HomeMy WebLinkAbout0401.094~, ,
',~
, .,j
Auqtist 4, 1994
HONORABLB CITY COUNCIL
Palo Alto, califoz~ia
M~rs Of the council:
povptoyn streIt fUrniture ~on.tr.tion pr2j~
'.port in Dri.e
This is an informational report and no Council action is r.eq\lire<l.
Roxy Rapp, owner of the ln~ildin9s housing Noah's Bagels .an(...
Starhucks Cafe on University Avanue, propos en to temporarily
r"'5lplace the -existing .ben~hes in front of his bui1din9 as part of a
six month demonstration project. All wOl'k will be completed at the
owner's expense.
PMoIII't.ration lrQ110t
The proposal is to remove the existing benchea and landecapinq
JUateriols behind the 'Wall at the University Avenue and Bryant
Street intersection, cap off the sprinkler srsteM, and till 1n tho
planter area with ~l!IItchinq brick pavers. The benches 'Would be
replaced with tables and chairs, Which would be available for use
by tha pUblic but re~oved at night, just as those currently in use
alon9 the side and front of Noah's Bagels. The tables 'Would be
oleaned and bussed by Noah's and Star bucks staff, and the entire
areB would continue to be steam cleaned twice a month at the
owner's expense. Statf is investigatinq installing tree grating to
avoid damage to the tree root system.
The purpose of this demonstration project is to discourage the use
of downtown seatinq for loiter1nq and sleeping purposes, and to
provide seatinq and eating surfaces for the general public vhich
can be kept neat and clean. As part of the demonstration project,
staff will work with the owner to devise a br.ief customer/public
survey to solicit reactions, both pro and con, to the new seating
arrangements. While such. a survey may not be stat.istically
accurate, hopefully it ~ill provide information to city staff on
community response to the chCinges beyond that which is anecdotal in
nature.
1
m
o
'lb. police Department has offere'ci to train Noah's and Starbucks
pe.reonnel on handlill9' issue" related to quauing,' congrega.tion, a.nd
loiterinq in qeneral at that locatlon4 The owner of the property
aqr ... that the seating aust remain open to the public at all
tUtes, ,r$g"4rdlsas of whether they are. customers ('If adjacent tood
centers, wnieh includes Noah's, starbucks, and Jim's cate.
At the end of th. six month dnonsttation period, if the idea doe.s
not work, the owner will replaa~ the area in like condition, i.e.
the banches will be reinstalled or replaced, the sprinkler system
reactivated., bricks removed., at~. The aqrQ:ement runs with
property ownership, so that the building owner will be respo,nsible
for both aaintenance and replaeem,cnt of the furniture and
landsCAping, regardl.s8 ot .ho that owner may be.
This demonstration provides an excellent test for alternative use
or street furniture in the downtown area, at no financial cost to
the city. Since the project is in the public right-oi-waYI an
encroacru:aent permit is required. staff intends to review and
apprcwe the architectural changes that are required to allow the
cj4Qtonstration project ai1d to place appropriate conditions through
the enforcement permit process. If the demonstration project
proves successful, we may want to consider allowing other owners
the same opportunity~ It will provide information on alternatives
which could be very instructive as to what kind of furniture works
and under what conditions and 9pecific locations.
Staff will update the city Council of public and owner reaction to
this project near the end of the six month dsmonstration project.
Respectfully subMitted,
(fa,~/~06''7L)
CAROL L. JANSEN
Manager, Economic Resources Planning
oc: Ar~hitecturftl Review Board
ClIlU 401: 94 2
" ,',