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Speak Out
Prescription for a healthy Avenue
As a resident of Willow Glen for the past 28 years, I have seen the Avenue come and go and grow through many changes. Currently there's an appealing, somewhat hypnotic lure to walk Lincoln Avenue to meet a friend for a latte, lunch or dinner and billiards, preceded or followed by stops in shops.
My opinion is that the uniqueness it now presents results from a combination of things: the individual creative flair of each shop and restaurant, the creativity and diversity of the products they sell, and the present residential community itself. This wonderful form of recreation, so far, has had a win-win equation between the residents, visitors and the business community. Because of this, a Longs Drugs, especially of the proposed magnitude, will not (in my mind) draw the number of customers it expects. People simply don't walk down the Avenue to buy prescription drugs, vitamins or shavers. It's not a "destiny trip" they are on. People enjoy Lincoln Avenue to relax, and maybe buy something that catches their eye. This is what I have observed. For those preplanned drug purchases, shoppers usually go to a place which includes a food market, in order to "kill two birds with one stone." And, lately, the large Safeways have combined the two. Therefore I feel a Longs Drugs might be unprofitable with such a move (no matter what its size).
What a marvelous and perfect idea Mr. J. M. Gonzales and Sue Evans have in using the American Savings building for a two-story library and keeping the beautifully designed marble exterior. Why tear down its architectural heritage? Also, aren't we long overdue for a larger Willow Glen branch? Such a great gift to the community.
Christine Burgess
Juanita Avenue
WGNA shouldn't look down upon responsible retailers
Based on J. Michael Gonzales' recent letter concerning Longs Drugs store, it appears the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA) is once again opposing retail development on Lincoln Avenue.
A strong and diverse retail hub on Lincoln is a tremendous asset for our entire neighborhood. Newcomers and long-time residents are attracted to Willow Glen because we don't have to get into a car and drive to a mall every time we want to shop--we can walk to a thriving downtown.
It wasn't always so. Ten years ago Lincoln Avenue's lackluster shops offered merchandise and decor that hadn't been updated since the Eisenhower Administration. There were empty storefronts, few customers and little reason to walk to downtown Willow Glen.
Thanks to healthier retailers--including several chains--Lincoln is a much livelier place today. But we still have too many empty storefronts and several marginal businesses that will not survive the next recession.
The commercially zoned property at Brace and Lincoln is too large for a mom-and-pop operation. I would hate to see it remain an empty, boarded-up eyesore that attracts graffiti, vandalism and crime. A drug store at that location would be an ideal "anchor tenant," attracting pedestrian customers who will patronize all the stores on the block. Although we should not fear competition, Longs will be selling pharmacy items that other Avenue merchants do not offer.
While some residents oppose any retail activity on Lincoln, I do not believe they should set the agenda for WGNA. WGNA should insist that Longs satisfies neighborhood requirements for traffic flow, operating hours and architectural design. But WGNA should not discourage responsible retailers from investing in our community.
Spencer Horowitz
Glenwood Avenue
With help of voters, the Silicon Valley can be a paradise
Thanks to your help, the Los Gatos Creek Trail is going very well. The native trees and shrubs that many of you planted a few years back are thriving; your calls to city officials have spurred them to complete the trail to Meridian and to begin work on the key section to downtown (to be open maybe in 2002!); and your letters of support have enabled the city to win several grants to help fund the remaining segments.
Now you can help again, this time by voting for propositions 12 and 13 in March. Prop. 12 is the Parks Bond Act, Prop. 13 the Water Bond Act. These are not new taxes, but rather voter direction on how the current taxes should be spent. Both propositions include funding for urban stream restoration and recreational trails: Prop. 12 has a line item specifically for the Guadalupe River (the next link in the chain after the Los Gatos Trail ends down by the Arena); Prop. 13 includes funds to resurrect the grant program that we used for our very successful Urban Stream Restoration Project.
These are remarkable times. Just a few decades back there was a "pave the Valley" mentality, and creeks were being relegated to narrow concrete channels. Now there is an appreciation for the quality of life that we have here, and the creeks and streams are recognized as assets to the environment and the community. San Jose is now working on long-range plans that include using creek trails to connect parks and communities throughout the city; the city is also working on plans for restoring the natural riparian ("streamside") habitat along the creeks. The Water District, too, recognizes the assets that it has in the streams, and it is working to improve the habitat and to advance the creek trail network. And now you can do your part: vote for Props 12 and 13 so that the state can provide the funds needed to help make this all happen.
Silicon Valley is our home. With your support, it can be Paradise Reclaimed. Vote!
Lawrence Ames
Willow Street
Forum could have taken more questions
I'd like to thank the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association for conducting the forum featuring the candidates running in District 6 for City Council.
At the same time, I question why the WGNA president determined which questions were asked of the candidates and why he wouldn't give the representative from the League of Women Voters the remainder of questions submitted from the audience while plenty of time remained.
Allowing WGNA to select questions does a disservice to the community candidates, League of Women Voters and WGNA.
Karen Naegeli
Hamilton Avenue
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
