Any thoughts or further insights from Fellow Dubliners on whether Dublin will get any of the Stimulus money when it gets approved? This is a golden opportunity to put our city back on the growth path, at least in the public sector to stimulate our local economy. Downtown’s redevelopment could be the one item to reinvigorate our city’s economy.

We can look at the positive though as this could be a golden opportunity for the City to revamp/redevelop downtown into a pedestrian friendly, cohesive downtown with a lot of the major longtime tenants out of the way. A revamped/realigned Power Center around Target with small scale main street along St. Patrick’s way near BART, a complement to each other. A mixed use complex of Office Space/Small Retail/Residential and a Perfoming Arts Center would be ideal for the Crown Chevrolet site. Otherwise it could turn into the biggest auto service shop in CA or a large Used Car Dealership. If the Crown Parcel go up for sale, the City should look into possibly purchasing it at favorable terms to preserve for future redevelopment instead of letting it fall into an undesirable use for downtown. We also risk having many of these vacated retail buildings become re-use with little or no improvements made. 20 years from now we could very well have a disconjointed downtown with a vast of asphalt parking and aged retail building.

I like your idea for having an ordinance setting standards for the re-use of a property. If we have a unified, distinctive, and upscale theme, then I think that all businesses and building owners will benefit from the ordinance.

An example of an old retail building made to look new by a new retail user is in Downtown Walnut Creek. A Building on California Street formerly occupied by Albertson was taken over by Trader Joe’s and an Elephant Pharm. That build is similiar to the Big Lot building in Dublin, but with a simple renovation of the exterior it looks timeless and a jewel. An example of how old buildings such as Mervyn’s, Circuit City, Ralph’s could be made to look new again. Unlike the what Ranch 99 didn’t do with the Ralph’s building. Drabby and dated.

Next time you are DT Walnut Creek check it out.

The City should have some sort of ordinance regarding re-use of properties even if it is the same type of use, Retail, auto Sales etc…