People concerned about the upcoming redevelopment of downtown
Morgan Hill told the developer they generally prefer more
traditional main-street or Spanish styles of architecture to modern
or industrial styles.
People concerned about the upcoming redevelopment of downtown Morgan Hill told the developer they generally prefer more traditional main-street or Spanish styles of architecture to modern or industrial styles.
And many of those who attended the first of two “community engagement” meetings with Barry Swenson Builder said they would like to see specialty grocery and food stores downtown, such as a local wine shop, bakeries and delis – though there were conflicting suggestions on whether or not the new mixed-use development should include more bars or a night club.
The San Jose-based builder conducted the meeting at the Community and Cultural Center Wednesday to solicit input from the public on the design and occupants of two projects on Monterey Road totaling about $40-million they will be commissioned by the city to build.
“We can’t start the design process until we hear from the community,” said Jeff Current, vice president of Barry Swenson Builder.
About 50 people attended the meeting. Attendees were asked to place green or red stickers on poster boards depicting examples of the architectural designs they liked or disliked, and to write down their preference for the kind of retail, dining or entertainment options they would like to see occupy the ground floors.
Those preferences ranged from the general to the specific, with the names of national chains such as Cheescake Factory, sporting goods store REI, Whole Foods and high-end Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse listed. Other suggestions included “no fast food,” a bike shop, a multi-purpose meeting facility, a seasonal indoor sports facility, a shoe store, an ice cream shop, among others.
The builder hopes to secure at least one “anchor tenant” that can move in first, and attract visitors that will return and patronize other shops as they open. A boutique grocery store would be the ideal anchor tenant, Current said.
The two properties that BSB will develop are the 17400 block of Monterey Road, which currently houses the Downtown Mall and the vacant Granada Theater, and the 17300 block which contains Royal Clothiers and a small park. Both properties have parking lots behind the buildings.
The city council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency board of directors, approved an “exclusive negotiating agreement” with BSB earlier this month. That agreement says that the city, which owns the properties now, will only work with BSB to design downtown developments that are consistent with the city’s downtown plan. By March 15, 2011, the two parties will sign an agreement to sell the properties to the developer, and the developer will build what the city wants.
Currently in the plan are mixed-use multi-level structures on the sites, with retail and dining outfits on the ground floor, with a variety of housing units and offices upstairs. The site where Royal Clothiers is, on the corner of Second Street and Monterey Road, is slated to become a new multi-screen cinema.
Some residents at Wednesday’s meeting noted they would like to see areas designated for public art displays such as murals or sculptures. Current replied that BSB hopes to incorporate public art from local artists into the new developments.
Morgan Hill resident Marieke Ruys said regarding the architectural design of the new buildings, that the city and developer should start with a comprehensive plan because “form follows function.”
“I like when a building keeps the tradition of the city alive, and is fearless in putting down something that’s original,” Ruys said.
Another downtown redevelopment community engagement meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road. The meeting will consist of the same presentations and format as Wednesday’s, and the developer hopes new people will attend.
