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Idea: And They're Building a Stairway to Almond-Shuey
Neighbors petition city for stairs connecting residential neighborhood to California Boulevard.
Peeking through trees from the dead end of Stow Avenue down to California Boulevard.
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A group of neighbors has petitioned the city to build an attractive stairway to connect the Almond-Shuey residential neighborhood with the adjacent commercial neighborhood bounded by California Boulevard.
The neighbors are interested in a better connection to the "inviting, prosperous area" of the boulevard, said Kent Jones, speaking to the Walnut Creek City Council earlier this week and presenting the petition, signed by two couples and seven individuals.
Jones told the council that the neighbors are willing to do some fund-raising to make the stairway a reality. The stairway site is a city-owned right of way from the dead end of Stow Avenue on a little rise down to the sidewalk along California Boulevard.
Right now, you can step around a guardrail and around some bushes at the dead end and scramble down a dirt bank to the boulevard, risking a skinned knee. Or you can walk around to Bonanza Street and out to California Boulevard that way, where you run the risk of being unable to resist springing for a treat at the Yogurt Castle.
The vision is for a staircase of pride — "recognition of our neighborhood, which was formed even before the City was incorporated," the petition states. "We’d like a staircase that says this is the Almond Shuey. It would be like saying we are becoming a great city, but we are not forgetting our hometown component."
At the Tuesday meeting, Mayor Cindy Silva suggested the staircase idea could be included in a list of potential projects the city is developing for a Metropolitan Transportation Commission grant targeted at downtown transportation.
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obiwan
3:20 pm on Friday, July 22, 2011
Anyone who is interested can read the letter and a response we received from the Mayor on the neighborhood website:
http://www.almondshuey.org/news-affecting-our-neighborhood.html
Creek Diva
4:00 pm on Friday, July 22, 2011
Say what???
Sounds like a raging case of "Bridge to nowhere" right in Walnut Creek! Why not just improve the current lack of sidewalk/guardrail?
I think I need a better visual of this idea....
Creek Diva
4:02 pm on Friday, July 22, 2011
Strike that comment, I completely know what area you are talking about!
That's a darn good idea!
Castle Hill Bill
10:30 pm on Friday, July 22, 2011
Great idea. That side of the block on California is visually bland. I think that a staircase with landscaping, seasonal planting, and night lighting would make a great entrance to a neighborhood that most people walking down California Blvd or attending The Lesher have never noticed.
While were talking California Blvd- When is the city going to have the tables, chairs, and umbrellas in front of the Habit removed? During peak times at the burger joint, the narrow sidewalk is obstructed by the furniture and diners. I often see people having to step out onto California Blvd to get around the blockade. Also, the patrons that use the tables are at risk from cars jumping the curb and wiping them out. It's a 30 MPH zone! There are no bollards placed on the sidewalk to protect the diners nor is there any room to install them. Again the city planning dept was not looking after the interest of its citizens. Why wasn't a wider setback required for the project to be approved? Does it have anything to do with the political influence that the developer of the property, Hall Equities Group, and its principal owner former Mayor Meril Hall have? I guess when someone is critically hurt of worse because of the developer created, city approved safety hazard, the city will do something as part of a multimillion dollar settlement to the victims. This safety hazard needs immediate correction. Are you listening city staff?
H Hudson
2:27 pm on Monday, July 25, 2011
Sorry....this is a VERY unnecessary project.......in earlier info, Kent Jones states that neighbors want a 'better connection to the inviting prosperous area of (California) Blvd.
Last time I looked, Calif Blvd is VERY accessible via Almond Ave...which is maybe 3-4 (?) car lengths from these proposed stairs....it's not like anyone has to now walk 3 blocks or something to get to Calif Blvd.
He also states these would be 'stairs of pride' to help recognize our neighborhood.
Well sorry, I live in the neighborhood, and sure as heck don't need 'stairs of pride' to help define it, or help advertise it to other people. Many people are already aware of Almond/Shuey without this. If I give someone a check, and they see this address, they invariably say, oh, that's such a cute neighborhood....we just love it, etc.
What more 'recognition' does Mr. Jones think we need....really !
Since the city is usually whining about it's financial straits, I think this goes into the 'put on hold indefinitely' file.
If someone is coming from Almond Ave to Calif Blvd, why in the world would they need to cut through Stow up & down steps when Almond leads directly to Calif Blvd already? I'm waiting for a good answer to that.
michael frederick
12:50 am on Wednesday, July 27, 2011
While agreeing with what's been said, I'd like to shine some big-picture light on why this is a good idea, even while empathizing with H Hudson.
Castle Hill Bill -- this area is "bland." That's due in large measure to horrid city planning. This property is the most tortured land in WC. Over the last 35 years, we've had a succession of spot-zoning plans designed to frustrate the city's OWN zoning throughout the area (ILLEGAL). To this day, we have two adjacent parcels that have been in my family longer than there's been a Walnut Creek or Almond-Shuey. One is Commercial and the other Residential because the city contends one doesn't belong on the block upon which it sits!
The most direct evidence of this FAILED planning is the cut-out of the recently erected retaining wall, next to Relax the Back. It is designed to encourage COMMERCIAL traffic across currently RESIDENTIAL land...
The purpose for airing the TIP of this abuse is to convey that Stow Partners is delighted to work with the City and Almond-Shuey to do something thoughtful and constructive, FOR A CHANGE. This sends the right messages about promoting neighborhoods and working together.
Stow Partners' position has always been that this area should look appropriate whether one is on California, Bonanza, Shuey, or Stow -- in accordance with recognized planning standards. Working with the city and neighborhood toward smooth transitions between land uses is righteous. Hats-off to the Mayor and Council.
michael frederick
2:34 am on Wednesday, July 27, 2011
I would like to add a personal note of interest for any life-long Almond-Shuey residents.
Copy Longueville, whose father-in-law built the house at 1530 Shuey, passed away a few months ago down in Fresno. Her son, Ward -- with whom some of you grew up -- still lives down there and is doing fine, although he is blind due to a degenerative eye condition. He's still witty and a fun guy.
For any real history buffs out there, Copy's uncle -- Marco Ivory -- was a supervisor with James Stow when the Old Tunnel was dug.