It
’s good to see new life in the old downtown, and things are
looking better all the time. Despite the tepid economy – the locals
are operating on the premise that “if you build it they will
come.”
It’s good to see new life in the old downtown, and things are looking better all the time. Despite the tepid economy – the locals are operating on the premise that “if you build it they will come.”
Last year the city collected more than 20 suggested projects proposed by business people with confidence in this historic quarter. Most revolved around the official downtown plan of retail, commercial and residential – mixed use is the cry of the day for suburban planners. All the supplicants need, generally, is a small infusion of money or fees waived.
On Wednesday the City Council approved financial support for four projects that promise get off the ground fast. The money came from a $3 million pot of Redevelopment Agency money reserved for the occasion.
Other businesses have gone ahead and opened on their own.
Recovering from the 2002 fire that destroyed their Madrone restaurant, the Peña family reopened the Sinaloa Mexican Café on Saturday, giving a big boost to the area. Maurizio’s Italian Cuisine will open soon, across the street from Sinaloa. BookSmart has added a card, gift and flower shop next door called The Love Bug, filling the gap left by Carole’s Hallmark.
The old movie theater/restaurant next to Rosy’s at the Beach will become a sports bar and the police building will soon turn into a brewpub and anchor the northern gateway.
Down the street the little yellow house near the Methodist Church has been taken over by roving artists, which, when the Art Guild opens soon, should deepen the art/antique/book/food image quaint little downtowns seem to thrive on.
Besides these charms, restless diners can find a range of ethnic restaurants already open for business, from Thai to Japanese and Chinese plus more traditional offerings and one-of-a-kind shops not found in big box cities.
One question mark hovers: the downtown mall has been sold and the Granada Theater leased for 30 years to Manou Mobedshahi. Until he decides what will work for that large chunk of real estate between East Second and East First streets, and until work is complete and new or refreshed businesses open, the block will remain in limbo.
But, overall, it is heartening to see that people do care about Morgan Hill’s downtown, the five block area that gives the town its soul. Not every town is so lucky.
