Broadway Plaza Ideas Are Coalescing

The owner of Broadway Plaza, presented some ideas Wednesday for the master plan to guide improvements to the plaza in the next 15 years.

Dozens of Walnut Creekers attended two sessions Wednesday, at the Broadway library and Scott's Seafood Grill & Bar, to review the ideas and make suggestions to representatives of the owner of the 60-year-old pedestrian plaza, Macerich.

Architect Yann Taylor talked about the public's desire for wider, more convenient pedestrian areas and a large multi-use public space or square. This might be accommodated by building more two-story retail spaces lining pedestrian areas, which would complement adjacent downtown streets with many two-story retail facilities.

Resident Sue Neyer said she would love to see the pedestrian improvements, but her first reaction to adding two-story buildings was "ooh." But it would be OK, she added, "but don't make them big-box-looking places."

The public sentiment for green space could be accommodated by tearing up pavement on Broadway Plaza (the name of a public street going into the heart of the outdoor plaza) and creating a landscaped green area around the Promenade Fountain.

"We have a ribbon of asphalt here," said Taylor. "If that became a ribbon of green …"

It could have a picnic area: "Mums could take their kids here without worrying about them running into traffic," Taylor said.

The free downtown trolley now uses that strip of asphalt to make a stop in the heart of Broadway Plaza. Taylor said the green space could be designed with a turnaround to accommodate the trolley and buses.

The current Promenade Fountain, Taylor added, has been universally popular in residents' comments.

Taylor said about 100 comments had been reviewed and fit into six categories:

• Improve the flow of traffic. There was talk of a multi-level parking garage to minimize street-level paved area and perhaps have underground parking levels with elevators and escalators, said Chuck Davis, a Macerich vice president.
• Focus on the pedestrian experience to make it comfortable and enjoyable. This includes accommodations for bicyclist riders.
• Create a "destination" with space for events, not just shopping. An event space could have a stage and be ringed by restaurants, Taylor suggested.
• Consider the creeks running under the plaza. One idea developed was to have a "creek feature" with "teachable space" and interpretive signs, a path following the course of the creek running underground.
• Maintain the charm of the plaza and connectivity with the rest of downtown with "interesting retail choices." Taylor said, "A lot of towns are envious of what you have here."
• Evolve smartly — keep evolving to meet the needs of the community.

Macerich has scheduled two more sessions to present and hear ideas — at 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Civic Park Community Center.