The majority of Gilroyans seem to know intuitively that a
medical center isn’t the best use of a downtown building on
Monterey Street. It just makes common sense that if downtown is
going to be a vibrant mix of arts, retail and dining that a medical
center doesn’t fit in the middle of the main drag.
The majority of Gilroyans seem to know intuitively that a medical center isn’t the best use of a downtown building on Monterey Street. It just makes common sense that if downtown is going to be a vibrant mix of arts, retail and dining that a medical center doesn’t fit in the middle of the main drag.
It’s so obvious that many established downtown businesses are threatening to close up shop if the proposed downtown medical center becomes a reality.
But, since no one has established a vision for downtown Gilroy, it’s hard to tell the medical center operators who propose to place a clinic in the building now occupied by The Garlic Festival Store that they don’t belong.
It’s too bad that just as the process of revitalizing downtown is gaining some momentum – as evidenced by streetscape improvements, the purchase of property for a cultural arts center, the formation of a downtown specific plan task force and the beginnings of attention from city government – the medical center plan threatens to stall forward momentum.
It’s just another example of the price the community continues to pay for the years of neglect Gilroy’s city center has endured. And, it’s another example of the two-steps-forward-one-step-backward progress that has marked efforts to rehabilitate downtown.
Medical facilities are usually grouped together – such as at Saint Louise Regional Hospital, or in the Wren Avenue complex with multiple medical providers – and there’s good reason for that. Medical service providers often offer complementary services – the orthopedist might send a patient for X-rays, the cardiologist might have a patient who needs blood work, the internist might refer a patient to a specialist.
It works much more smoothly for everyone involved when medical facilities are located near each other.
Likewise, downtown needs complementary businesses. Medical centers, which are closed nights and weekends, don’t fit in well with exciting arts, retail and dining establishments that want to attract foot traffic in the evenings and on weekends as well as during the day. A dark building in the middle of downtown will not enhance Monterey Street during key evening and weekend hours for arts, retail and dining establishments.
We urge city leaders to find a way to help Gardner Family Heath, the medical clinic that proposes to move downtown, to find another more suitable location.
And we urge them to put together a stimulus package for retail and dining establishments that will encourage one of them to locate in The Garlic Festival Store’s building – and the many other vacant storefronts that line Monterey Street.
Let’s not lose our downtown revitalization momentum.
