In early 2002, the city of San Jose, the San Jose Redevelopment Agency and District 6 Council member Ken Yeager began a comprehensive study to develop a "Main Street Strategy" for Willow Glen's business district. The group identified the half-mile stretch on the avenue between Willow Street and Minnesota Avenue as the heart of the business district, and, with the help of the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association and the general public, established and addressed a list of priorities.

The Aug. 25 community meeting also reviewed the improvements to the area. Residents seemed particularly pleased with the increased number of trash receptacles placed on Lincoln Avenue, from Coe to Minnesota avenues. Originally, there were about 30 trash cans, and now the avenue boasts 47, with two more to be installed in September. San Jose's Environmental Services Department surveyed the original placement of trash cans and placed the bins strategically near restaurants and in people's line of sight.

"I've really seen a difference over the last year," resident Karen Hoffert said. "I run on Lincoln Avenue several days a week, and now I don't have to pick up trash as I go."

And Matthew Walsh of the Environmental Services Department said that trash collection was increased to six days a week, and his group asked Starbucks and other take-out food places to start emptying their own receptacles outside the stores to stop any extraneous debris from overflowing on the street.

The Department of Transportation also took care of several maintenance issues. Residents had been complaining about excessive puddles and an unpleasant odor from some storm drains. So, the DOT videotaped the storm drains to understand what was happening, discovered the problems and repaired them. The DOT is also in the process of installing new light bulbs in about 27 street fixtures.

And, in an effort to improve the appearance of the avenue, the DOT tore out the old landscape and installed planter boxes.

"Planters usually don't fall under the responsibility of the DOT," spokesperson Kevin O'Connor said.

But the DOT decided to absorb the cost of the new landscape to upgrade the avenue's appearance. The DOT also arranged for a group from San Jose State University to adopt the street so the DOT won't incur further upkeep costs.

But one of the improvements to the avenue was discontinued in July—power washing services—as a cost-saving measure. The DOT may restart the service in the future.

Aside from some of the aesthetic improvements, the hot button is still parking in and around Lincoln Avenue. Reconciling this issue is still at the top of the list.

To help combat the problem, city officials announced that 20 more parallel-parking spaces were added between Minnesota and Willow avenues, and time-limit parking signs were changed so they are consistent up and down the street. Now each parallel space can be used up to two hours each day of the week, except Sunday, when you can park as long as you want. Business owners believe the time limit will deter employees from parking on the street, leaving the spaces open for customers.

Still, even with additional parking and consistent signage, some business owners think more needs to be done to make parking downtown easier for customers.

The association's first vice president and the owner of Willow Glen Books, Cathy Adkins, said she is worried that lack of parking deters people on the avenue from shopping in the downtown district.

"Our customers come to Willow Glen and they don't feel welcome," Adkins said. "Many people come from miles away to Lincoln Avenue to shop, but the lack of parking is discouraging for them."

Adkins' proposal to all in attendance was to implement a shared-parking philosophy with all businesses. She wants banks and other businesses, including her own, that display signs limiting parking to customers only to be taken down so shoppers frequenting downtown can park anywhere.

But the overall mood seemed upbeat toward everyone's efforts to improve the community, especially in difficult economic times.

"This was a good turnout," Hoffert said, referring to the 80 to 90 members who attended from the community.

"It's nice to see the level of teamwork in this community," she said. "It just goes to show how much can be done when people show a level of interest in the community. And we are still moving forward from here."