While the logic of the city taking the lead to spur economic
development downtown is understood, there is concern about the idea
to rehabilitate or rebuild the old Granada Theater.
Anchor needed
While the logic of the city taking the lead to spur economic development downtown is understood, there is concern about the idea to rehabilitate or rebuild the old Granada Theater.
Downtown merchants need an anchor, a business that lures people downtown who can then frequent other shops and restaurants while there. That would be a catalyst to bringing other merchants downtown. The city has already spent $20 million buying various downtown properties in an attempt to create one large, mixed-use development akin to San Jose’s upscale shopping and restaurant mecca known as Santana Row. The Downtown Mall and the adjacent Granada Theater cost $8.6 million.
Not the time for the theater
But now the city has the crumbling housing market and the failure of Measure H – the city council’s attempt to make mixed-use housing possible downtown by adding 500 residential units unfettered by the city’s growth control system – to consider. So instead of focusing on one grand plan for Morgan Hill’s own Santana Row, officials have prioritized and come up with reopening the Granada Theater, either at its current location at 17440 Monterey Road or as part of three other possible mixed-use projects, as the number one goal for now.
And that is the key question: is now the time to spend up to $5.5 million to create a new downtown theater?
Don’t duplicate what we already have
There is already a theater less than two miles away and there are already two venues for live shows. Would enough people patronize the new theater often enough to make it successful? The city would surely need to add more parking to make the experience of visiting downtown even more enjoyable.
What really needs to happen is more people need to live downtown. Until significant downtown housing and businesses that go beyond restaurants are open in the downtown core, the city should earmark more redevelopment funds to attract new businesses. The new deli slated to open later this month and Fuzia, which opened in December, are good starts. Spurring economic development is a good idea, but this project is not the one to kick start downtown.
Act Now:
Morgan Hill City Council at 779-7271 or via their Web site at www.morgan_hill.ca.gov to let them know your feelings on the issue. You can also contact City Manager Ed Tewes at 7779-7271.
