chapter in the same location in all of Los Angeles County. 

Its displacement would not only disrupt its operations but also remove a vital lifeline for those battling addiction in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Award-winning journalist John Boston, recognized as one of America’s top newspaper columnists and editors with over 100 major journalism awards, has been actively voicing his opposition to the demolition of the historic courthouse on Market Street and Railroad Avenue.

“There are few times in our lives when we get a chance to right a great wrong. The demolition of the historic Courthouse Building on Market Street in Downtown Newhall would be nothing short of a major sin on the soul of Santa Clarita,” said Boston. “It is one of the last truly historic buildings in our valley.”

Boston even advocated for the AA group “Rafters.”

“The most-beneficial Alcoholics Anonymous 12-Step program holds daily meetings, helping thousands over decades,” he said. “Their meetings are on the top floor… (on) the same maple dance floor from the 1920s is still used upstairs, more than a century later. Again? It would be a sin to destroy this building.”

KHTS Radio, another affected entity, has been scrambling for alternatives. 

Station owner Carl Goldman has proposed two possible solutions to mitigate the impact of construction noise and disruption: either a temporary moratorium on construction during peak broadcasting hours or financial assistance for the station’s temporary relocation. 

However, securing an alternative location has been a challenge.

KHTS building off Main Street. Newhall mixed-use development project would butt against the building. (Sophia Lesseos)

“We’ve looked at 10 locations this past month. Only two are still available,” Goldman stated in a letter addressing the issue. “One is SCV Rents, an old building on Soledad, and the other is Celebrate Florist on Bouquet. Both are demanding five-year leases and other restrictions.”

Adding to the uncertainty, Mayor Pro Tem Laurene Weste informally floated the idea of temporarily housing the radio station in modular buildings on city property during her comment time last City Council meeting. 

However, Goldman expressed skepticism about the feasibility of such an option, citing concerns about logistical and operational constraints.

The city has a history of assisting businesses affected by major development projects.

In 2003, Consumer’s Furniture received $3 million in financial aid to relocate due to the Cross Valley Connector project. 

Goldman is simply asking for fair treatment. “We are not asking for anything unreasonable,” he stated. “The developer has agreed to pay $750,000 to ‘support local historic preservation efforts.’ Why should we be treated differently?”

Beyond KHTS and Rafters, other community organizations stand to suffer. 

The Santa Clarita Coalition, which operates out of KHTS’ building, serves as a hub for vital services. 

Its subsidiary, Santa Clarita Grocery, stores and distributes food to residents experiencing food insecurity. 

“The Santa Clarita Grocery stores extra pallets of canned food at the back of our building, which they pick up on a daily basis for their food distribution to feed our valley’s residents who are faced with food insecurities,” Goldman explained. 

The displacement of these entities would have dire consequences for the community members who rely on their services.

The proposed project represents a crossroads for the city. 

As the debate over the future of Newhall continues, local leaders must weigh the impact of their decisions on the very community they aim to support.

“This is unfair and no way to treat us given our significant contributions and value to our city and community,” Goldman asserted. 

As small businesses and nonprofits brace for an uncertain future, they are calling upon the city to ensure they are not cast aside just for progress.

The people of Santa Clarita now face a decision: Will they allow history, community service, and local entrepreneurship to be pushed out, or will they fight to preserve the heart and soul of Newhall?

The Newhall Mixed-Use Development project is set to be discussed at Tuesday’s Santa Clarita Planning Commission meeting. 

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.