At the last city council meeting, the Chamber of Commerce promoted Main Street America, while Councilmember Phill Carter introduced the idea of "Economic Gardening" to grow the local economy
Walking our ‘downtown’ sidewalks as I have done in for example, Cloverdale, it seems to me that Sebastopol leaders don’t value trees. In my 15 years in this village I ponder this lack of care for long term good.
Other villages show more sophistication.
Continuing that thought reminds me of Singapore:
In the mid 1960’s Lee Kuan Yew recognized the best way to boost the economy was via foreign investment. To show investors they had long term vision and reliability he decided that Singapore would be a garden city, « no other hallmark of success will be more distinctive… »
Over the decades responsible leaders have accepted this insight.
Wikipedia tells President Yew’s history.
City trees show whether leaders pay for educated tree maintenance, and visitors can compare Sebastopol to other villages. Trees add value in cared for, and testify to neglect if not.
I think the best single act that could be taken to improve downtown is to, somehow, get that hotel built on the vacant lot. This would provide more upscale walking-around traffic and patrons for stores that would have the incentive to spruce up.
A applaud the individuals and who’ve brought these ideas back to our town. That said, I don’t see any real chance to implement changes until the traffic issues are solved. It’s not only the amount of traffic but the unenforced speed of the traffic that is an issue. Last Thursday evening we were crossing N Main Street with our two grandchildren
at the flashing crosswalk. Cars going north stopped but a car traveling at well over the 25 mph speed limit blew through the crosswalk as we were just about to step off the curb. This is far from the first time this has happened. Has anyone noticed the speed of vehicles as they make the turn by Whole Foods despite the new lighted crosswalk? Main Street has the same issues at crosswalks. I’m guessing the average speed of vehicles on Main Street is 40 mph well above the posted 25 mph. Enforcement is, I believe, the first step in resolving the traffic issues and would open the way for improvement of downtown.
Walking our ‘downtown’ sidewalks as I have done in for example, Cloverdale, it seems to me that Sebastopol leaders don’t value trees. In my 15 years in this village I ponder this lack of care for long term good.
Other villages show more sophistication.
Continuing that thought reminds me of Singapore:
In the mid 1960’s Lee Kuan Yew recognized the best way to boost the economy was via foreign investment. To show investors they had long term vision and reliability he decided that Singapore would be a garden city, « no other hallmark of success will be more distinctive… »
Over the decades responsible leaders have accepted this insight.
Wikipedia tells President Yew’s history.
City trees show whether leaders pay for educated tree maintenance, and visitors can compare Sebastopol to other villages. Trees add value in cared for, and testify to neglect if not.
I think the best single act that could be taken to improve downtown is to, somehow, get that hotel built on the vacant lot. This would provide more upscale walking-around traffic and patrons for stores that would have the incentive to spruce up.
A applaud the individuals and who’ve brought these ideas back to our town. That said, I don’t see any real chance to implement changes until the traffic issues are solved. It’s not only the amount of traffic but the unenforced speed of the traffic that is an issue. Last Thursday evening we were crossing N Main Street with our two grandchildren
at the flashing crosswalk. Cars going north stopped but a car traveling at well over the 25 mph speed limit blew through the crosswalk as we were just about to step off the curb. This is far from the first time this has happened. Has anyone noticed the speed of vehicles as they make the turn by Whole Foods despite the new lighted crosswalk? Main Street has the same issues at crosswalks. I’m guessing the average speed of vehicles on Main Street is 40 mph well above the posted 25 mph. Enforcement is, I believe, the first step in resolving the traffic issues and would open the way for improvement of downtown.
According to a recent recent traffic study, the average speed in the downtown corridor is 29 mph.