Let’s call it a modest version of a retail arms race. San Mateo can only look north with envy as tony neighbor Burlingame puts the finishing touches on a stunning makeover of its signature downtown shopping boulevard.
The four blocks of Burlingame Avenue east of El Camino Real have been transformed into what amounts to a fresh, airy quasi-mall, with extra-wide sidewalks, new trees and other deft touches designed to attract new clientele in a decidedly pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.
San Mateo, which, for decades, has featured two big shopping centers, Hillsdale and Bridgepointe (on the Foster City border), has been trying to compete downtown too, but it hasn’t been easy.
A theater complex has made a difference. But significant improvements on two main retail avenues, East Third and East Fourth, have been slow in coming. Now, however, there may be some movement.
The tacky corner of El Camino Real and Third is in line for serious upgrades. They can’t come soon enough. Three of the four corners are about as inviting as a root canal.
All three used to be locations for gas stations (themselves less than attractive). But the petroleum purveyors are gone. Two of them were removed many years ago, the third much more recently.
The three vacant lots are hardly enticing. But the city and developers are in the process of trying to alter that gritty scene. And about time too.
Ever since the huge Hillsdale project came on line in the southern part of the town in the mid-1950s, followed by what was then called Fashion Island (now Bridgepointe) a generation later, the retail focus inevitably shifted away from the traditional downtown district.
It’s been an ongoing struggle to give it a healthy boost. Maybe the creation of something welcoming at the corner of El Camino Real and Third will be a first step in a comprehensive effort to stimulate downtown. We can hope.
Prior to the introduction of the Hillsdale and Fashion Island projects, downtown San Mateo was a lively retail mecca. The list of important establishments and institutions which existed there 60 years ago was impressive.
All are now long gone. Here is just a partial list:
The Benjamin Franklin Hotel, the City of Paris, Levy Bros., Woolworths, the Baywood and San Mateo theaters, the San Mateo Times, Jud Green, I. Magnin, Ross Radio, St. Matthew Catholic Church, Lowe & Zwierlein, Collins Pharmacy, Darcy’s Sport Shop, San Mateo City Hall, Foremans Cameras, JCPenney, Sommer & Kaufmann, Knochenhauer Stationers.
They’re gone but not forgotten.
SFO upgrades
In the recent past, your correspondent has been less than thrilled about the pedestrian crossings at San Francisco International Airport.
They weren’t obvious enough, especially for motorists who might be distracted. But, we’re happy to report, the situation has been improving. So it’s time to give credit where credit is due.
SFO is making safety upgrades along those lines. The latest aids for those walking in crosswalks in front of the terminals are tall, yellow, blinking alerts that clearly warn drivers of potential pedestrians. Good stuff.
Let’s see those devices at every crosswalk at every terminal at SFO ASAP.
Flood zone maps
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is preparing revised flood zone maps for parts of San Mateo County.
Burlingame officials got a peek at tentative maps for their town this week. In a nutshell, the documents, which could be altered over the next year or so, indicate that dozens of property owners along the Burlingame bay front may have to confront a FEMA requirement to purchase pricey flood insurance in those affected areas.
The maps are available online and at Burlingame City Hall.
John Horgan’s column appears Thursday. You can contact him by email at johnhorganmedia@gmail.com or by regular mail at P.O. Box 117083, Burlingame, CA 94011.
