The San Mateo Daily Journal gives a quick snapshot of the on-going discussion about fostering development in the B'game Avenue downtown area.
Nineteen development companies submitted plans for turning parking lots in downtown Burlingame into revenue producers. Although not yet made public, plans were discussed by city staff and a subcommittee of the council and ranked.
On Tuesday, the council is expected to have property negotiations with two companies — Equity Residential, a real estate investment trust based in Chicago, and Grosvenor, an international property development, investment and fund — regarding three downtown parking lots: E, F and N.
Similar to the leafblower controversy, the first question is really "What problem are we trying to solve?" In this case there are a couple of options but not everyone agrees on which get priority. Is it more sort-of-transit-oriented housing that counts on Caltrain still being around? Is it a larger tax base? Is it being proactive for when, or really "if", the Post Office goes up for sale? A bit of clarity may come during the public part of this discussion.
This sounds like a very dangerous path to travel.
If HSR goes into the pot, the value, and cost vs. benefit is completely thrown out the window.
Be very careful.
For example-
HSR will take away all parking from California Dr.
The viable option remaining is 5-6 story parking lots spread through out Broadway/Burlingame Ave shopping districts.
Posted by: holyroller @hotwire.com | January 16, 2012 at 04:44 PM
Here's a nice recap of the Downtown Streetscape effort from Heather Murtagh at the Daily Journal:
http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=226912&title=Changes in works for Burlingame Avenue
The rub is the part about "As proposed, funding would come from a number of sources — $7 million in city money from water and sewer enterprise funds, state gas tax and measure A funds, grants and capital improvement funds; and revenue from creating an assessment district and increasing parking meter rates."
Posted by: Joe | January 19, 2012 at 08:44 PM
I do not understand how the "Mega Corparations" that do business on Burlingame Ave do not fund/donate to the entire project. City of Burlingame Business Licence fees,Apple, Gap,Panda, Bev-Mo, Star Bucks, Peets,PacBell,are @$150.00 per year.
I know, I know, they pay sales tax.
However, "they are" a part of community.
Posted by: holyroller @hotwire.com | January 20, 2012 at 04:12 PM