Los Altos, Main and First, new modern planters block crosswalk
Please enjoy this collection of City of Los Altos downtown streetscape photos. The City work was completed in February. If you haven’t had an occasion to go downtown for a while, these photos will give you a pretty good idea of the changes the City made. An article delving into the price tag for the City’s downtown steetscaping is here. This Los Altos downtown streetscape photos collection is intended to show what we got for our $5 million. We are not sure if the price includes the sculptures — because they come from the Los Altos Public Arts Commission, we think perhaps not.
EDITORIAL COMMENT: After taking the new downtown for a “foot” test several times we observe 1) the sidewalks feel narrower. It is harder than ever to walk two abreast; 2) it feels harder to cross the intersections in the newly relocated crosswalks (more inside the intersection than at the perimeter); 3) the look and feel of the sidewalk is now very, very, very cluttered; 4) the very ornate, imitation antique light poles, traffic lights and pedestrian panic poles, clash with more modern elements — the new stonewalls, the square planters; and 5) the new vivid, low-water succulents are a refreshing change from the old-fashioned pastel flowers.
Quite a few people say that downtown looked fine before. Los Altos Politico agrees. Quite a few bicyclists are less happy with the changes to bike lanes. Some say they make it less safe. All that spending and, there are still only a handful of bike parking facilities. Priorities?
Los Altos Downtown, low stone walls are massive and bulky
Los Altos Downtown, Main and Second, articulated crosswalk rather than paint
Los Altos Downtown, new low stone walls, affectionately, aka "pile of rocks"
This the corner where a senior drive ploughed her car into the US Bank. Per a snarky funny comment by a twitterer, the pile of rocks will now improve pedestrian safety.
Downtown Los Altos, another massive rock wall and pedestrian panic pole
Downtown Los Altos, fancy sidewalk engraving
Los Altos Downtown, First and Main, new "antique" signals and light posts
Downtown Los Altos, First and Main, new Trellis by Skips Pizza
Los Altos Downtown, First Street by State, new long stone wall
Los Altos Downtown, State St. and Second, another articulated crosswalk instead of paint
Los Altos Downtown, the new plants are low-water using and lower maintenance
Los Altos Downtown, new ornate "antique" light pole
Succulents planted along First St.
Los Altos, New "antique" light posts
Los Altos, existing light posts, different style, but black
Downtown Los Altos, one of the new sculptures
EDITORIAL COMMENT: Venus of Willendorf inspired? Product placement by our local Curves studio? BTW: Another local business (San Juan Studios) may participate artistically and financially in the installation of a sculpture of bronze ballet dancer.
(Source: Agenda Packet, Public Arts Commission, Mar. 22, 2012)
Los Altos Downtown, metal sculpture Main and Third.
Los Altos Downtown, metal sculpture State St. and Second
FACT: The Los Altos Public Arts Commission is apparently planning to install a sculpture on every downtown block; so they aren’t done yet. EDITORIAL COMMENT: It’s getting very cluttered on State and Main. Even with a 3 foot by 3 foot footprint for these sculptures, there is less and less room for people! Too much of a good thing? And consider the price tag. Worth $5M to you? Or didn’t you know YOU were paying for it?
