Cities are no different than people
– first impressions are important.
Hollister – Cities are no different than people – first impressions are important.
In a step towards making sure that people entering Hollister from the west on Highway 156 get a good impression of the city, Hollister Redevelopment Agency board members voted Monday to request designs for cosmetic improvements in the appearance of the city’s west gateway at the San Benito River Bridge, at the city limit.
Currently, motorists entering the city from the west are greeted by the bleak scene of a sewage treatment plant and an industrial area. Improvements might include berms and other landscaping to cover those industrial eye sores, as well as a large “Welcome to Hollister” monument sign, according to RDA staff.
“It looks pretty dismal,” RDA Board Member Doug Emerson said about the current condition of the gateway.
City Manager Clint Quilter said that sprucing up the area will make Hollister more attractive to potential businesses.
“We want people to come into Hollister and do business in Hollister. We don’t want Hollister looking junky when they come into the town,” he said. “It’s marketing.”
RDA Board Member Robert Scattini said he’s been interested in cleaning up the city’s western entrance for a long time.
“It distracts from the city of Hollister,” he said. “It’s just a bunch of junk in that area. It doesn’t give a very good impression of Hollister.”
If people have a good impression of the city right from the time they enter it, they are more likely to consider it a place to call home, he said.
“Hopefully, if people see how nice it is – a nice, clean town – people would look forward to maybe moving here.”
Planning Commissioner Chris Alvarez also said he believed in the power of the first impression.
“When you first come into town, you kind of judge it on how it looks when you’re entering it,” he said.
Improvements to the gateway will give the city’s outskirts an identity, RDA Board Member Brad pike said.
“I’d like to see something to identify where Hollister starts and what kind of town Hollister is,” he said. “I want to make a strong push to embrace the borders of the city and have them welcome people.”
Planning Commissioner David Huboi agreed that something needs to be done so people coming in from the west know they are entering a city.
“Right now you don’t really have anything, instead of traffic signs, saying that you’re coming into Hollister,” he said.
Emerson said that, while improvements to the gateway wasn’t on the top of his list of priorities, he thinks that if it were beautified property values in the area would raise. Higher property values means more tax revenue for the city, he said.
People who own homes and businesses in the area targeted for improvements also say they think that beautifying the city’s western entrance is a worthwhile project.
“It’s a good idea,” said Peter Lopez, who lives off Highway 156 near the San Benito River Bridge. “They should keep everything looking nice.
Richard Van Scoter, who owns San Benito Auto Wreckers, which is located on county property, agreed.
“Sounds good to me,” he said. “I think this area needs attention.”
Van Scoter also said that he hoped the city extends its efforts to the sewer pond west of the San Benito River Bridge, although that is not within city limits.
“They ought to put more trees up as a screen around the sewer pond,” he said. “You’d still get the smell, but at least you wouldn’t have the sight of it.”
Any improvements to the gateway would be paid for with RDA funds, according to Quilter, who added that improving the city’s gateways is one of the agency’s priorities.
Now that the board approved it, Quilter said the RDA would likely request designs for the gateway within a month.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected]
