ULI Findings, in a Nutshell

Last Tuesday night drew a packed house to hear the preliminary recommendations from the experts at the Urban Land Institute (ULI) who were in town conducting a two day Technical Assistance Panel (TAP). The study was run by six land use professionals who volunteered their time and expertise to bring some fresh thinking to Orinda's downtown. 

The study involved a careful review of Orinda's physical assets (land, infrastructure, buildings, etc), interviews with stakeholders, and a report on our opportunities and challenges. The full written report will be delivered in the coming months, and last week's PPT can be found here. 

The list of challenges was not new - it included our 30-year old General Plan (the oldest they'd ever seen), the physical division by highway 24, lack of parking and enforcement, seismically unsound buildings, and retail revenue leakage to nearby cities, among other items. The panel concluded that the town is "too car centric" and lacks a "Third Place" (the concept is that home and work are your first two places, and a community gathering spot could become your "third" place). Orinda "was robbed" of an identity over the years, they concluded, but we have many enviable assets to leverage going forward. 

Among them:

  • Our highly educated and involved citizen base, in particular our "exceptional teenagers" who brought frank feedback and creative ideas to their interview 
  • BART: "Most cities would kill to have a major transit stop" and we have an opportunity to maximize its benefits
  • Some buildings with fantastic architectural character that we could build upon, particularly County Club Plaza/Phair's/Orinda Motors
  • The San Pablo Creek and Orinda's beautiful natural setting
  • Existing spaces that could easily be "activated" and marketed for free community use and events
  • A few engaged property owners such as Joanna Guidotti who now owns the Phair's property, and other upcoming properties that will be turning over. And more... 

There was a lot of goodness coming out of the TAP Panel. Here are some of the most exciting recommendations we heard.

  • First things first, the panel urged the city to update Orinda's general plan in a very inclusive Orinda style involving the community. Given that the city has $300,000 set aside to tackle this project, we completely agree and see it as a "no brainer" next step in shaping the future. We will be continuing to advocate for this with CIty Council and the new Downtown Subcommittee of councilwomen Inga Miller and Eve Phillips. 
  • Focus on creating THREE rather than two downtown Districts. 1) Theater District 2) Civic District (Park, Library, Community Center area) and 3) Village Creek District. They suggested creating a "San Pablo Creek Action Plan" to incorporate the creek into Orinda's usable spaces (likely a long process)
  • Consider a property based improvement district (AKA a "BID") which is a public/private partnership between the city and property owners to enhance the streetscape and better maintain buildings (YES! WUDO has advocated for this in the past and strongly believe that Orinda's property owners must be engaged and incentivized to do their part. We also believe that hiring an Economic Development Director makes a lot of sense)
  • "Take the recommendations in the parking study from 2016 seriously," and enforce parking limits downtown. Enforcement or meters seem like an obvious way to reduce all day parking by BART commuters. 
  • "Re-jigger" walking paths from BART to the Theater to direct walkers THROUGH Theater Square, rather than around it. Smart!
  • Build connected, shared parking resources to free up land for better uses. Extra attention was paid to the massive parking lots spanning from Rite Aid to McCaulou's - connect it, share it, and make it pedestrian friendly. 
  • Experiment with short term "activations" of our existing spaces to bring the community together. Market free use of our existing spaces to create community "living rooms". Invite food truck organizers, art shows, pop up retail shops, chess tournaments or even put some lounge furniture and ping pong tables on the Library plaza. Put the unused third screen at Orinda Theater to use for our teenagers. Experiment and see what sticks. Build on our amazing Parks and Rec programs to give the community and our youth exciting places to hang out. 
  • Create low-cost parklets, widen sidewalks and make space for restaurants and cafes to set up tables outdoors. Reward "early adopter" businesses that invest and experiment in Orinda! 
  • Change Orinda's zoning to allow zero setbacks on the sides and fronts of commercial buildings. This will improve window fronts, reduce the number of driveways and ultimately improve walkability. 
  • Develop a signage and wayfinding program to create an identity for downtown (No brainer! More on this in a future post!)
  • And yes, the ULI brought up the idea of housing options downtown, and encouraged the Council to consider a variety of housing types, already allowed within Orinda's laws, to spur commercial development and vitality. A mix of luxury condos, townhomes and senior housing were recommended, along with ideas for how the buildings could be oriented to face the creek and not to overpower the streetscape. 

The meeting lasted nearly three hours and we are looking forward to the final report, which we hope will suggest some concrete next steps. Of course, the logical next question is - PRIORITIES and RESOURCES? What comes first and how do we fund it? 

We'll be continuing that conversation with city leadership while we advocate for progress. 

Pumped about Orange Theory Fitness?


Many of you have been asking "What's up with 25A Orinda Way?"  Over the past months, the developers and their leasing agent have been hard at work seeking tenants for the approximately 14K square feet of ground floor space, so there hasn’t been much to report until now...

We are excited to share that there now a lease pending with Orange Theory Fitness! 

Even though it's not a restaurant or retail tenant, this seems like good news to us, and we hope it will be a tipping point to attract other businesses to sign up at 25A. For example, consider the Marin Country Mart, which has become a hub of the community of Larkspur since being revitalized in 2009. Very successfully, restaurants and retailers such as Intermix, Rustic Bakery, Hudson Grace, Belcampo Meat Co. and Pressed Juicery happily coexist with SoulCycle, Tutu School, and Barber Lane.  Locals come down to work out or take their kids to ballet, then stay to eat and shop, or vice versa.  In the commercial real estate world they call this a coordinated leasing strategy -  it's something that hasn’t existed in Orinda, but that we could greatly benefit from.

We believe Orange Theory will attract regular, repeat patrons and members, adding to the vitality of our town and increasing the success of nearby local businesses.  And, admittedly, we want more opportunities to get our sweat on right here in Orinda, instead of driving to Lafayette or Walnut Creek. 

Paul Ugenti, owner of 25A Orinda Way is seeking local support because the city will need to approve this use of ground floor space. If you'd like to see Orange Theory in Orinda, please reach out to Derek Farmer at the Planning Department (Dfarmer@cityoforinda.org) and weigh in. 

Welcome to Orinda, Main Street America and Urban Land Institute!

WUDO Supporters, do you smell progress in the air? We do. There has been some positive momentum with regard to Orinda engaging outside consultants to solve the downtown paradox, and we are starting to get downright hopeful.

Last September, we provided a recap of a City Council meeting where a spirited discussion led to an agreement to engage two organizations to help move the process forward. One of these two organizations, Main Street America, recently came to town to interview stakeholders and begin its study. Orinda’s City Council and several local citizens groups, WUDO included, had the opportunity to be interviewed back in February.  

In the past we have shared a bit about the Urban Land Institute, but what can Main Street America do for Orinda, you ask? The website defines its mission as follows…

“For more than 35 years, the National Main Street Center has been helping communities revitalize their downtowns and commercial districts. Collectively, the movement is the leading voice for preservation-based economic development and community revitalization across the country. Made up of small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts, Main Street America™ represents the broad diversity that makes this country so unique. Working together, the programs that make up the Main Street America network help to breathe new life into the places people call home.”

We are encouraged by the MSA’s ‘preservation based economic development’ approach to community revitalization and their quest to  ‘breathe new life into the places people call home’. A coordinated economic development strategy is something we at WUDO have championed since our beginning, and we are excited to see what MSA, which has a successful track record with regard to revitalization, recommends.  

MSA’s Process

When approaching a city such as Orinda, MSA gathers information to develop a global understanding of the community’s vision along with measurable market analysis. From there, it can make actionable recommendations on how we can can move forward to capitalize on our physical, economic and social potential, while remaining sensitive to what the community hopes to achieve.

As part of its desire to learn more about what the community’s vision for downtown the MSA attended a City Council meeting back in February and was able to conduct interviews with the City Council members. Among it strengths, council members listed Orinda’s convenient, friendly and beautiful location. They were quick to point out, however, that the buildings downtown are tired, the downtown is physically divided by the freeway and BART, and despite its small scale and walkability, most people do not walk our downtown -- they park in one lot, do their business and drive down the street to the next lot.  (Guilty! We have definitely dropped off a package at UPS and then driven to Orinda Books.)

When asked about ways to improve our downtown, council members pointed out that locally owned, unique businesses were preferable to big box retailers or traditional suburban strip mall anchors. They also brought up the prospect of a new grocery store and additional restaurants and hoped to create other opportunities to bring residents downtown such as community events. Amen!

It was pointed out that Orinda’s anchors are the Theater on the south side of town and the Community Center on the north side.  We at WUDO like this concept as it reinforces Orinda’s strong sense of community and the role that these centers in play in bringing Orindans together.

In our own interview with MSA in February, WUDO echoed many of the same sentiments. We also pointed to the role that property owners and businesses, in the absence of an Economic Development Director, have played in the shaping (nay deterioration?) of our town, and that we believe in a coordinated and concentrated economic development strategy. We also voiced our hope that from this process, a sense of Orinda as a brand could be formed and promoted in and outside our our town.

Currently the MSA is working on an in-depth economic market analysis of Orinda, which will be shared with the ULI panel as well. The project leader from MSA, Matt Wagner, will present the group's initial transformation strategies to the Downtown Subcommittee in early April (the public will be invited) and conduct a working session with city staff. The, MSA's final recommendations will be presented to City Council in May. The exact date is TBD. 

What's Up with the ULI? 

At the same time that MSA is conducting it's study, the ULI is moving forward in parallel. If you want some interesting reading on downtown's past and present, feast your eyes on the incredibly comprehensive briefing book prepared for the ULI by the planning department team.

The ULI panel of experts will be in town doing its study on April 10th and 11th. We are again looking forward to participating. The ULI will immediately present their recommendations at a joint City Council and Planning Commission meeting on April 11th from 5-8 PM, and a written report will follow in the weeks and months following.

Big kudos to the city planning department whose staff is working extra hard to make both studies happen. Hopefully by late spring/early summer we will have some fresh thinking and solid, actionable recommendations to consider! 

Meanwhile, we’d love to hear from you, WUDO Supporters, on what you’d like for us to discuss with Main Street America and the Urban Land Institute as they study Orinda.  Please email us at info@whatsupdowntown.com with your thoughts.

 

A Possible Makeover at Orinda's Community Park!

Inspiration for Orinda's new park design. Please note, this is not an image from the actual design. (Source: Hapa Collaborative)

Inspiration for Orinda's new park design. Please note, this is not an image from the actual design. (Source: Hapa Collaborative)

Have you heard What’s Up with the Orinda Community Park? As a beloved space that features prominently in our Downtown, WUDO has been closely following the developments surrounding a proposed park renovation. We are excited, and hope you are too, at the prospect of the City working to make our park even better!

It started as a task to upgrade the existing bathrooms and gazebo, but the Parks & Rec Commission quickly realized that other parts of the park needed attention as well. A landscape architecture firm, Callander Associates has been retained to design a new and improved space incorporating the ideas put forth by the Commission and the Community. A few of the ideas currently circulating at the meetings include:

  • new bocce ball courts
  • a naturalistic playground that promotes imaginative play (see inspirational photo above!)
  • a newly-designed bandstand to feature prominently at the center of the open grassy area
  • space for food trucks and outdoor events
  • better integration and use of our fabulous amphitheater
  • new bathrooms (high five for this!)
  • tot and 'big-kid' play spaces that are linked together (What? You mean no more head-on-a-swivel-trying-to-watch-kids-on-two-opposite-playgrounds quandary?!)
  • improved visitor access
  • bringing the ramp leading into the Community Center up to code

The Director of Parks & Recreation, Todd Trimble wrote in last week’s Orinda Outlook that fundraising, led by the Orinda Parks & Rec Foundation (OPR Foundation), is currently the sole source of funding for the project cost. He also states that it is possible to complete this project in phases if need be. For now, the next step is for the Parks & Rec Department and the OPR Foundation to seek approval of the proposed renovation.

There are so many things that we love about the Orinda Community Park; concerts, sports, watching our children climb and swing, taking laps around the path, picnicking with friends after the Farmers’ Market or just sitting on a bench taking it all in. A few of us even grew up playing at the “Tot Lot” decades ago - remember the huge metal slide down the hill?!?! Regardless of our memories, we can all agree that a revitalized park will create new experiences for many generations to come and we remain hopeful that the City can set the bar high for future downtown revitalization. 

A beautiful park, linked with our iconic Community Center and fabulous library will further present Orinda as the gem we all know it to be. To share your thoughts regarding the potential for a park renovation, please contact the City Council. 

A (Re)Formed Downtown Subcommittee & Main Street America is Coming to Town!

Welcome back, ya'll! We are happy to share two positive notes from the latest City Council meeting. 

First, a recommendation was put forth and approved to establish a two-person Council Subcommittee for the impending Downtown planning discussions. 

What's the purpose of the Downtown Subcommittee you ask? According to Planning Director Drummond Buckley, its goal is to provide general feedback to, and be a sounding board for, planning staff regarding downtown planning issues.  Decisions regarding downtown planning that can not be made by staff will continue to be decided by the City Council as a whole. 

Newly-elected council member Inga Miller volunteered to serve on the Downtown Subcommittee, stating that conversations during her campaign had given her insight and perspective regarding the community's current desires for downtown. Council member Darlene Gee suggested that Mayor Eve Phillips serve as the second member of the Subcommittee. Both were unanimously agreed upon. And voila, we have a newly (re)formed Downtown Subcommittee.

Historically, Phillips has eschewed changes to downtown, while Miller ran for office on the platform of improving it. Meetings of the Downtown Subcommittee will be noticed and open to the public, so you bet we'll be following closely to see where this goes.

In other promising downtown developments, the city is moving forward to gather fresh perspective from both Main Street America and the Urban Land Institute - two organizations well-suited to give expert recommendations on our downtown.

Planning Director Buckley stated that consultants from Main Street America will be conducting interviews with stakeholders and community members on February 7th and 8th. WUDO is thrilled to have been invited to participate and be interviewed. These dates coincide with the February 7th City Council Meeting and it seems that MSA will attend and discuss Orinda's downtown with the City Council at this time.  We encourage you to attend, and we'll be telling you a bit more about Main Street America right here, next week. 

Similarly, the Urban Land Institute will begin their Technical Assistance Panel process in April 2017.  

We are encouraged to see some positive movement in the first month of 2017, and hope the momentum can continue throughout the year. 

#ShopOrinda! Our Orinda Gift Guide for Everyone on your List.

Do you hear those sleigh bells ringing?  We sure do! We also hear cash registers ringing throughout the city of Orinda as residents arm themselves with our Holiday Gift Guide and #shoporinda this holiday season. As we advocate for a more vibrant downtown, we'll be shopping locally to do our part to support local stores, and we hope you'll join us! Just think, with one lap through downtown, you could knock off most of your holiday shopping! We'll add to this list as the season continues, and if discover a great gift, please use the hashtag #shoporinda on Facebook or Instagram or email us and we'll add it to the list.  Make sure to tag us as well @whatsupdowntownorinda. Happy Shopping!

Shop Loards for Your Gingerbread House Decor

230 Brookwood Rd
925-254-3434
Opens daily at 11:00 AM

YAY! You have another entire week before Christmas and a school vacation for the kids!! Wait, whatl??  Breathe deep. Need some candy for your gingerbread house project? Look no further than Loards' extensive selection of colorfully sweet options. You can also stock up on chocolates for a dessert and stuff stockings with Loard’s fun ice cream cone wrapped gift certificates.

Shop Sweet Dreams for Toys, Toys and More Toys

2 Theater Square
(925) 254-6672
Open daily 10-6, Sun 11:30-5

Suffice it to say that Sweet Dreams is stocked with enough to satisfy every baby, kid, tween, teen, and even adults on your list! You’ll find Lego sets, Calico Critters, drones, Pokemon, puzzles, stuffed animals, craft kits, Shopkins, sticker books, japanese erasers and much much more. Even better: the staff is well equipped to offer gift-giving advice, and they even have three options for holiday-themed gift wrapping (free!). 

Some of our favs: If Silly Putty and science had a baby, this would be it. Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty comes in many different kinds such as liquid glass, magnetic, and UV reactive and is so fun to play with that we've heard that kids OIS are trading it. $2.99 for the small tins, $14.99 for large. The Hape Dancing Butterfly walk n roll is, at $24.99, a cute, simple toy for the sweet little one in your life. And the variety of sticker books, oh my! They are guaranteed to buy you some peace and quiet over the holidays, approx $10. 

Shop ReChic 101 for Your Teen (or your Book Club)!

101 Orinda Way
925-519-8050
Open Tues-Sat, hours vary daily

Haven't been to ReChic yet? This hidden gem is a gift shop and consignment boutique rolled into one! Here you’ll find candles, cards, mugs, jewelry and other trinkets, many with quirky upbeat messaging and inspirational muses.  We could picture so many items in a teen girl’s room, or as a gift for teacher or your book club pals.  There is also a carefully cultivated selection of consignment clothing for those who wish to be earth friendly this holiday season.

 

Shop Parker Thatch for any Lady in your Life

19D Orinda Way
925-282-1908
Open Monday-Friday 10-5

If you haven’t been by Parker Thatch’s neighborhood HQ, you need to get there ASAP. They are known for their monogrammed totes and accessories but you can also find stationery, desk sets, chic lucite coffee table trays, tennis bags, valet trays and tons of other fun gift items to personalize. There is something at Parker Thatch for any woman (or man!) in your life so stop by and put your stamp on something special.   

 

 

Shop Orinda Village Horse Shop for Horse Stuff and More

85 Orinda Way
925-254-1421
Open Tuesday-Sunday (Closed Monday)

This gem of a boutique is home everything for the equestrian in your life and so much more. Sure, you can pick up a saddle, bridle and other ‘horsey’ things, but we were much more impressed with those items for all of us, horse or not!  Check out their extensive collection of boots and outerwear. Also of note is the vast array of Breyer toy horses for the little horse lover in your life. Stop by yourself to see the rest!

Shop Hollyhock for Stocking Stuffers and White Elephant Gifts

Swing by the sister store to McCaulou’s in Orinda for those last minute gifts and stocking stuffers. Don’t be fooled by the fact that they call themselves a stationary store, there is so much more to uncover at Hollyhock!

Shop WUDO Gear to Show your Orinda Pride! 

Yes, we will shamelessly pimp our WUDO Gear for your holiday benefit. Know someone who loves Orinda fiercely? We have green and white hats for $20 (adjustable back/one size) and supersoft gray tees for $25 (American Apparel brand) to stuff in their stockings. Simply email your order to info@whatsupdowntownorinda.com and we will send you Paypal info for payment and hand deliver the goods right to your door. 

 

Shop Hilton House Antiques for Vintage Jewels

21 Orinda Way #A
925-254-1113
Mon-Sat 10:30am - 5:00pm

Hilton House’s Annual Open House is December 8th 5pm to 7pm.  Head in there to check out their gorgeous selection of Estate and Costume Jewelry for gifts or to jazz up your look before the event. You can also stock up on entertaining supplies like extra chairs, barware, serving pieces, silver and flatware.  And for the collectors in your life, they have an ever rotating selection vintage silver pieces, bakelite, costume jewelry, accessories, jade, rugs and vintage crystal. What more could you ask for?

Shop Genuine Goodness for Desserts and Catering

21 Orinda Way, Suite G (near the UPS store)
Mon - Fri 11-5. Catering orders can also be placed at www.gengoodness.com
925-317-3348

Why cook for your guests when you can outsource the work to the ladies of Genuine Goodness and enjoy your own party? They develop fabulous and fresh menus from easy to pass hors d'oeuvres to fanciful cakes and tarts for dessert, and everything in between. All fresh and all natural, Donna and Diane of Genuine Goodness are your go-to for catering in Orinda this holiday season. And their jams and other pantry delights make delicious gifts! 

 

Shop Orinda Florist for Your Holiday Party Arrangements

99 Brookwood Rd
Orinda CA  94563
925-255-5353
http://www.orindafloristca.com

Give a gift to yourself when you’re hosting and outsource your floral arrangements with something beautiful from Orinda Florist. Or, why not give a gift to someone that lasts throughout the year? Orinda Florist’s Flower Therapy creates gorgeous seasonal arrangements and delivers them to anyone on your list each month ($360 for 6 months). A subscription for flowers? Yes please! 

Shop Orinda Village Beauty Supply to Sparkle at the Soiree

270 Village Square
925-258-9090
Mon - Fri 10AM - 6PM
Saturday 10AM - 4 PM, Closed Sunday

Just because it’s an Ugly Christmas Sweater party doesn’t mean you have to feel ugly! Bust out your creative side and try the following from Orinda Village Beauty Supply. Feeling rebellious? Try Punky Color Semi Permanent Hair Color in a rainbow of options.  Feeling Glamourous? Lots of OPI lacquers to choose from. If you spend $50 or more before December 12th you will be entered to win a HUGE gift basket full of goodies, pictured below! Trust us, there is great stuff inside.

Shop Orinda Village Antiques to Dress Your Table

107 Orinda Way
Mon-Sat 11am-6pm
925-254-2206

When it comes to tableware, Martha Stewart has nothing on Orinda Village Antiques Owner Susan Leech.  A longtime Orinda resident and local business owner, Mrs. Leech can answer any question you have about what fork goes where, tell you the history behind why it is so, and sell you a complete set to boot! Even the physical location of the shop is steeped in history, housed in Orinda’s first fire station (circa 1924). So cool. The shop has a gorgeous collection of china, barware and and other items to fulfill your every entertaining desire. Leech also hosts tea parties for all ages if you want to start a fun holiday tradition!

Shop Entourage Before the Party for You and your Host!

232 Brookwood Road (New Location!)
Tues - Sat, 8am - 7pm, Monday 11-6pm, closed Sunday
925-254-9721

Entourage is the perfect place to get pampered before your holiday party season kicks into high gear.  From cuts and color to mani-pedis and airbursh tanning, this is the spot. They even carry sweet gifts that will make your hosts very happy they invited you!


Shop Orinda Books for.... Everyone :) 

276 Village Square
925-254-7606
Mon- Wed 10am - 6pm, Thursday 10am - 7pm, Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 10pm - 4pm through December 18
Christmas Eve 9am - 3pm, Closed Christmas Day

*FREE GIFT WRAPPING WITH ANY PURCHASE*

If you haven't been to Orinda's enduring indie book dealer, you have lost the plot! This treasure trove of literary choices is full of finds for everyone on your list. Cookbooks, mysteries, fiction, kids books... Orinda Books could be your one stop shop this holiday season. 

Shop Hello Tiara for Your Girly Girl

Theater Square
925-253-5050
Open Tuesday - Sunday, 11am. Closed Monday

Hello Tiara has plenty of baubles that sparkle for all ages to choose from, including frilly, fully customizable bracelets, keychains and necklaces. Dads, send your kids down to Hello Tiara to create a one-of-a-kind keychain for their mom; or ladies, make an appointment for a fancy updo (free with purchase) for the holidays! Prices start at about $12 for a bracelet and go up from there.

Shop A.L.M.A. for Your (Wannabe) Rockstar*

99 Brookwood Road
925-254-5056
Mon - Fri 11AM - 9PM
Saturday 10AM - 6PM, Closed Sunday
*earplugs are for sale at CVS Orinda

The Academy- Language and Music Arts, or A.L.M.A. is your go to for everything music and language related!  For your budding rockstar, stop by A.L.M.A and pick out a new acoustic or electric guitar, or a junior drum set and a series of lessons to get them started. Going carolling? Stock up on classic holiday sheet music for piano, vocal and guitar. We hope you’ll knock on our door and serenade us with your holiday spirit. And did you know that A.L.M.A also teaches language lessons?  It’s time to learn Italian and then book that trip to Rome in 2017.

Shop McDonnell Nursery for Trees and Trimmings

196 Moraga Way
925-254-3713
Open Daily 8:30am-5:00pm

Start your day off with a little holiday cheer at the multi generational McDonnell’s Nursery. They have a stunningly fresh assortment of trees waiting to come home with you and all of the holiday decor you need to finish getting the house ready for the season.  Even better, they will put your tree on your stand and deliver it to you house that very same day.  No more terrifying grinch-style drives home with the tree hanging off your car. If that wasn’t enough, they will also clean and give your tree a blowout before taking it inside.  Not joking, you’ll have to go see it for yourself.

Shop Orinda Hardware for Grandkids, DIY-ers and Gadget Geeks (Black Friday Sale!)

56 Moraga Way
925-254-5429
Open Monday-Sat 7:00am-7:00pm and Sunday 9:00am-6:00pm

But really though, something for the DIYer, the Grandkids AND the Techie you say? At the local Hardware store?  The answer is YES!  If you’ve driven by Orinda's True Value Hardware on your way out of town, surely you know they are hosting their first ever GIANT Black Friday event that's not to be missed. Stop by the day after Thanskgiving for deep discounts on barbecues, ladders and even gift cards ($100 cards for $80)!  Here are some of our favorite finds so far. 

Shop Sanvitalia for Hanukkah, Floral and Home Decor

Theater Square
925-258-6900
Open 10-6 Monday - Saturday. Closed on Sunday.

Sanvitalia Home & Garden might very well be Orinda’s holiday headquarters. They’ve got everything from Christmas doormats and wreaths, to ornaments, table decor, and candles and many, many home and hostess gift options. We’ve got our eye on the newest Ina Garten “Cooking for Jeffrey” for $35 on the store's well-edited cookbook table, as well as the entire Frasier Fir collection of soaps, candles and room sprays. We also spotted a gorgeous collection of Hannukah gifts, as well as some Orinda-themed soaps and tea towels! Sanvitalia is also planning to offer holiday flower arrangements to-go or for special order. Their large fresh magnolia wreath is a stunner! 

We'll be updating this gift guide throughout the holidays, so please check back! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to Inga Miller and Darlene Gee!

Our post election hangover has somewhat subsided and we are ready to roll up our sleeves and get back to work.

First, we'd like to congratulate our two Orinda City Council member candidates, Inga Miller and Darlene Gee on their wins last Tuesday and thank all who supported them. The clear majority (60+%!) of Orinda who turned out last week to elect these two women also made a statement to our City Council that it's time for a change. We are energized and confident that our voices will continue to be heard with Inga and Darlene in our corner.

Second, we want to say thank you to all of you who turned out to vote, who wore buttons and put up yard signs and talked to your friends and neighbors about why these candidates make sense for the job. It made a huge difference and is setting the course for the future of Orinda.

Onward and upward! Thank you Orinda! 

In Search of Fresh Perspective

The Orinda City Council dedicated most of last Tuesday's meeting to discussing two outside groups that it might engage to help move Orinda forward: the Urban Land Institute (ULI)  and Main Street America (MSA). Who are these groups? The ULI is a volunteer based non-profit trade organization focuses on solving problems pertaining to all types of land use, while MSA is a privately funded, non-profit group dedicated to economic development and downtown preservation. 

It seems to WUDO that we could benefit from the expertise of both groups, and based on Tuesday's meeting, most of our leadership agrees, including Planning Director Drummond Buckley and his staff. (Note: the below mostly focuses on the ULI which presented its services; we will delve into the MSA in a future blog post).

What is the ULI?

In a nutshell, the ULI is a worldwide consortium of 40,000 architects, economists, developers, transportation experts, attorneys and other cross-disciplinary land use professionals that volunteer their time and knowledge to "help cities solve problems." The Bay Area chapter is the second most active in the US behind New York. Over much of the meeting, volunteer spokeswoman Dana Van Gilder from the ULI presented its services and mission to "create better places" and answered thoughtful questions from City Council.

What's on the table?

The ULI program on the table is known a two day Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) to evaluate city challenges and propose solutions, that the city can then take or leave. The study isn't haphazard - the City of Orinda, led by Planning Director Drummond Buckley, would propose three to five questions for the panelists to delve into.  In advance of the study, four to six Panelists (all volunteers) are recruited and selected based on their expertise relevant to the questions posed. They review Orinda’s General Plan and other background materials to read up on our situation. Then they come to Orinda and spend two days meeting with and interviewing stakeholders on all sides, touring the city, and putting their knowledge to work identifying challenges and opportunities. Finally, they hunker down in a room to debate possible solutions. Within four to six weeks they deliver a comprehensive written report of their recommendations.

WUDO's Take

Given how historically difficult it has been for for Orindans to make progress on Orinda, we think it makes a lot of sense to invite a cross section of outside experts with no commercial interest in Orinda to help tackle questions like:

  • What can Orinda do to attract better restaurants and retail options?
  • How can Orinda alleviate parking and traffic congestion in its commercial areas?
  • How should Orinda engage property and business owners to take more pride in their buildings?How can Orinda unify a downtown that is split by Highway 24?
  • In terms of retail revitalization, what can be accomplished without adding housing downtown?
  • Of course, these are the questions WUDO would ask. City officials will ultimately decide where the focus should be.

Putting Rumors to Rest

Over the past year, there has been confusion regarding what the ULI is all about. Some naysayers are quick to paint the ULI as greedy real estate developers with an agenda to urbanize Orinda with “stack and pack” housing plans. But based on our research, plus the case studies they provided and the presentation by Van Gilder on Tuesday, WUDO feels otherwise. Our take is that the following guidelines makes the ULI well-qualified to lend ideas. 

  1. Panelists must have not have past, current or future business interest in Orinda.

  2. A core tenant is to interview stakeholders on all sides and engage those community members both "for" and "against" change, in order to understand the issues and make sensible recommendations.

  3. There is no obligation for the city to act on the panel's recommendations - they are merely suggestions.

  4. The price tag - for $15,000 we get a group of experts with outside experience and and fresh thinking to evaluate our areas of concern. This seems like a bargain by any standard.

  5. Case studies: The “Urban” in ULI is a bit of a misnomer - the group has worked with many suburbs to help tackle development and land-use issues, including San Mateo, Concord, Hercules, Brisbane and others

It seems the City Council agrees that the ULI’s services are appropriate for Orinda…

The Council's Take

Four of the five council members were in favor of the planning department moving forward with a formal proposal from the ULI.

  • Darlene Gee, Victoria Smith and Amy Worth were all in favor of engaging both the ULI and MSA, and exploring how the organizations might work together to look at both land use and economic development issues.
  • Dean Orr wants to move forward with the ULI first, while continuing to explore the MSA. So far, he is not convinced that it makes sense to run two studies concurrently, as the ULI's recommendations might inspire a different approach with MSA.
  • Through the questions she asked of Van Gilder, it was clear that Eve Phillips was highly skeptical of the ULI's intentions. At one point she openly doubted that Orindans could even determine the handful of questions to give to the ULI to focus on. WUDO has more faith in our city planners and stakeholders than that, and we were left thinking that Phillips is not open to outside input on Orinda's conundrum, or perhaps not open to change at all.

The net-net? Drummond Buckley plans to return in 2-4 weeks with concrete proposals from the ULI and the MSA that the council can vote on. We'll be there, and in the meantime we are encouraged to see the Council considering outside perspective. It’s high time!

 

 

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