HOLLISTER
Irvine firm RBF Consulting has presented downtown business owners, residents and officials with a draft version of a new vision plan for downtown Hollister.
RBF planners already met with locals for a weekend-long discussion in early October. Hollister Downtown Association Executive Director Brenda Weatherly said Friday’s meetings – a $15 breakfast followed by a free open house in the evening – gave the company, hired by the HDA to prepare the vision plan, a chance to make sure it’s on the right track.
“This is their opportunity to say, ‘This is what we heard – were we right?'” Weatherly said.
Weatherly and others said they were happy with the planners’ ideas, which include the construction of a public plaza at the intersection of San Benito and Fourth streets, improved crosswalks and gateway arches at the north and south ends of downtown.
“I think the big theme is people places, places for people to get together,” said Jason Jones, an associate urban designer with RBF.
The draft plan divides downtown into nine districts: the north gateway, east gateway, south gateway, San Benito corridor, civic center, railroad square, cannery neighborhood north, cannery neighborhood south and west neighborhood. Jones said creating different districts allows different areas to serve different purposes, creating “subdestinations” in the downtown neighborhood.
The draft plan identifies possible areas for commercial or mixed-use development throughout neighborhood. It also identifies possibilities for new residential development, including the San Benito Foods cannery.
“There’s opportunity for redevelopment in several places in our downtown,” Weatherly said. “RBF is exploring potential opportunities, in some cases with the landowner. In others, they’re exploring possible visions for the area.”
Some attendees may have expected more details and concrete plans, Weatherly said, but those will come later in the process.
“People are so excited and they want to see results right away,” she said. “That doesn’t reflect badly on them. There’s just great anticipation and great hope for downtown.”
Jones said RBF will present a more developed draft plan in February, and could finalize the plan in March or April. The company will also examine the implementation and economic viability of specific projects, he said.
City Councilman Doug Emerson said the presentation indicated RBF is off to “a good start.”
“We’re starting with a big vision,” he said. “But if we don’t start someplace, we won’t get anywhere.”
The HDA is still around $30,000 short of the $200,000 it needs to pay for the vision plan, Weatherly said.
To help, the Hollister Ag Boosters and the Future Farmers of America will be organizing a barbecue for Dec. 15. Tickets must be purchased in advance, Weatherly said. For more information call the HDA at 831-636-8406.
Possible improvements to downtown Hollister:
Public plaza with outdoor dining areas, gathering spaces and lawn areas for special events at San Benito and Fourth streets
Special paving along San Benito Street between Fourth and Fifth streets for convertible space and extension of public plaza during special events
Enhanced crosswalks with special paving or color throughout downtown
Gateway arch for “southern gateway” at the intersection of South and San Benito streets
Source: RBF Consulting
