The Burlingame Voice

Hoover: When an Island Isn't.

I happened to drive past the nicely upgraded Hoover School recently.  As the elementary kids start thinking about returning to class, pedestrian (and vehicle) safety will be on people's minds.  Hoover has a bit of a past in this regard which you can read about here from two and a half years ago.

What caught my eye as year 3 is about to start at Hoover were the tire tracks on the roundabout island right in front.  It seems odd to me that there would be an island that is so easy to drive over.  What's the point really?  Does it engender some false sense of security?  Is it a challenge for thrill-seekers?  Or is it just a poor design?  Seems like if you are going to put in an island, it should really be an island instead of a little sand bar.

Easton Project, Yes -- Nada on El Camino

If the size of the sign is indicative of the size of the project, the Easton Addition sewer and drainage project will be huuuuuge.  Phase 1 which the city site shows as completed was about a mile of pipe.  Phase 2 which is under construction is about a half a mile 

Project Scope: The work shall consist of constructing approximately 2,600 LF of new 6-inch and 8-inch sanitary sewer pipe and 15-inch storm drain pipe throughout the City using open cut, pipe bursting, and pipe reaming in the public right-of-way, along easement areas, and in private properties. Other related work includes installation and replacement of manholes, cleanouts and laterals by pipe bursting or open cut, rehabilitation of manholes, temporary bypass pumping, connecting all laterals, and other related miscellaneous work.

Phase 3 is out to bid for another 0.6 of a mile.  Here is the sign that catches the eye

I just can't help but contrast this work to the non-work not happening on our State highway, El Camino Real.  The "Flooded" signs have reappeared and may very well be with us all winter.  When I downloaded the photo below, I happened to name it the same way as one I took FIVE YEARS ago.  Unbelievable that we can blow billions on a medium-speed train to no where, but for decades we can't get decent drainage on El Camino.

Incoming Mayor Michael Brownrigg (due to be installed on Monday, Dec. 18th) made a campaign issue of getting it fixed.  This will be his chance.

Tom Jr Reaching Adolescence

The replacement eucalyptus tree in front of the Easton Addition library is growing in slowly.  We last checked in on him five years ago here.  He is fondly referred to as Tommy Jr. by friends of his dad who was known far and wide as Tom the Tree and met his demise about ten years ago.  Here is his slender profile today.

Historic on Drake

Every once in awhile things do work out well for those of us who care about recognizing and preserving B'game's history, especially its historic homes.  Finally, after a lot of effort by the homeowners, B'game has it first National Historic Registered residence.  The Daily Journal has this piece along with some nice interior photos that were not in the print edition, noting

The only person architect William Whifler intended to impress when he designed the unique and stylish home tucked away at the end of a quiet Burlingame street was his mother.  But through the tireless efforts of his son Graeme Whifler, the family’s property on Drake Avenue received widespread recognition after recently being added to the National Register of Historic Places.

William Whifler, who designed homes across the Peninsula between 1950 and 1970, was honored by the federal agency for his creative approach to the mid-century modern home template featuring expansive windows and ranging, open interiors.  Despite his reluctance to seek attention, William Whifler’s work established a long legacy in his native community, as he designed Burlingame City Hall and co-founded the College of San Mateo’s department of architecture.

Many kudos to Graeme who noted that "his father deserved accolades similar to colleagues of his era such as developer Joseph Eichler, despite never seeking out such attention while working."  My wife, Cathy Baylock, recalls speaking to Graeme's sister about how to go about getting started back in about 2013 while Cathy was advocating for historic preservation as a city councilwoman.

This so gratifying to see and a great addition to Kohl Mansion's status.  I have now added a photo taken from the sidewalk.  My guess is the plaque is the Historic Landmark marker, but didn't want to just walk in to look.  Very serene setting at the end of the street.

 

B'game Plaza Parking

I had high hopes that the update to the parking lot at Burlingame Plaza would include some trees.  It wasn't a big thing back in the '50's (or was it the '40's?) when the plaza was built, but these days trees are admired as a welcome addition in parking lots.  Barring any trees, some shade arbors with or without solar panels would be welcome as well.  But perusing the work in progress, it doesn't appear that we will get any trees that shade cars.  The ends of the aisles might get a tree, but I did not see irrigation lines being laid when I was up there this week.  The longer fenced off area was just for storing equipment.  Missed opportunity?

New Mills Canyon

There has been some good upgrades and maintenance recently in Mills Canyon.  The DJ is reporting the story here and notes

Weeks of work refining the secluded and narrow trail culminated Tuesday, April 19, as workers with the California Conservation Corps cleared brush from the path which spans a little over a mile in the Burlingame hills east of Skyline Boulevard, near Arguello Drive.

The final day of trimming put a finishing touch on the work which began last month that included building new stairs, regrading the trail for storm drainage, adding more steps, reducing erosion threats, widening the trail, implementing new retaining walls and more.

This part was interesting to me also since kids are sometimes in there at night partying

The dirt trail is open daily for free to members of the public to enjoy, along with their leashed dogs. No camping is allowed on the property, which closes at nightfall.

Outside of the recent beautification efforts, Holtz said volunteers are often responsible for clearing non-native species which may grow along the trail, as well as cleaning out the rare occurrence of litter being left behind.

I thought I would take a look at the Crime Map (that you can find here) for the last two weeks and see how it's been going.  It's been quiet in the canyon so we will see how it goes as the school year comes to an end.

 

 

Hoover Traffic Planning (and Paying)

School capacity - really the lack of school capacity - is a hot button in town.  The District estimated the available capacity in the five existing schools to be 102 seats back in the summer.  Development in town - really over-development in town - will exacerbate this even with the re-opening of Hoover School.  That saga can be reviewed here and here for newcomers (of which there are some).  Today's Daily Journal notes that tonight is when the money meets the road on traffic/pedestrian improvements that need to be made to

Officials are expecting a crush of cars and students flocking to the area near the campus at 2200 Summit Drive when 200 kindergartners through fifth-graders start classes at the school in August.

In advance of the school reopening its doors, officials will collaborate on developing an agreement over how the cost of building new sidewalks, painting crosswalks, making the site compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards and other improvements will be financed.

Officials project the variety of improvements are slated to cost as much as $3.5 million, when considering long-term projects such as building new sidewalks along Summit and Easton drives, as well as widening the roads and other efforts, according to a city report.

This is the first meeting of the full bodies (new Council and School Board) and they need to collaborate since

...school officials and neighborhood residents arrived at a settlement in February, after the district committed to installing a variety of alterations along Summit Drive, such as designating student drop-off and pick-up areas and realigning the school driveway, among other improvements.

This incremental capacity of 200 kids is a start, but I believe there will be more demand coming soon so the two bodies might as well get to know each other's concerns.

Easton Additions History Lesson

The quarterly meeting of the Burlingame Historical Society was standing room only--even though no current City Council members attended.  The presentation on the history of the Easton Additions  (plural since there were actually seven different additions) was meticulously assembled by Mary Packard and received with rave reviews by about 125 people in the Lane Room at the downtown library.

Ms. Packard started with the first city water records from 1913 and has been researching 110 houses in the Easton Additions that got water service near inception.  Comparing those records with real estate maps, Historical Society archive information, Sanborn fire underwriting maps and good ole-fashioned walks around the neighborhood led to a fascinating view of a dozen houses that could easily be recognized from about 100 years ago.

In addition, the crowd was treated to photos of the B'way train station when it was on the other side of the tracks, a view of the original North B'game Women's Club that became the Easton library extension and a number of commercial buildings on B'way.  This was all peppered with notes on the former residents and owners.  It also led a representative of the San Mateo County Historic Resources Advisory Board who happened to be in the audience to plead with the crowd to push for an Historical Resources Inventory in B'game as 14 of 20 other cities in the county have done.

I particularly liked the discussion of how San Mateo Dr. originally stopped at Oak Grove and resumed a view blocks north of the parcels we see below with the water tower on one.  Getting that right of way to complete what we call California Dr. was an early example of B'game deal-making.

Historical Footnote - 1933

I love finding B'game memorabilia on eBay.  I've had some amazing finds of postcards, pamphlets, automobilia (from our historic Auto Row) and the like.  I thought I would share the latest one with you since it counters the idea that B'game was such a genteel place back in the day.  The photo is dated August 8, 1933 from a newspaper file.

The caption on the back reads "A gay barbecue party at a fashionable Burlingame, California home ended in tragedy when Fortune Nelson Burson, 33, San Francisco orchestra leader, we found dead after an asserted fight with Richard Chilcott, 21, San Mateo College football star.  The party was held at the home of Burson's fiancee, Miss Frances Biddeson, 23, daughter of Mrs. Georgia Biddeson, divorced wife of of a New York broker.  Miss Biddeson witnessed the fight, and is shown here in the Biddeson garden, with Chilcott, standing at the spot where Burson died."

The 1933 City Directory puts the Biddesons at 1520 Hoover which is across from Mercy's property, but the photo seems to be looking towards Columbus and shows a lot of open space.  Interesting to ponder not just the event as described but the social and geographic environment. 

Adding a Crossing Guard

Long time Voice readers will recall the huge controversy over school crossing guards that erupted five-plus years ago and was eventually resolved with some key donations from civic and business groups.  There is probably no appetite for reopening that especially when a parent can get 185 signature on a petition as the Daily Journal reported yesterday.

Concern over a busy intersection at Ray Drive/Rosedale Avenue and El Camino Real has sparked Burlingame’s school district and the city to add a crossing guard to the area to reduce potential dangers.

The intersection is frequently used by students traveling from the Burlingame Village neighborhood to both Lincoln Elementary and Burlingame Intermediate schools, but traffic at that intersection is very fast and congested. A $10,000 a year crossing guard will increase safety for the Burlingame Elementary School District students and potentially reduce the number of cars traveling to and from the schools, according to a staff report. The cost will be split equally between the city of Burlingame and the district, and the city has already approved the guard as well, said City Manager Lisa Goldman.

The facts and figures that drove this decision are

At that particular intersection, there have been 12 accidents, eight injuries and zero fatalities between Jan. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2012, said Caltrans spokeswoman Gidget Navarro. The total accident rate is 0.86 compared to statewide average of 0.27. The total average is based on similar intersections for the whole state of California. Caltrans takes similar intersections with the same amount of lanes together and do comparisons, she said.

Sounds like a plan!