I’ve spent much of my life helping communities throughout North
America get back on their feet. I’ve now worked with more than
3,000 communities to improve their built form to be more walkable
and livable and look forward to helping thousands more. I arrived
in Hollister on Sunday to prepare for a community walkability
presentation, and I’d like to share some thoughts about what I have
seen thus far.
Dear Editor,
I’ve spent much of my life helping communities throughout North America get back on their feet. I’ve now worked with more than 3,000 communities to improve their built form to be more walkable and livable and look forward to helping thousands more. I arrived in Hollister on Sunday to prepare for a community walkability presentation, and I’d like to share some thoughts about what I have seen thus far.
Hollister is full of opportunity. The great mix of beautiful green hills, preserved buildings, tree-lined streets and appropriate industrial areas gives Hollister an opportunity become a great community of the future. Parts of Hollister are as quant and unique as I have seen anywhere. If the residents and leaders of Hollister get behind a shared vision and work to make that vision a reality, Hollister can emerge as the nucleus of Santa Clara Valley. By capitalizing on its assets and shared values to create a vibrant downtown area, safe routes to school, walkable streets for all users and a strong sense of place that reflects the local character, Hollister can become the kind of place where people will come to raise families, operate great businesses and be part of a community that has something special to offer.
I look forward to learning yet more about Hollister as I meet people during my presentation and I hope to inspire all to make Hollister an even greater community of the future.
Dan Burden, executive director, Walkable and Livable Communities Institute
