Parking garage, new streets, art should be done in the next few months
Published in the January 20 – February 2, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Photo by Marty Cheek
Workers are putting the finishing touches on the city’s new three-story, 270-space parking garage.
With recent rain and other delays, construction on downtown streets and a new parking structure has been delayed from its original ending date of December 2015, according to city staff, who said all five projects now underway should be completed in the next few months, with significant completion this month.
And when the revitalization of downtown is complete, residents and visitors will have at least three new restaurants among their dining options, including a Greek restaurant, a breakfast and burger joint and a local-sourced market hall.
As of Jan. 11, most of the work on Monterey Road has been completed. Contractors have finished the bulk of the “streetscape” renovation project which began in August. Some aspects of that project are “taking longer than we anticipated,” and these require periodic traffic control on segments of the street, said Morgan Hill Project Manager Julie Behzad.
Contractors and PG&E still need to finish some work, including the final asphalt concrete overlay from Dunne to Main avenues, then striping the road, according to Behzad.
The long-awaited three-story, 270-space parking structure still needs significant work, including installing an elevator, store front windows on ground-level retail spaces, the artwork and signage, storm drains and a retention basin and striping the parking stalls.
“The remaining work items that are exposed to the elements, such as sidewalks, driveways, patios, and exterior finishes are impacted by the rainy weather conditions,” said Public Works Director Karl Bjarke.
The First, Second and Fourth streets undergrounding of utilities is nearly complete. PG&E must energize the new service and remove the poles.
Significant work still remains on the Third Street/Plaza project. City staff and contractors had to change the design of new sidewalks and a public plaza that will sit under a massive heritage oak tree, Behzad said. This oak tree sits behind Huntington Station restaurant, and will feature permanent public benches, chairs, table tops and other features intended to invite visitors to relax. The planters, deck area around the heritage oak tree, lighting in the tree, other light fixtures and landscaping must be installed. In addition, contractors must pour concrete on the north side of the street.
On Fourth Street which, like Third Street, is undergoing a complete reconstruction, the city’s schedule and that of PG&E again did not coincide. The removal of a utility pole adjacent to the Fourth Street side of the garage took longer than expected.
“First, we appreciate the community’s patience as we work to make the downtown a vibrant and more welcoming place,” Bjarke said. “We are grateful for the patience and support exhibited by those stakeholders most impacted and we trust the final product will be something the community is proud of.”
Contractors must pour the final layer of asphalt, pour the sidewalks, complete driveway approaches and install landscaping on Fourth Street.
The city’s strategy also includes three new parks currently in the design process. It also includes partnering with private developers to improve key downtown properties that the RDA purchased several years ago. Developer and vineyard owner Frank Leal has taken over the Granada Theater and Downtown Mall. Renovations are under way for the theater, which he plans to reopen as a full-time entertainment venue.
Leal plans to transform the Downtown Mall into a restaurant/market hall, with a boutique hotel (up to 60 rooms), conference rooms and a spa on the upper floors.
Another downtown site scheduled for demolition and construction next year is the former Simple Beverages site at the corner of Third Street and Monterey Road. The developer’s first phase on that site includes two restaurants. Opa, a South Bay Greek restaurant chain, is one of the restaurants coming to that site. The other new restaurant on that block will be Mo’s, a breakfast and burger place.
Also in the design process is a new commercial/residential development on Depot Street between Second and Third. It will consist of 29 townhome units, more than 5,500 square feet of commercial space and about 2,000 square feet of “live/work” space.
