Broadway: Planners gotta plan

For the Here We Go Again file:  the Daily Journal is reporting on the "Broadway Specific Plan" meeting held last week with more color than usual since it seems the reporter went to the meeting (as opposed to watching council happening on-line afterwards):

A grand vision of plazas, parklets, mixed-use development and possible parking changes for a revitalized Broadway in Burlingame met reality at a Jan. 17 community workshop where concerns were surfaced about the retail thoroughfare’s existing character and limitations.

I'm not sure which grandees came up with the grand vision, but apparently it did not go over well with attendees:

“The consideration is, you’d have to ask people, do you want a second Burlingame Avenue at this location?” building owner Dave Simpson said. “No!” some in the crowd chorused in response.

The negative comments on the DJ website under the article are even more brutally pointed and draw in the prevailing dislike for the mess that has been made of California Dr. which we track here.  Some of the comments are even negative about the decade-plus reworking of the Avenew that I think came out well, but Broadway is clearly a different street and many would like it to proudly remain so.  Comments about rising rents after "upgrades", lack of space for gathering places and especially the traffic flow from our F-rated Broadway intersection are everywhere.

Some very smart commentary notes that if there are plans to change traffic flow on Broadway, they need to expand the planning scope to include the two nearest parallel streets – Lincoln and Carmelita.  Very true, but likely to bring out even more boo-birds.  I spend quite a bit of time on B'way and like the ambiance.  But let's face it.  Planners have to plan.  Perhaps we can start with the always-wise question:  What problem are we trying to solve?

Comments

[Handle Bard]

True street lives on

All enjoy what is here now

Change it at our risk

[Broadway resident]

The problem we are trying to solve? The business district is dying. Why? There is so little foot traffic that daytime retail and restaurant operations aren't sustainable, and new businesses that rely on foot traffic like bakeries won't come to Broadway. Restaurants can only do business in the evenings, which isn't enough to sustain employees or the rents. The resulting mix is... eclectic -- gas stations, banks, real estate offices, some great local groceries and some restaurants and then a bunch of empty storefronts + businesses that are barely open at all (like 3 hours a day). There's a LOT of room between a dying business district and a destination street like Burlingame Ave. Would be great to be able to discuss that.

[resident]

????????????
Are we talking about Broadway Burlingame? It's as busy as it ever has been. You might miss a couple of the old timers (Dave at Il Pic) but it's hardly dying. We don't need another bakery. The restaurants are doing just fine. Making a whole store out of wall beds never seemed like a good idea either.

Doing something about the black guy with the loudspeaker singing along with some rap song where every other word is the N-word in front of Walgreens would be good. Whatever happened to disturbing the peace?

Leave well enough alone.

[Paloma Ave]

Leave Broadway as is! Stop trying to make it Burlingame Ave.

Change is NOT always good.

[Joe]

From the B'way end of town and the DJ:

In recent months, rising high school senior Anjuli Mishra and local business leader John Kevranian have partnered together to help shops in Burlingame’s Broadway district become green-certified — and positive results have come quickly.

So far, seven Broadway district businesses have received or been recertified as green businesses since February. The certification checklist includes meeting metrics like waste-sorting practices, LED light usage and efficient water systems, Green Business Coordinator Bryton Mays said.

So far, the seven Broadway businesses that have received certification include Nuts for Candy & Toys, Que SeRaw SeRaw, Reborn Shoes, Burlingame Liquor, Tetsuji Kita OD, Broadway Grill and Chic Hair Salon.

https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/duo-helping-to-green-broadway-in-burlingame/article_6c6e1aae-4639-11ef-8650-9f99e25fd39e.html?utm_source=smdailyjournal.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Fheadlines%2F%3F-dc%3D1721484016&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline

Who knew we have a Green Business Coordinator?