But the plaza will take a year to build, and some residents who live in the area are worried about construction pollution.

At an informational meeting between city staff and residents, members of the Charles Street Neighborhood Association expressed concern about possible noise and traffic pollution from the pending construction.

"During Mozart, we had concrete drivers speed through our street, and when we approached them, the drivers were very rude and foul-mouthed to the neighbors," said Gary Davis, a resident in the neighborhood. Davis was referring to the time when the three Mozart buildings were constructed in a downtown area close to the plaza.

Another resident said construction workers would park in the neighborhood and walk to work, despite designated parking near the construction areas.

Jack Paul, the project superintendent with Devcon, and Barbara Keegan, assistant director of public works who is overseeing the plaza project, assured residents that Devcon and the city would be taking a proactive stance to prevent such incidents from occurring.

"We're in your backyard, and I want to be as cordial as possible. We'll enforce those violations," Paul said.

The city has identified a required truck route on Mathilda Avenue and Mathilda Place to prevent construction trucks from driving in local neighborhoods, according to Keegan.

"We don't expect as much construction pollution. This project is much smaller in scope than the Mozart project. I don't think the work in and of itself is going to be particularly noisy," said Keegan.

Monica Davis, president of the Charles Street Neighborhood Association, said after the meeting that she was optimistic that the city would respond to neighborhood concerns in a timely manner. "I have a lot of faith that because we were so affected by previous construction, the city is anticipating our needs this time around," she said. Davis said she's looking forward to a beautiful plaza right around the corner from her home.

Devcon is allowed to work on the site Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., but Keegan estimates construction will cease around 3:30 due to employee work hours.

In the next couple of weeks one lane on Evelyn Avenue closest to the plaza will be closed for the duration of the construction. A worker onsite will direct traffic if necessary. The parking spaces on Frances near Evelyn will also be closed to the public.

Fred Wiesenger, a Sunnyvale resident and former member of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, asked the city what would be done to protect bicyclists on Evelyn Avenue. "Motorists don't realize that bicyclists have the right to take a lane when roads are narrow due to construction," he said.

Keegan said the city would look into that issue and possibly put up signs to direct bicyclists and drivers.

The downtown plaza lies on a square strip of land in between Town and Country Village, Murphy Street and the Town Center Mall. The plaza's theme is the city's historic orchards, and trees and sculptures placed in the plaza will reflect that theme, said Keegan.