Downtown Development

By Gordon Siebert

City Council and its Redevelopment Agency needs to continue to support Downtown Morgan Hill through strategic development, financial incentives and innovative planning.

Still more can be done to make our beautiful downtown a vibrant center for Morgan Hill and a destination for people from the North and the South. We need a greater variety of restaurants to dine, additional specialty stores, and venues for movies, live performances and other forms of entertainment. Drop-off child care would allow kids to play while parents shop. A bed and breakfast in downtown could accommodate visitors who come down for a hot air balloon ride and wine-tasting. As I speak to residents, I find that they are almost universally supportive of increasing the vitality and vibrancy of our downtown as a destination place for residents and visitors.

Important issues for the Council to consider in support of the downtown include Improving parking, support for improved train service to Morgan Hill and improvements to Llagas Creek to prevent flooding.

MY DOWNTOWN ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Helped to design and build Butterfield Boulevard as an alternative to Monterey Road, thereby allowing traffic to be relieved in Downtown
• Directed staff in construction of Downtown streetscape project
• Promoted improved train services as a member of the Measure A/B Citizens Watchdog Committee