The existing pattern of development has occurred without taking advantage of the planning area's natural physical setting. Few existing uses focuses on the open space amenity of the river. Infrastructure constraints have shifted development to the less constrained flatlands. The city's existing uses vary in their character and quality. Newer residential and commercial areas are, due to their age, of good quality and well maintained.
Older areas vary substantially.
Some are in good condition, while a number of residential, commercial, and industrial areas are physically deteriorated and in need of repair. Many existing oil production areas are characterized by drilling facilities, tanks, pipes, and other equipment scattered across large acreages, visually conflicting with newer development. Oildale, Downtown, Urban Northeast, Urban Southeast, and East Bakersfield are examples. The downtown area lost its focus as the commercial center of the community a number of years ago due to new commercial developments elsewhere. New development in the area has encouraged related service business to open and the downtown is emerging as a business center rather than the traditional retail center.