A Poll: Making Downtown San Carlos More Business Friendly.
April 30, 2020
A Downtown in Peril.
The shelter in place order that the County of San Mateo is operating under is having a detrimental effect on just about everyone, even those who are lucky enough to still have a paying job. There's probably no sector that feels this pain more acutely than our small businesses and local restaurants. Unlike well-funded publicly traded companies, most small businesses don't have the financial wherewithal to withstand months on end with nearly zero income — which is sadly exactly where we are today with COVID-19. The fact that the shelter in place was just extended to May 31, with some minor relaxing of the original order, makes the situation even more dire for our downtown businesses.
Regardless of whatever modifications are proposed, it's pretty clear that it will be a long time before the ritual of dining out gets back to “normal” — if normal ever happens again. Even after the current restrictions are slowly eased, people are going to reluctant to dine in the close and confined spaces that are commonplace in all San Carlos restaurants. The same applies to the quaint retail storefronts that are in integral part of downtown San Carlos.
Potential Solutions.
There are a number of changes that are being urgently pushed by business owners in hopes that the San Carlos City Council will active swiftly and decisively to make changes that will improve the business climate for our downtown merchants. The ideas are all similar in nature, in that they all make provisions for businesses to expand outward onto Laurel, thus allowing them to provide a better and safer dining and/or shopping experience. Here are a few of the ideas that I have heard:
- Develop more “parklets” in front of restaurants and business to enable more outdoor dining and shopping (like the one in front of Town Restaurant.)
- Temporarily convert the 600-800 blocks of Laurel Street to a pedestrian plaza (i.e. no vehicular traffic), thus allowing merchants to expand onto the sidewalk and part of the street during business hours.
- Same idea as #2, but make north Laurel Street a permanent pedestrian plaza.
The obvious objection to any of these ideas is that it will come at a cost of parking spaces. In Council Member Mark Olbert's personal blog, he states that converting those two blocks of Laurel Street to a pedestrian mall would cost the city 56 parking spots. And there's also the argument that instead of attracting shoppers and diners, the closing of the street to parking may deter shoppers from visiting.
What Do YOU Think?
Where do you stand on modifying Laurel Street in some fashion to assist our downtown merchants? The list above is probably only a subset of the various options that are being discussed, but I would love to know your opinion. Please vote in the poll below, and also feel free to make your opinion known in the comment section (your email is not required.) If you do leave a comment, let us know if you are a business owner or a just resident of the City of San Carlos.
Thanks for participating in the poll!
Poll closed.
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Been in favor of #3 for a while…European Style.
If we don’t act quickly we will lose everything we hold dearly about our downtown. In fact it’s probably too late for too many. Consider this, the first allowable dining activity will be outdoor seating. Possibly as early as June 1. The only possible action to take is to do this on a temporary basis right away and evaluate how long it’s needed. Anyone who votes against it o will campaign against in their next election. We can no longer take a “too rich to care” approach about policies necessary for our small businesses to survive.
Hi Chuck, Gwen and Dave Blewett here. We both live, work, shop and volunteer in San Carlos. I love the idea of permanently closing down the 600 – 800 blocks of Laurel. What makes San Carlos… San Carlos, is the restaurants, boutiques, unique shops. I disagree that this would deter business, I think having a safe environment for people to stroll, visit with each other while physically distancing, allowing restaurants to put tables and chairs further out will do nothing but enhance and help our small businesses and community. I was not aware that this idea was already being discussed. I ran into Tom David’s, the chairman of our San Carlos Chamber of Commerce last week. I asked him about this exact same thing, having Laurel closed down. If not permanently, at least most afternoons and evenings. With the new parking lot being open on El Camino, the parking lot of Wheeler Plaza, the side streets, the parking garage behind Sam Trans, parking should not be an issue. Having small businesses and restaurants close is the issue. As community members we should do all that we can to help and think outside of the box. Why worry about parking spaces when if these businesses fail and close their doors or go dark… parking will be our last worry. I would actually love it if parking did become an issue, thus meaning that our small businesses and restaurants are so busy that we will need more spaces. I think our council people need to get on board and do all that they can to support and help the restaurant owners and small businesses that have been a draw to bring home buyers to San Carlos, tenants to San Carlos, visiting neighbors to San Carlos, commercial business to San Carlos.
This would be a good idea. Businesses have to reopen and we need the support of our city and creative ways. This is a great idea to bring some confidence and support to much needed businesses
I have been to plenty of city’s with pedestrian only shopping districts. This would be a great idea for Downtown San Carlos! Now is a better time than any. Let’s get it done!
As a resident born and raised in San Carlos, now raising our family in this city, we couldn’t agree more with a pedestrian only shopping & dining plaza downtown laurel. Please save our small businesses and small community draw by supporting this and taking action immediately.
As a Laurel st worker, I’m all for closing down those two blocks of Laurel. One thing to keep in mind is the timed parking. Especially for us employees, it is a nightmare to work a shift while we’re wondering wether we’re gonna finish work to find a $40 ticket for going over the 2 or 3 hour parking limit, even in the side streets. One solution is monthly permits for qualifying workers. But ideally we’d get rid of time limits entirely, since there is “so much parking” across El Camino Real.
Without having safeguards for continuing safe distancing being in place and overseeing that with stringent fines if not complied, no plan should be considered—
As A Salon Owner On Laurel St. I Applaud This Idea! We have been saying this for years that this should be done. Almost every client I have spoke to about this, over the 10 years we’ve been open have loved this idea….Most of our clients don’t ever park on Laurel, or drive down laurel due to the congestion & inability to park, and now that multi level parking is available, losing 56 parking spots on laurel is not a big deal to them. They have adjusted to coming in & finding parking on either side of Laurel. Another great idea…Open up the Eureka building on San Carlos Ave for public parking! Now that caltrans has relocated, that parking lot sits empty, and has for years…This would open up tons of parking and In walking distance to all the north end buisnesses on Laurel.
Completely in favor of #3, should have been done years ago.
Would love to see #3…given the experience with farmers market on Sunday’s people manage to either find parking or find alternate modes of transport. It would be fantastic to turn those blocks into a plaza and allow restaurants to expand outdoor dining.
By taking away even more parking spaces you will kill the downtown San Carlos that we all love.
I wholeheartedly agree with closing down Laurel. There is a giant lot that sits mostly unused across El Camino. I think people could make the sacrifice and walk a few blocks to dinner, or shopping. I have lived in San Carlos for 15 years.
My father and mother (residents of San Carlos for 42 years) are both disabled. How will they navigate Laurel street if they can’t not utilize a handicap parking spot in front of various businesses? How will they accommodate the disabled and prevent what could be seen as discrimination?
I like the idea of #3 eventually. But the thought of doing this now seems irresponsible. Think of how many people from other cities that would be coming to our downtown – while we’re supposed to be sheltering in place – opening the town up to activity and even more people that are already here is a risk we shouldn’t take.