Downtown marked a new era in its history with a weekend
celebration that attracted hundreds of residents.
Gilroy – Downtown marked a new era in its history with a weekend celebration that attracted hundreds of residents.
Live music drew congregations of 50 to 100 people Saturday evening to each of three stages on Monterey Street, and businesses, city agencies and nonprofit groups set up displays along the road from Seventh to Third streets. The crowd, though not quite the turnout some officials hoped for, helped pack such downtown restaurants as Chips N Salsa, Gilroy Bowl and Happy Dog Pizza Company. The celebration marked the official unveiling of a remodeled Monterey Street.
As part of a $4.1 million Streetscape project, a winding median vanished from Monterey Street, antique street lamps rose as high as the rooftops, and buildings sprouted 15-foot-wide sidewalks primed for bistros and cafes.
“We really like what they did to the street,” said Tom Eggers, a five-year resident who came with his wife to see the John Garcia Band. “I like that some people are starting to live down here, too. You’ll start seeing people around a lot more.”
Monterey Street turned into a no-man’s land last year when the road shut down for seven months to undergo the facelift. Recent months have seen the stirrings of new life, however, with a new three-story building rising at the corner of Monterey and Lewis streets and work proceeding on the first phase of a 200-home project at the former Cannery site, one block east.
The six-hour party Saturday was the most buzz the area has seen in months.
“I think the streets are awesome,” said Tamara Rivera, a resident. “They’re nice and clean. People are having a good time. It’s a nice family atmosphere.”
Diners began pouring into Cielito Lindo Restaurant at 6:30pm Saturday night, said manager Ana Estrada, though she said the day proved to be a wash in terms of sales because fewer walk-ins stopped in due to the early closure of the street.
“Things have been picking up little by little,” she said. “If it continues with that trend, it should be getting better, though maybe not better than it used to be … We’re doing good. We’re surviving.”
A number of downtown merchants did not see bumps in sales, but they figured the weekend party could only help in the long run.
“A lot of people don’t ever come downtown except for events like this, so now they know about us,” said Jose Alfaro, a salesman at Econo Furniture at Sixth and Monterey streets.
Merchants and visitors agreed that many more storefronts must be filled before the area begins attracting steady business.
“It still could use some restaurants,” said JoAnn Cardwell, an 11-year resident sipping wine and people watching at the corner of Fifth and Monterey streets.
“You need something else to make it look quaint,” she said. “But I think we’re on the right track.”
Mayor Al Pinheiro, who has been the council’s lead champion of downtown renewal, said the city has done its part to help revive the area. Officials have waived more than $2 million in development fees to attract new businesses and building remodels, and more than 20 projects are now under development or in discussion. Merchants and building owners must now step up and do their part, Pinheiro said.
“They need to not let the momentum go,” he said. “They need to spend a little money now that the seed is planted. We need some of these building owners to put a fresh coat of paint on their property. They need to get together and advertise. They need to continuously put on a good face.”
