Comments on: Downtown Fremont?

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:51:18 +0000

MikeTeeVee said, “Fremont has multiple downtowns, each with its own plan.”

He’s right. The five towns that formed Fremont in 1956 have tenaciously clung to their individual identities and the city has made every effort to help them by putting money into district projects, i.e. Niles Town Plaza. Drive from district to district and look at the banners that adorn the street lights. Not one district banner includes the city’s name.

Mike also mentioned Walnut Creek and Mountain View. Excellent examples of revitalized downtowns. But note the word revitalized. There was something there to work with, which Fremont does not have.

Anyone interested in seeing what a city (pop.50,000)can do if it has vision is visit the website of Greenville, South Carolina. They began their vision in the 70′s. But, they too had something to revitalize.

By: MikeTeeVee

MikeTeeVee — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:53:43 +0000

Matt said “The present City Council keeps shifting the downtown plans from one area to another be it the Pacific Commons, Centerville and now Fremont Blvd.”

Fremont has multiple downtowns, each with its own plan.

The Central Business District plan (on Capitol Ave, not Fremont Blvd) has been in the works for years. As has the Centerville Unified Site and the Niles Town Plaza and the Irvington Bay Street streetscape and Pacific Commons.

The plans aren’t shifting from one to another. But turning those plans into action hasn’t been working out all that well.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:17:48 +0000

The present City Council keeps shifting the downtown plans from one area to another be it the Pacific Commons, Centerville and now Fremont Blvd. They are clueless and dance to the tunes of City Manager who is the real problem. Time for Fremont folks to wake up and vote for new candidates other than the ones on the present City Council and the ones batpized in power at the Planning Commission.

By: MikeTeeVee

MikeTeeVee — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:11:28 +0000

Doug said: “Is our city government ready to turn Fremont Boulevard into one lane thoroughfare in the downtown area to create a pedestrian-friendly environment?”

No, the plan all along has been to do that to Capitol Avenue, one block away. Similar examples include Mountain View and Walnut Creek and Pleasanton.

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:43:15 +0000

Agree with doug!

By: Coyote Bill

Coyote Bill — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:36:49 +0000

Look at what we have. Two hospitals, several large medical clinics (Palo Alto Clinic), several smaller medical clinics, many, many doctors offices.
Alameda County Superior Court, Social Security branch office, the one stop social service center. Unemployment center.
Plus Bart and retail
What we have now, has evolved into a
CIVIC / MEDICAL /TRANSPORTATION/CENTER
Can you think of a better place to put high density housing for seniors, people with disabilities. By high density I mean 8, 10 story buildings with retail on the bottom.
As Doug says it requires visionary thinking.
Do you think the present city council is capable of this.
The Centerville mess says NO very loudly.
In the mean time they continue to pour our tax dollars down there bureaucratic rat hole called redevelopment.

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:00:22 +0000

To create a downtown requires visionary thinking and a major commitment. Given that we cannot even get the much smaller Centerville project off square one leaves me questioning the possibilities of ceating a Fremont city center. Is our city government ready to turn Fremont Boulevard into one lane thoroughfare in the downtown area to create a pedestrian-friendly environment? Take a look at what Livermore did to 1st Street and you will get the picture. That won’t happen here.