2 responses to “Imagine a Downtown Burlingame”

1. Fiona

   April 10, 2005

   What an interesting charrette with lots of great ideas.

   It focussed on Santa Cruz Avenue, El Camino and down to the train station. They had a similar challenge to Burlingame with a future grade separation threatening to separate the two parts of town. Some interesting ideas of 1/3rd-2/3rd which means train going 2/3rd underground and 1/3rd street above as an alternative to a huge wall or a prohibitively expensive deep trench.

   Burlingame could learn a thing or two from Menlo Park – their street is not chocka block full of chains, lovely median down the street, a huge diversity of shops, free parking and a very nice mayor who attended the whole day of the charrette. She also seemed to welcome residents coming up to her and asking questions!

   Burlingame city officials were invited but we didn’t see any – too bad they would have learned alot about community involvement and a downtown vision. Our most hardworking and most respected councilmember was out of town because I am sure she would have attended on behalf of the City of Burlingame.

   Fascinating process and the opposite to the Facilities Master Plan which has recently seen the light of day. And because of that “sunshine” the City has now made available at the Library and the web.

2. Fiona

   April 12, 2005

   Forgot one important point made by a charrette organizer Mr. Lambert who is particularly concerned about the grade separation that may cut his town in half. He said that Atherton and Menlo Park will TELL Caltrains what they can do to their town and not the other way round.

   Ditto Burlingame – which will need to get their geese in line for discussions with Caltrains. This will be an important issue if our proposed expensive City Government/Community Center will be cut off from the other side of town with a huge hillock.