‘Live on the Avenue’ events help San Anselmo community connect – Marin Independent Journal

With four restaurants closing and an unusually high number of vacant stores, the summer of 2015 marked a low point for San Anselmo. Residents found fewer and fewer reasons to visit downtown, and the viability of our community was in question.

The City’s Economic Development Committee was asked to explore how we could increase revenue for local businesses through programs and activities that would revitalize downtown. The initiatives had to reflect the priorities of all community members, be family-friendly, and involve friends and neighbors.

After listening to the ideas and concerns of all city stakeholders, we worked together to develop a vision for a vibrant San Anselmo, especially on summer weekends when families are home and children are out of school.

We realized that the key factors for an economic recovery were already in place. The city’s existing programs included “Picnics on the Plaza,” a six-week program on the lawn in front of City Hall that was a well-attended family-friendly event, but parents and caregivers were concerned about their children running into nearby traffic on San Anselmo Avenue. Likewise, “Sunday Music in the Park” was a popular but often under-attended concert series in Creek Park on hot August afternoons.

What if we combined these events and shifted the focus to Creek Park to create a commons? “Live on the Avenue” was created by closing the streets on Friday and Saturday nights to allow for outdoor dining and hosting family-friendly activities. Surprisingly, precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to the creation of Creek Park Plaza and the emergence of parklets to add even more vitality to the San Anselmo Avenue streetscape.

Momentum slowly began to build. Business owners needed assurance that San Anselmo would stick with the program long-term. To capitalize on the increased customer traffic, local stores began to adapt their offerings by offering longer hours and picnic menus and moving parts of their business to the closed-off street.

Retail landlords invested in their properties, “pop-up” businesses tested their concepts in San Anselmo, and new art galleries opened with receptions timed to coincide with “Live on the Avenue.” Businesses today choose downtown San Anselmo because the lively summer weekends attract visitors from surrounding cities and towns.

As a city and policy maker, we have continually evolved the event, learning and trying new things. Last year, after surveying the community, we found that many young families and seniors wanted an earlier start. We moved the street closure from 6:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to increase cyclist and pedestrian safety. We also installed more bike racks to encourage alternative transportation options.

This year, Live on the Avenue kicks off on July 5. We’ve stepped up our game and now feature even more local vendors, a diverse artist program, and new activities designed to appeal to every generation. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating our community and supporting local businesses as we continue to grow and evolve together.

The City owes a huge debt of gratitude to the many people and groups who bring this vision to life and recognizes that continuous improvement is the key to any successful program. San Anselmo City staff is planning and managing the logistics of closing, reopening and rerouting traffic on weekends, marketing Live on the Avenue beyond the word of mouth the event already receives, and booking the talented artists.

Equally important, of course, are the contributions of the many businesses, individuals and nonprofit organizations that have agreed to fund or sponsor downtown entertainment and provide family-friendly activities.

In an era of big-box stores and next-day delivery, city governments and community leaders can still create a vision to revitalize our cities for the benefit of residents and local businesses. Live on the Avenue in San Anselmo shows how a multi-pronged approach can revitalize communities and change a city’s long-term economic development for the better.

Councilman Brian Colbert of San Anselmo is running for the Second District seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors. Rich Burns is co-chair of the San Anselmo Economic Development Committee. Info: liveontheavenue.org