Willow Glen Resident

News

Willow Glen spring cleans downtown to liven up the avenue

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

The Willow Glen Business Association's Pride of Willow Glen month throughout April was productive, but the association recognizes it's just a beginning.

"We've realized that not everything can get done in April," said Sophia Niu, association board member and Taiwan Restaurant general manager. "The neat thing is that it started a momentum, and businesses have seen what each has done and are following suit."

The program was designed to encourage a spring-cleaning mindset throughout the downtown business district. Items on the association's list included repainting the crosswalk arches on Lincoln Avenue, fixing the Coe Avenue bridge lights, affixing the association's logo to the crosswalk arches, power-washing the sidewalk and cleaning and replanting planters.

Calee's Lilies added a new green awning to its storefront, and Hicklebee's owner Monica Holmes plans to replace the current awning and paint the storefront, said association board member Emilie Highley.

Building owner Victor Romano repainted his building, which holds Taiwan and Gussied Up, and redid the facade. Romano had the rear parking lot re-stripped and patched the building's roof.

Many businesses have also added flowers and topiaries to brighten their storefronts.

Alta owner Laura Swenson will have lighted topiaries, Our Secret plans to add colorful topiaries along with a new garden area, and Moon's Cleaners, Natural Nails, Details and Taiwan will all add new flowers in their planter areas in front of each business.

Along with these improvements, the business association repainted and relit the crosswalk arches on Lincoln Avenue.

"They used to have neon lights," Niu said. "Now, they have a blue light. It livens up the avenue."

Niu, along with six other association ambassadors, walked Lincoln Avenue and spoke with merchants about the project. Letters also went out to property owners.

The program included businesses on Lincoln Avenue bounded by Coe Avenue to the north and Minnesota Avenue to the south.