Downtown area
The downtown area has been the same, with very little in the way of appealing stores or destinations, forever. What is the status of the Redevelopment Agency?
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Carol Stewart commented
One other comment. Recently, I was in Hartselle, AL and they have lots of antique stores. They were very nice, everything was displayed wonderfully, and dusted. While I know most Martinez store owners take pride, I would love for all the stores in Martinez to take pride in their business with a clean and inviting atmosphere. This will ultimately help the whole downtown.
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Carol Stewart commented
The general look of the downtown/waterfront. Shell oil needs to beautify their property someway. I love the new welcome arch on Marina Visa and would like to see one on Pacheco and Alhambra. The vacant stores need attention... maybe this would be a way to display art or have volunteer organizations choose a vacant window to promote Martinez and the people who live here.
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Christine Agostinho commented
Want to see the "downtown area" made into a viable business center but definitely don't want the traffic congestion of WC. Do not support giving property owners downtown a free ride - they have gotten tax write offs for years on their properties and have put little or nothing into most of it so If redevelopment agency will get things moving great but the owners need to be "assessed" at least 50% of the cost of bringing these buildings up to par.
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Grundy Supporter commented
I agree that Martinez has so much potential for greatness!! I look at what has been done to Pleasant Hill over the years...it's amazing. Why couldn't we be a little Sausalito with great restaurants on the waterfront and nice shops to visit. We need people with a vision. In cities that growth has been beneficial ....yes ....you will have large downtown property owners benefit but don't we all benefit if the city is "THE CITY" that people frequent. Don't we want our downtown merchants to prosper and to draw others in? Nothing has changed in downtown because of us not coming together as a community and embracing what Martinez could be versus what it was 50 years ago.
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Grundy commented
There's so much potential for the downtown and Marina area. Personally, I'd love to see lots of development on/near/around the Marina. It would be so cool to have restaurant overlooking the water/bridge etc... I hate going to WC for any kind of "fun" or food. I'd much rather stay here. Please allow development. Let's get this city growing up!
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Robert Rothgery commented
I'm very worried that the City Council is allowing the downtown area to decay so they can use it as a pretext to inflict a Redevelopment Agency on its citizenry. We have said no to this 7 times in the last 50 years, and for good reason. I have absolutely no reason to expect that our current City Council could affect positive change with a Redevelopment Agency. Large downtown property owners and developers stand to benefit greatly from a Redevelopment Agency. The rest of us face the possible legacy of Antioch or Hercules. Remember, a Redevelopment Agency can last decades.
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anonymous2 commented
I would also like to see the downtown area redeveloped. This was voted in many years ago. Many other cities in Contra Costa County have used redevelopment agencies, and they have much more traffic, appealing stores, nice restaurants, movie theatres, etc. Nothing in downtown Martinez has changed in years - with the exception of more vacant buildings.
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Cinny commented
The creek at the center of town needs help. It isn't pretty to look at. Alge ick. Can't we work on cleaning that up? I saw the City washing down that area yesterday. But the creek...
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Cooki commented
If I want to walk through crowds of people, I will go to Walnut Creek or the Mall. I like having some breathing room and besides all of my shopping is done on the internet.
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Anonymous commented
It would be great to have a more viable downtown area.