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HyettPalma
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Featured Project;
Downtown Millbrae, CA

Located on the peninsula just south of San Francisco, Millbrae is home to the San Francisco International Airport. In 1996, the Millbrae City Council embarked upon completing a Downtown Market Analysis and Action Agenda under the America Downtown® program (please click here for more info about America Downtown).

Since 1996, the City of Millbrae, the Millbrae Chamber of Commerce, and a dedicated Downtown Millbrae business community have been conscientiously implementing Downtown’s Action Agenda. Several noteworthy accomplishments realized since 1996 are listed below:

  • Formal adoption of the 1996 Market Analysis and Action Agenda by the City of Millbrae and the Millbrae Chamber of Commerce;
  • Recision of the Parking in Lieu Fee Program to encourage more restaurant and retail development Downtown;
  • Amendment of the Zoning Ordinance to restrict uses and promote restaurant and retail development on select portions of Broadway and El Camino Real;
  • Adoption of a city-wide adult uses ordinance;
  • Re-striping of parking on Broadway, resulting in a gain of 53 on-street parking spaces;
  • Renovation of Downtown’s three public parking lots;
  • Implementation of a Downtown Parking Improvement Program;
  • Introduction of Autocite parking enforcement equipment and the provision of new parking enforcement personnel;
  • Installation of numerous streetscape improvements, including street trees, street plantings, banners, decorative paving, street lighting, street furniture, holiday decorations, and installation of community benches;
  • Regular, intensive Downtown clean-up and landscape maintenance;
  • Addition of several new businesses, including Office Depot, Jamba Juice, Bagel Cafe, Kinko’s, Affiche, Broadway Produce, Shoppe Ten, Vineyard Gate, Seafood Harbor, McAdams Sporting Goods, Leather Express, Cheung Heung, and Halogen Lighting Store;
  • Renovation of Safeway and expansion of the 16 Mile House Restaurant;
  • Construction of a new 86 unit Quality Suites Hotel on El Camino Real;
  • Plans by El Rancho Inn to renovate, build additional parking, and add rooms;
  • Provision of design assistance and completion of 25 facade enhancements through the Storefront Improvement Program, with seven additional key buildings in design;
  • Successful community policing outreach to the Asian business community;
  • Adoption of the Millbrae Station Area Specific Plan, with key sites being purchased around the station by developers and with plans to develop 500 new housing units near Downtown, new hotel rooms, up to a million square feet of new office space, and a retail and pedestrian link of the station and Downtown;
  • Continued development of the new BART station;
  • Provision of numerous business enhancement forums by the Millbrae Chamber of Commerce;
  • Provision of support for new business recruitment by the Millbrae Chamber of Commerce;
  • Continued provision of the annual Art & Wine Festival and year-round Farmers Market;
  • Production of the “Shop Downtown Millbrae” brochure; and
  • Coordination of Downtown cooperative ad placement.

Since completion of the Downtown Millbrae Market Analysis and Action Agenda 1996,…

Retail sales taxes generated in Downtown Millbrae have increased by 80%.

It is clear from the changes that have occurred in Downtown Millbrae that both Downtown and the Downtown enhancement effort have matured considerably over the last several years. The intent of completing the 1996 Market Analysis and Action Agenda was to get more organized and aggressive with the Downtown effort. And, both the City and the Chamber of Commerce supported that endeavor. Today, Downtown’s enhancement is not a fledgling effort but a cause celebre — as is evidenced by all the work that has gone into that cause over the last five years and the commitment to that cause which the community displays today.

Many strides and improvements have occurred in Downtown, as is demonstrated by the list of accomplishments above. Many of these improvements have been physical. And, they have set the stage and improved Downtown’s curb appeal, enabling Downtown to enjoy a recent influx of quality retail businesses and new owners of several existing Downtown businesses.

Downtown’s accomplishments and maturity should be recognized and celebrated. The Downtown enhancement strategy defined in the 1996 Action Agenda has proven to be extremely effective. The City adopted that document and has been implementing its recommendations. The Chamber of Commerce and business community have wholeheartedly supported and participated in that effort. And, by all accounts, all parties want to move forward with the strategy’s continued implementation.

As in 1996, the following type of Downtown remains the desire of the community:

  • A Downtown that has a larger number of specialty retail businesses;
  • A Downtown offering “more to shop for;”
  • A greater balance between the number of retail, service, and restaurant establishments located in Downtown;
  • A greater variety in the types of restaurants in Downtown;
  • A quaint, pedestrian-friendly atmosphere; and
  • A Downtown of high quality.

Creating the desired Downtown Millbrae will require placing greater emphasis on economic improvements — while, at the same time, continuing to make needed physical improvements in Downtown.

© HyettPalma 2008