If You Build It...

How can we improve the retail options in our neighborhoods while creating the walkable communities of the future? I believe the answer is that we need to improve our public boulevards so that they are more inviting to residents and businesses alike. If we build it, they will come.

That is exactly what we are doing. We recently obtained a grant of over $2.1 million from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Federal Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality fund. This grant will allow us to design and build a new streetscape along Willow Street. We will enhance public lighting, add landscaping, and make improvements to the sidewalks, crosswalks, and medians in an effort to revitalize Willow. By aggressively seeking these grant funds, we will improve our neighborhoods, bring more businesses to a pedestrian-friendly corridor and ultimately increase sales tax revenues that will fund vital city services.

While many in the region talk about transit and pedestrian oriented improvements, we are doing it right here in Long Beach, California.

If you would like to hear more about the Willow Streetscape project and provide your input, you can attend the public meeting at Veterans Park on January 7th, 2013 at 7pm.