Update on Downtown Projects:   
07/06/15
IN THIS ISSUE

BACKGROUND/REFERENCE MATERIAL

 

 

Downtown Placemaking Investment Strategy Report

 

Add a descriptio

 

Monterey Road Reduction Pilot Program Staff Presentation

 

Downtown Specific Plan

 

 

 

 



It is an exciting time in Morgan Hill's Downtown as we begin to implement the Downtown Placemaking Investment Strategy

This month will begin the construction phase of several of the downtown projects:  3rd Street Plaza, Monterey Road Streetscape, 4th Street and Utility Undergrounding.  While we will work diligently with all contractors to minimize construction impacts, there will be impacts.  Those impacts will be shared as early as possible.

**An important change that we wanted to call your attention to is that the Monterey Road Complete Street Project will be ending in conjunction with the beginning of the Monterey Road Streetscape Project.  The construction on Monterey Road will be impact the availability of the buffered bike lane. Please see all the details about this under "Complete Street Pilot Project" below. 

In an effort to keep the community informed, this downtown project update is provided on a biweekly basis, and may at times be shared more frequently as we move into this significant construction phase of the downtown projects.

Please feel free to share this email, check the links that interest you, and
reply to us with your questions and comments.

  

Maintenance/Construction Impacts in the Next Two Weeks

 

July 6 - 12


 

3rd Street (East half of Street 65 E. 3rd to Depot)

Tentative Construction Schedule

Beginning July 8, 3rd Street will be closed to through vehicle traffic.  The East side of street will be closed to all vehicle traffic Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm.  Pedestrian access will be available 24/7.

 

  • Set-Up/Preparation/Demo for Stage 1

    • Construction Signage

    • Storm Water Drain Protection installed

    • Tree Protection

    • Establish parking spots in public parking lot for residents at 65 and 75 3rd Street

    • Direction parking signage for businesses

  • Remove existing facilities ( bollards)

  • Remove vehicular and pedestrian pavers

 

July 12 - 19

 

3rd Street

  • Complete Demo
  • Prepare for concrete work

 

Monterey Road

Tentative Construction Schedule

Beginning July 13, the buffered bike lane and all on street parking will be unavailable for approximately 5 weeks during Phase 1 of the Streetscape Project.  This affects both northbound and southbound travel. The number one travel lane ( closest to the median) will continue to  be available for vehicle travel through the downtown.  Pedestrian access is not affected.

  • Set-up/Preparation/Demo for Phase 1

4th Street

Large 60 foot trucks will be bringing in beams and columns for the parking structure using 4th Street.  These large trucks will be using both the south and the north side of 4th Street during the hours of 7am - 3:30pm

 

Ongoing through mid November- Parking structure construction

 

 


Community Engagement Opportunities

 

July 15, 7pm

  • City Council Meeting
  • Successor Agency Meeting

July 22,  2pm

  • Oversight Board Meeting

 

 

Downtown Happenings

 


 
 

June 5 - August  7pm - 9pm 

* No Friday Night Music on July 3...enjoy the Street Dance

 

 July 26 - 11am - 3pm

 

 

  

 

 

 

Morgan Hill Downtown Association Events Calendar

Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Events Calendar

City of Morgan Hill Calendar

 

 Complete Streets Pilot Project

 

It's not about the bike lane... It's all about traffic calming!

 

After reviewing, and considering, the construction schedule for the Monterey Streetscape project, we have determined that it is necessary to end the data collection and monitoring of the Complete Street 6 Month Pilot Project early.  Although Monterey Road will continue to be in a one vehicle travel lane configuration from Dunne to Main for the duration of the streetscape project (7/13 - 10/20), there are too many new variables that come in to play with construction to continue with data collection and have it be a valid comparison. 

 

The following schedule outlines what will happen next as we wrap up the Monterey Road Complete Street Pilot Project.

  • Week of July 6th                            

    • 3rd and final data collection by Alta Planning

    • Alta to conduct one-on-one "closing" interviews with a sampling of downtown businesses (this may need to occur the week of July 13

    • Final community opinion and business survey (will remain open until 7/19/15)

  • July 15

    • City Manager will provide update at the City Council meeting

  • August 5

    • Staff will take full report to City Council with all data collected during the pilot for a long term decision on the Monterey Road street configuration.

     

     

Take the FINAL Complete Street Pilot Program Community Survey Now

 

Complete Street Six Month Pilot Midpoint Check-in Report 

  

Pilot Project Overview 

 

Data Collection Plan 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

 

 So What Exactly Is a Road Diet? 

 

   

Downtown Parking Structure

Construction continues...take a peak through the construction fence.

 

Huntington Station Sports Pub ,which is directly adjacent to the parking structure site, is OPEN FOR BUSINESS all through construction.  Stop by for drinks and a meal and check out the progress of the parking structure in the same visit!

  

        

Tentative Schedule

  • Site Prep/Utititlies/Foundation :  February - May
  • Structure :                                   June - September
  • Hardscape/Landscaping:            August - October
  • Acceptance of Project:                Mid November

Conceptual Designs 

 

 

 

Placemaking and Public Art

 

Downtown Gateway Art Project

  

The Downtown Gateway Art Project is the next public art project planned for in the 2014 Downtown Plackemaking Strategy.  Nearly 100 applications were received from many incredible artists.
After a rigorous process including a selection jury, review by the Library, Arts and Culture Commission, the City Council selected the recommended Gateway Art Piece on June 17, 2015.

 

Overview of the project as presented to the City Council  

 

Art and Placemaking Mini Grants

  

Downtown Development Opportunity Sites                    

Status of Sites

Site 1 (Downtown Mall)

On June 17th Successor Agency approved the right to negotiate exclusively with Leal Vineyards, LLC for the development of Site 1, Granada Theater and the Downtown Mall.  The 60 day term is intended to be used for the due diligence and to determine the terms of a Development Agreement. Leal is proposing the re-use of the Granada as an event venue and the demolition of the Downtown Mall to provide for construction of a Market Hall/Restaurant and Boutique Hotel.  Leal owns vineyards in the area, the Grove and the Barn in Hollister, Willow Heights Mansion in Morgan Hill, and Hacienda Leal Boutique Hotel in San Juan Bautista.

 

Site 2 (SE corner of Second and Monterey)

Lonestar Development ( now 17390 Monterey Road, LLC)  has completed their due diligence for the purchase of Site 2.  Escrow closed on July 6 and they have taken possession of the Tryst/Royal Clothiers building.  The City Council will review a request to enter into a revocable easement agreement for both the parking lot and the pocket park to provide for temporary public access until the site develops.

 

Site 3 (Depot Center)

City Ventures completed  their due diligence period for the purchase option for Site 3 on June 29, 2015.  

  

Site 4 (former liquor store, SE corner of Third and Monterey) 

At the May 20th City Council meeting Council approved an agreement to negotiate exclusively with Kenneth Rodrigues and Partners, Inc/Imwalle Properties, Inc for the development of this site. Negotiations are going very well.  Staff will have a development agreement to take to Council on August 5. It is anticipated that construction will begin sometime in January.


 

Relocation Program 

Nine Downtown businesses are eligible for the Downtown Economic Development Business Reimbursement Program.  All of the businesses submitted letters of intent to apply for the program by the June , 2015 deadline and all have received eligibility letters for a combined total of $927,000. 

 

United Academy of Martial Arts (UAMA) has purchased a 3200 square feet place at 330 Digital Drive.  They are delighted to be owners of their new business site and are now moved in and open for business at their new location.  Over $23,000 in reimbursement claims has already been processed for UAMA.

 

The Peking Chinese Restaurant is working on lease negotiation for 1,250 square feet at the Candy Park Center located at 16375 Monterey Road, south of Downtown.

 

Jesus Mexican Restaurant is working with a Colliers Commercial broker to find a suitable replacement location.  They had previously identified a relocation space at Cochrane Plaza, near Hobby Lobby, but the landlord decided against another Mexican restaurant concept for that shopping center.  Jesus Restaurant was approved for eight employees and is eligible to receive up to $280,00 in reimbursements. 

 

Downtown Business Workshop

In May, staff held a business workshop with representatives for SBDC, Grow America Fund, Business Licenses, Building Department and local brokers to help businesses maneuver through the relocation process. A similar workshop is being planned for July 23 at 3pm for all Downtown businesses.

 

 

More information about the Downtown Development Opportunity Sites 

 

  

Streets
    

3rd Street Plaza

Construction begins this week. Through traffic will not be available from July 8 - August 21.

F&H Construction is contracted for this project as well as the Parking Structure and 4th Street.   

 

A meeting for 3rd/4th Street residents and businesses was held on June 25 to review the tentative construction schedule.

View the tentative construction schedule

 

Stage 1 ( July 6 - July 31_

1/2 of 3rd Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from 65 E. 3rd east to Depot Street, Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm for this stage. No through traffic will be allowed at any time. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout. Parking for residents of 65 and 75 E. 3rd Street will be provided in the public parking lot adjacent to 45 E. 3rd Street

 


Monterey Road Streetscape
 

City Council awarded to Stockbridge General Contracting Inc. on June 17.

 

Construction is scheduled to begin on July 13. 

A meeting for downtown business and residents located on Monterey Road was held June 30 to review the tentative construction schedule. View the tentative construction schedule.

 

During Phase 1, July 13 - August 21,  the buffered bike lane and the parking on Monterey Road will be unavailable as trenching will take place adjacent to sidewalk from Dunne Avenue to Main Avenue.  During this 5 week phase, vehicle traffic will continue to use the lane closest to the median.  Vehicle access and pedestrian access will not be impacted.  Work is scheduled to take place 6am - 3pm, Monday - Friday.  Some work will take place at night from 9pm - 5am.  We are working with the contractor to potentially do night work for the areas in front of restaurants with outdoor dining.

 

During Phase 2 , August 21 - October 20, vehicle traffic will be moved to the lane closest to the sidewalk , (the lane that is now being used as the buffered bike lane).  The lane closest to the median will be closed to traffic as work on the median and trenching related to that work is done. Vehicle access and pedestrian access will not be impacted, but there will continue to be no bike lane during this phase.  All Monterey Road parking will be available during this phase

 

4th Street

View tentative schedule

 

Both the 3rd Street Plaza and Monterey Road designs carry a theme of honoring our agricultural past while embracing our future.  Reuse, repurposing and recycling of materials, wood from trees and furniture can be found in the designs.  Additionally, only drought tolerant landscaping will be added.

 

Utility Undergrounding ( 1st, 2nd & 4th Streets and Parking areas between 1st & 2nd and 2nd & 3rd)

 

City Council awarded a contract to St. Francis Electric, LLC on June 17

 

Undergrounding work is scheduled to begin the week of July 13. 

The tentative schedule  was shared with potentially impacted businesses and downtown residents at a meeting on June 30. 

View the tentative construction schedule  

Downtown Parks, Trails and Recreation

jogging-women.jpgDesign concepts have been shared with the community and the Parks and Recreation Commission. 

 

August 5 the concept designs will be taken to the City Council for review.
 

On June 29, the City received notification that we will be receiving $1.5 million for park development and improvements based on the City's outstanding commitment to providing affordable housing to our community over the last several years.   We applied for these funds primarily to develop our downtown parks as well as some smaller improvements to Galvan Park. This is exciting news and the result of significant effort by City teammates.

State of California Press Release 

 


For questions regarding the downtown parks and trails contact Chris Ghione at  
[email protected] or 408.782.9154.

 

 

We encourage you to stay connected and engaged during this exciting time.
  
Sincerely,
  


Maureen Tobin

Communications and Engagement Manager
City of Morgan Hill

408.310.4706

 

Julie Behzad

Project Manager

City of Morgan Hill

408.310.4639

 

MHDowntown.com

[email protected]
 

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