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ryankuder about 1 year ago
What is Your Vision For Lincoln Avenue?
There's been an ongoing conversation over on the eList about the future of Lincoln Avenue. I posted a while back on Willow Glen 2.0 about the plans for the corner at Lincoln and Willow and how I like the proposed direction: http://willowglen.ning.com/profiles/blogs/redeveloping-lincoln-and
There seem to be two schools of thought. One group likes the old charm of classic Willow Glen. One group wants to push to modernize Lincoln Avenue. I tend to lean towards the latter.
I'd like to see newer stores come in and move The Avenue more upscale like what they've done in Los Gatos and on University in Palo Alto. I'm also a fan of making Lincoln between Minnesota and Willow a walking street. Naturally this would require parking and traffic rerouting.
I don't claim to be a civil engineer so I have no idea the ramifications of this. But I think more sidewalk cafes, an upgrade to some of the storefronts, and newer more relevant businesses would provide us with a much more vibrant main street in Willow Glen.
What about you? What is your vision for Lincoln Avenue? What would you like to see happen in the years to come?
Valicore about 1 year ago
I am all about sidewalk cafes and upgrades to the storefronts - I don't think it has to be so black and white as either "all new" or keeping it as it is. I think even what is there has a lot more potential than is currently being realized. Did I mention I love sidewalk cafes?
JeeBar about 1 year ago
You're either evolving, or you're dying. It's pretty obvious to me that Lincoln Avenue doesn't have enough of whatever people think makes it charming/special, as evidenced by the lack of people, empty shops and high turnover. It's not charming, it's depressing. I think downtown Campbell represents where Lincoln Avenue should go in terms of architecture and businesses. Three cheers for sidewalk cafes. : )
EmmieB about 1 year ago
I agree with Valicore - it doesn't have to be "All new" or "all old" - as long as the atmosphere stays friendly and neighborly then the rest will fall into place. I do like the idea of having that section be a walking section. And I'm adding my vote FOR sidewalk cafes.
halemarysue about 1 year ago
I agree, I read your link as well and the more we can get SJ redevelopment involved the better. As one property owner noted and along the lines of Valicore's post, it doesn't have to be all one (classic willow glen) or the other (everything new and uncharming). I think the work that's been done in other small cities in the Valley as well as other parts of SJ downtown speak to being able to retain some of the old as well as refurbish. I am not sure it would work to block off the entire street, that's an idea of traffic engineers and would take a lot more city planning. But expanding areas for sidewalk eating and visiting , making sure the traffic is controlled with regard to speed with lights & bumps or whatever, would make it a place much more likely to attract customers. I was sorry to see Willow glen books close, I think the neighborhood shopping / sidewalk eating ambience enhances the value of all our properties as well as our life style!
GemsMommy about 1 year ago
I agree that Willow Glen Books going was a loss. Neighborhood shopping, sidewalk eating ambience is the way to go, a blend of old and new is appealing - all modern is much harder to make appealing without lots of expense, and more diversity is more "real" in my humble opinion.
halbiz about 1 year ago
Well, you need parking in back of the stores. Campbell has room for parking in back of the stores (and they added parking garages, too), along with some parking in front. Most of the non-local through-traffic is directed around the outside loop. Willow Glen seems to have housing closely located on both sides of the Avenue in back of the stores, and those home owners would probably not like one-way traffic hurling along through those streets. There may be another solution, unlike Campbell. Is there another town ( Oregon, Washington, Northern California) that someone would suggest that had a similar situation as Willow Glen and then changed it for the better? What was the draw there? How did they handle traffic and parking? Did they make it walking only? Were the local landowners and shopkeepers supportive, and if so how was that consensus developed? Who led the process?
Nat&Paul about 1 year ago
halbiz: Once the garage is built on Willow/Lincoln, one idea maybe to have a couple pedi cabs up and down the Ave like they are doing in downtown San Jose. In Calistoga the hotel we always stay at provides 2 bikes for each room which is great for jaunts up and down their Lincoln Ave. As for sidewalk cafes, I love them as well but am completely satisfied with Monsieur Beans, Grapevine and Noah's Bagels.
Jett about 1 year ago
One of the delights of downtown Campbell is the variety of sidewalk cafes and coffee shops w/ outdoor seating. It makes it inviting to come and linger, which is the essence of a neighborhood. We love walking to downtown Willow Glen and hangin' with folks in front of the Jamba Juice/Noah's/Peet's area. I'd like downtown Willow Glen to be far more restaurant focused, like Mountain View. It makes it possible to support other things like a bookstore.
boyinfur about 1 year ago
I think that part if not 'most' of the charm about Willow Glen is the character found in the downtown area. To 'change' that would be defeating the purpose of living in WG wouldn't it?! At least to some extent. The store closures are due to the crappy economy, not the boring stores. Take Casa Casa for example, that store had been around for many years, but the economy can take great stores like that and close them out. When people think about WG and changes to be made, they should be thinking about keeping the quaintness of the area, not modernizing it to the point of loosing the 'flavor' of Willow Glen. The people who spoke about loving WG I would assume are including the avenue in that evaluation of the area. To change it too much is to lose the essence of the old WG flavor. I've lived here since the late 70's and still love it.