Gilroy
– More than 600 businesses in the downtown area have been
invited to a Tuesday meeting where city officials will unveil plans
to make over the city’s historic main drag.
Gilroy – More than 600 businesses in the downtown area have been invited to a Tuesday meeting where city officials will unveil plans to make over the city’s historic main drag.
The final phase of the “streetscape” project, which began in the late ’90s, will likely mean a closure of Monterey Street, between Fourth and Sixth streets, for about nine months beginning in early 2006, according to Dey. That strip of Monterey contains the highest density of the street’s remaining open businesses.
“What we’re trying to do is outreach to the businesses, to let them know the construction project is coming and we are taking steps to address the impact of construction downtown,” said City Transportation Engineer Don Dey. “We want to keep the construction going but we want to keep the businesses open as well.”
During construction the city will keep sidewalks open to allow customers to continue accessing businesses, but patrons will have to park north or south of the construction area or on side streets off Monterey Street.
Business owners are urged to attend the meeting so officials “can identify any concerns they might have for how it proceed,” Dey said. “The basic premise is to get in there, get the work done fast so it’s least disruptive to the businesses.”
The meeting, which begins at 7pm at City Hall, will include project engineers, city staff, and a consultant hired by the city to help businesses and customers prepare for the construction.
The final phase of the streetscape project was made possible by a $2.5 million grant, awarded in December by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
While the details are not yet fleshed out, the project will continue features already in place along Monterey between Sixth and Eighth streets, including wider sidewalks, tree plantings and decorative lamp-posts.
The current phase also will involve the removal of the snake-like median along Monterey and the creation of angled parking, expected to double the number of spots. The city hopes to extend certain upgrades, such as lamp posts and tree plantings, down a portion of the side streets.
Dey said the city’s plans remain on schedule. Following the meeting, engineers will commence detailed design work for the streetscape renovations.
Construction is scheduled to commence by January 2006 and to be complete by the end of October 2006.
What:
Downtown streetscape meeting for businesses
When:
Tuesday, 7pm
Where:
City Council Chambers, 7351 Rosanna St.
Source: City of Gilroy
