Pittsburg planning downtown makeover with zoning proposals

PITTSBURG Pittsburg is stepping up efforts to transform its downtown into a lively gathering place through a blend of initiatives that include updated zoning efforts facade upgrades and general art Related Articles Opinion California s small businesses need protection not legal shakedowns Loard s Ice Cream founded in returns to Oakland More small businesses starting to go cashless Floral design career began with San Jose man s coffee shop encounter Hidden beer garden and smashburger joint opens quietly in Belmont Pittsburg Group and Economic Evolution Director Jordan Davis noted for years the city has envisioned downtown as a hub for dining and retail However the shift in traditional shopping patterns has spurred bureaucrats to look for other strategies to diversify the area The city is preparing to update its zoning advancement code this year by expanding the types of businesses allowed downtown including health offices salons and service-based industries to help boost foot traffic and patronage other businesses For my entire tenure here at Pittsburg it has been a hot-button issue Originally when all the venture went in downtown I think there was a hope that it would be able to thrive almost totally off restaurants and retail businesses stated Davis in an interview with this news organization But you ve seen a transition to a lot more utility industries so we re figuring out how we can expand the types of uses that are allowed there because right now that s something very restricted in the Old Town Pittsburg In May the Pittsburg City Council adopted the city s General Plan Part of the plan includes updating the municipal code and zoning map to be consistent with the plan The plan s purpose is not to be a wholesale rewrite but merely a refresh to create a more streamlined approach and improve permitting processes for advance projects According to the plan one goal is to promote downtown as Pittsburg s symbolic center and group destination with a variety of land uses including mixed-use developments neighborhood destinations and neighborhood retail centers in a walkable pedestrian-oriented district The city has conducted multiple district workshops to receive input with the next one scheduled for July Following that the city will get to work drafting needed ordinances which the City Council plans to adopt in the next sparse months announced Davis Alongside zoning updates the city also aims to make downtown more walkable and visually inviting through sign enhancement mural and facade improvement programs Murals have become a key part of beautification efforts So far the city has funded six including downtown behind Mechanics Bank in hopes of drawing younger visitors looking for social-media worthy photo opportunities stated Davis The city also is offering a dedicated sign enhancement project in Old Town by working with existing businesses to replace old or outdated signage with pedestrian-friendly options making it easier for visitors to see what s ahead as they stroll mentioned Davis The facade improvement project which started last year offers up to for each qualified business across the region The Doctorbird Arena is one of the businesses that got a grant by the Pittsburg fa ade improvement grant project in downtown Pittsburgh California on Friday July Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Doctorbird Domain s owner Zane Fiala left looks on as David Santana of Altamont Brewery delivers beer in downtown Pittsburg Calif on Friday July The Doctorbird Sector is one of the businesses that got a grant by the Pittsburg fa ade improvement grant effort Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Hair Sophistication Salon owner Pershaonda Tolson looks on as hairstylists work on clients hair at her salon in downtown Pittsburg Calif on Friday July Hair Sophistication Salon is one of the businesses that got a grant by the Pittsburg fa ade improvement grant plan Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group A pedestrian walks along Railroad Avenue in downtown Pittsburg Calif on Friday July Several businesses are receiving grants to improve their facades and storefronts from the Pittsburg Fa ade Improvement Grant venture Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group A pedestrian crosses the street as traffic moves along Railroad Avenue in downtown Pittsburg Calif on Friday July Several businesses are receiving grants to improve their facades and storefronts from the Pittsburg Fa ade Improvement Grant effort Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Hair stylist Nyah Richard works on Journi Johnson s hair at Hair Sophistication Salon in downtown Pittsburg Calif on Friday July Hair Sophistication Salon is one of the businesses that got a grant by the Pittsburg fa ade improvement grant scheme Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group A deteriorated building is fenced off along Railroad Avenue in downtown Pittsburg Calif on Friday July Several businesses are receiving grants to improve their facades and storefronts from the Pittsburg Fa ade Improvement Grant project Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Traffic moves along Railroad Avenue in downtown Pittsburg Calif on Friday July Several businesses are receiving grants to improve their facades and storefronts from the Pittsburg Fa ade Improvement Grant plan Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group A deteriorated building is fenced off along Railroad Avenue in downtown Pittsburg Calif on Friday July Several businesses are receiving grants to improve their facades and storefronts from the Pittsburg Fa ade Improvement Grant undertaking Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group An Apple Maps worker with a designated backpack and a camera system walks along Railroad Avenue in downtown Pittsburg Calif on Friday July Several businesses are receiving grants to improve their fa ades and storefronts from the Pittsburg Fa ade Improvement Grant project Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Old murals remain in a vacant lot in downtown Pittsburg Calif on Friday July Several businesses are receiving grants to improve their facades and storefronts from the Pittsburg Fa ade Improvement Grant project Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group A deteriorated building is fenced off along Railroad Avenue in downtown Pittsburg Calif on Friday July Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Show Caption of The Doctorbird Arena is one of the businesses that got a grant by the Pittsburg fa ade improvement grant venture in downtown Pittsburgh California on Friday July Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Expand Davis announced about a dozen businesses such as Doctorbird Sector and Hair Sophistication Salon have received the grants Pershaonda Tolson a third-generation salon owner in Pittsburg moved her shop downtown in My mom owned the salon which she opened in We were on Power Avenue by City Hall and moved here in revealed Tolson My mom gave me this salon in so I renamed rebranded and stayed in the same building Tolson signed up for the facade venture in May and received for painting and signage changes The work totaling was completed last month I paid out of pocket but people noticed the change from how it was before People come in and say Oh I didn t even know you guys were here and we ve been here for more than years chuckled Tolson While she appreciates the efforts by Pittsburg to upgrade and promote downtown Tolson hopes to see more businesses in the area Zane and Danielle Fiala owners of a bottle shop and wine lounge featuring craft beer specialty foods and wine in Old Town also received funding to fix awnings and planters for their store The couple who have been in business since mentioned foot traffic remains a challenge There s rarely an occasion for a lot of foot traffic down here We don t get a lot of incidental visitors Our shoppers come here on purpose which is cool but we would like to see a higher density of businesses down here declared Danielle Fiala She reported at this time there are plenty of service-based businesses that are by appointment which may not be beneficial to bring foot traffic They don t serve the purpose of creating region in this area revealed Fiala I d love to see more like an art gallery a flower shop just more diversity of businesses Zane Fiala stated the city also struggles with a negative perception that its downtown is unsafe which he says is untrue The perception is that this part of Pittsburg is unsafe rundown and there s nothing here and it s true there s nothing much here but it s not unsafe he reported In fact this might be one of the safest parts but that pervasive idea that Old Town is somewhere you don t want to go still permeates in means that we don t have a lot of control over it and it s hard to change that The couple mentioned there are multiple privately owned buildings downtown that are empty specific dilapidated and unusable There is no penalty for the owners creating a blight on what should be a thriving downtown These owners are allowed to keep these buildings crumbling empty and refusing to do anything with them stated Danielle Fiala Adrian Badger the owner of Steeltown Coffee Company Inc has been in business downtown since Badger who did not participate in the city s grant programs was critical and revealed the city has tried updating zoning before but it didn t make a difference What they re trying to do is shut people up who are saying how come there are so a great number of empty spaces ' announced Badger And again their decisions are being made from fear and a lack of understanding They don t understand what necessities to be done