There are some members of the newspaper’s Editorial Board who are darn tootin’ tired of the latest brochures and pamphlets touting Gilroy’s economic attributes and they are tired of hearing “we’re working on it” when plenty of tax dollars are being spent on economic development. I understand. My eyes gloss over on the “latest brochure,” too. What we all want are tangible results, facts that you can get you arms around:
- What new businesses have moved into downtown?
- Which businesses did we keep from leaving town? What businesses did we attract and how?
- What new pro-business policies has the Council adopted?
- Has the city staff implemented those policies faithfully?
- What prior city regulations have been modified or discarded that have helped business?
- How many jobs were created and what kind of jobs were those exactly? Benefitted, better than minimum wage?
- Did we make a significant dent in the city’s unemployment rate?
But it’s also clear that the last few years have been a struggle everywhere economically, so there’s room for some leniency. But the times are a changing for the better and, with a Gilroy economic report card coupled with government and agency accountability, 2013 could yield positive, concrete results.
Mayor Don Gage told the audience at the Chamber breakfast Wednesday that Gilroy’s untapped economic potential is enormous. He believes that if everyone is pulling the economic ox cart together, Gilroy can usher in a new era of prosperity.
I think it’s entirely possible. But that public report card that outlines the goals and grades the progress or lack thereof is key.
We’ve always had first base covered: “location, location, location” is not an issue. That’s evident given our wildly successful outlet and regional retail sales position which is not going away anytime soon. But we have to strengthen efforts to keep what we have. Losing the Ford Store, the highest volume and most forward thinking car dealership in the area to Morgan Hill, hurts. We ought to be able to keep those businesses. After all, we’re a retail mecca, and retail businesses like to be located near each other.
But that’s just one aspect. While Gilroy’s downtown has, as even experts have concluded, “the bones” for a successful district, the truth is that – despite a gem here and there – it’s not the local attraction or the economic engine that it should be. Even more than that, the community as a whole has not embraced downtown.
In that regard, one of our Editorial Board members is right on when it comes to the vision for downtown. Gary Walton has incessantly talked about having a strategy to improve the neighborhoods surrounding downtown as an essential piece to the revitalization puzzle. He couldn’t be more right. Without that strategy in place, all the cheerleading in the world won’t make a dent in the area.
When I came to Gilroy, more than 25 years ago, I thought it might take a decade before downtown would become a true destination for strolling, shopping, getting dinner then an ice cream or coffee. That it hasn’t happened weighs on our community’s self image. A Gilroy with a thriving downtown and safe, clean neighborhoods around it would grade out as a significantly better place to live.
We’re reporting on the Council retreat in next week’s newspaper. Downtown is a first-year Council priority we understand, but whether that stretches out to include the surrounding neighborhoods remains to be seen.
There are so many Gilroy positives just waiting to be exploited – top-notch wineries, super shopping, beautiful Gilroy Gardens, a plethora of outdoor recreational opportunities including hiking, fishing and boating. A quaint downtown, flush with cafes, boutiques, antiques and unique stores would go a long way toward rounding out the Gilroy menu.
What can we add to the equation that will complement and support our efforts to keep local people here and attract more visitors? Former Councilman Bob Dillon, for example, touted a Bass Pro Shop Superstore for years. It’s a great idea. A miniature golf complex would work, too. And how can we attract a really good Italian deli like La Villa in Willow Glen to our downtown?
A proposal to allow outdoor sidewalk seating at the restaurants downtown will come before Council on Jan. 28. That’s a good start. It’s important for people to see a vibrant scene out of doors and our warm, summer climate is perfect for al fresco dining. But while we’re at it, let’s make sure the city is solving problems – i.e. How can the city fix it so that Bobby and Fran Beaudet at the new Old City Hall Restaurant can use that beautiful pizza oven on the patio?
To reach Gilroy’s potential economic prosperity is going to take both a comprehensive strategy and keen attention to smaller details.
Reach Editor Mark Derry at ed****@ga****.com
