HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-25-2012 pc brodie ph1Dear Mayor and Council Member s
I am at present in a city in England which is currentl y
in a more advanced state of what I see is happenin g
to Downtown San Luis Obispo . Many of the smalle r
retail shops have closed and in their places are
offices and service businesses . As one approache s
late afternoon, primarily young people congregate i n
the downtown drinking establishments . When I
questioned residents of this city about this, the y
stated that they do not visit their Downtown in th e
evenings because they do not like the drunke n
behavior that occurs there . This should be a lesso n
for the residents of San Luis Obispo . The balance o f
alcohol outlets to retail business is a very delicat e
one and the negative results from an imbalance are
predictable . The scale and geographic density o f
bars negatively affects retail in the Downtown .
If I recall correctly, two members of the SL O
Planning Commission agreed with my observatio n
that an increasing number of alcohol outlets withi n
the downtown area kills off retail and that these retai l
spaces eventually are replaced by offices an d
service uses ... uses that are anathema to th e
maintenance of critical retail shopping paths . I t
seems that that portion of Higuera Street fro m
"Bubble Gum Alley" to Nipomo Street is becomin g
COUNCIL MEETII*2 5 h&
ITEM NO .:
devoid of retail and is being sacrificed to bars an d
other types of alcohol outlet's
The Council needs to be truly in the forefront i n
dealing with these issues that are plaguing man y
downtowns today . I thank you for your attention .
David Brodi e
San Luis Obispo