Palmetto Avenue to get an improved downtown street

Pacifica Tribune/Editorial, 7/7/17. "At long last, Pacifica gets a downtown" by Mike O'Neill, Mayor  

 20 years to improve the Old Town street--
or is it 53 years? Thanks again (not) NIMBIES!

....  "Over the years many groups such as WESPAC, Palmetto Merchants and former Council Members Julie Lancelle, MaryAnn Nihart and Len Stone lobbied and pushed forward with the efforts. Supervisor Don Horsley worked with the county for additional funding. Citizens such as Robine Runneals, Shirley Gibbs, Kathleen Manning, Debra Nagel Burks and Lynn Adams were crucial in the ongoing efforts to get us here today.

Pacifica has worked 20 years for this project, enduring detailed planning, dust, disruption, noise and delays. The finish line is in sight. By the end of this year we shall have a new day in Pacifica, a new economic growth area and a downtown that will provide jobs, revenue and a source of civic pride. Amenities such as shops and restaurants will bring vibrancy and reasons not to go over the hill.

I also want to thank the Economic Development Committee and Samantha Hauser in particular for putting this event together. Last and certainly not least I would like to express my gratitude to City of Pacifica staff that worked so diligently through the years to achieve this goal. I know that Van Ocampo and the staff of Engineering and Public Works who labored diligently over the years creating this project will continue to protect the citizens and neighborhood in the coming years. The City of Pacifica is committed, and pledges to the ongoing efforts to mitigate the challenges we face from coastal erosion and aging infrastructure."  Read more.

Related Tribune Editor's note.  These were the opening remarks made at the groundbreaking event for the Palmetto Main Street Project.
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Related article. Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, Staff Writer, 6/30/17, "Palmetto Main Street christened. Project has been in works since 1964." .... "Part of Palmetto Avenue will be transformed to be more pedestrian- and bike-friendly with a unified theme promoting it as Pacifica’s Main Street. It has historically been one of the oldest streets in Pacifica and that history will be part of the main streetscape themes to attract businesses and visitors."

Reference. City of Pacifica/Palmetto Streetscape Project. "Many years ago, the 10-block stretch of Palmetto Avenue between Clarendon and Paloma Avenues was identified in the General Plan as the future site of a 'Main Street' for Pacifica. The Palmetto Streetscape Project is one of several projects to develop the "Main Street".  Work Already Done.  In 2013, the City completed undergrounding the overhead utilities and in 2014, the City finalized the streetscape plan to make the area more pedestrian and bicycle friendly as well as support business success. Pacifica received a grant of $1 million toward the project and the remaining funding needed for Phase 1 has been secured. .... The City expects to begin physical construction of the streetscape project in May, 2017. Construction is anticipated to be completed in Summer 2018.  Improvements include corner bulbs, planter areas, LED street lights, Class II bike lanes, ADA ramps, and new crosswalks. ....   Congresswoman Speier congratulated Pacifica for this new potential economic engine."

Note photograph by Jane Northrop/Staff Writer from the above related article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh