HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-20-2012 cooper 2 ph1From : Carter, Andre wSent:Thursday, November 15, 2012 10 :28 P MTo:Grimes, MaeveCc: Lichtig, Katie ; Johnson, Dere kSubject:FW : Downtown Retai l
*lie correspondence on SLO Brew .
oodwin, Heather
Grimes, MaeveFriday, November 16, 2012 8 :18 A MTo:Goodwin, Heathe rSubject:FW: Downtown Retai l
Please distribute as Agenda Correspondence for 11 .20 .12 PHI .Thank you .
maeve kenneOy mime s
City Clerk
city of san Luis O5IS o990 Palm Stree tSan Luis Obispo, CA 9340 1phone: (805) 781-710 2email:mgrimes@slocitv .org
Andrew CarterCouncil MemberCity of San Luis Obisp o
Original MessageFrom: Allan Cooper [allancoope@gmail .com ]Sent : Thursday, November 15, 2012 01 :22 PM Pacific Standard TimeTo:Marx, Jan ; Dan Carpenter ; Smith, Kathy ; Carter, Andrew; Ashbaugh, Joh n
Subject : Downtown Retai l
Dear SLO Council Members :
Congratulations on your reelection! Now, as we are all familiar with each other, we can get "straight t o
business". I feel I must identify my back ground as it is relevant to the topic of this letter . I have bee n
ching urban design with an emphasis on urban retailing on three continents for over 50 years . Sa nObispo has a number of commissions but none specifically address urban design and thus urba nesign issues fall between the cracks .
AGENDA
CORRESPONDENC E
Date "W/12 -Item#P4 I
i
I will focus on a key urban design issue which pertains to my recent overseas visit to a relevant cas e
y — the City of Bournemouth . A vital pedestrian path is crucial to maintaining a healthy downtow n
it district . Continuity and frequency are the keys to retailing access and success . Among th e
deterrents toward maintaining the success of a retail pedestrian path is the proliferation at street leve l
of the following land uses : banks, bars, restaurants/nightclubs and a broad category of services . A n
abundance of any of these uses at sidewalk level irreversibly diminishes the continuity, frequency an d
entertainment factor for downtown shoppers .
If one studies our Downtown, one can already observe a significant erosion of retail along our primar y
pedestrian shopping paths . Study the downtown core of Bournemouth and you will see perhaps th e
future of San Luis Obispo . This comparison is relevant because the two towns share man y
similarities : 1) they are both tourist destinations ; 2) they are both towns with sizable universities an d
3) they have both made significant strides in pedestrianizing their downtowns . However ,
Bournemouth is now in trouble because of the recent proliferation along its shopping paths of bars ,
nightclubs and alcohol outlet establishments .
The relocation of SLO Brew exacerbates the current trend where retail is becoming less of a
presence in Downtown San Luis Obispo and especially along Higuera Street . San Luis Obispo mus t
do something to tackle this ongoing problem before we reach the point of no return . I suggest that th e
esponsor a series of seminars/workshops focusing on this important issue and Save Ou r
ntown would be willing to assist you in these efforts .
Sincerely yours, David Brodi e
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