Save the trees, leave the park
I agree with other Los Altos residents in the Town Crier Letters to the Editor, March 4 and March 11. It’s easy to park downtown especially with the parking lots behind businesses. We don’t need to remove trees and build an expensive parking structure. As a Letter to the Editor March 11 stated: “… Put it on hold, allow a ballot measure the next time there are other ballot measures (not a special election).” Also, we do not need a Performing Arts Center downtown. The Bus Barn Theater by the Recreation Center has lots of parking.
Rita Cartalano
Los Altos
Parking plazas have history
Before Los Altos contem-plates changing our downtown, let’s pause to reflect on the collective effort that created the character of our hometown.
In 1955, recognizing that businesses would thrive only if customers had convenient and safe parking, downtown property owners petitioned to form an assessment district. Their goal was to purchase land and construct parking plazas to serve the community. Mayor George Estill supported the effort.
At the time, journalist Alan Cranston praised the vision, saying Los Altos was assured “as marvelous a parking area as any on the Peninsula.” He predicted the plazas would remake the face of Los Altos, offering close proximity to stores, ease of access, and visibility – so visitors would not have to “scout around” to find parking.
What followed were three years of significant upheaval. Streets were torn up for water, sewer and utility work. Land was graded and paved. It was a major civic undertaking, embraced by a community willing to endure disruption for long-term benefit.
When construction was complete, the finishing touch was inspired: Under the guidance of the Furiuchi family of Los Altos Nursery, Chinese Pistache trees were planted, during community “planting bees.” These hardy trees – capable of living a century or more – provided cooling shade in summer, brilliant color in fall, and filtered light in winter. They have become part of the town’s identity.
On September 9, 1958, the community celebrated. Mayor Irving Atkinson, council members, and some 10,000 residents gathered for a GALA marking the opening of the plazas, with entertainment by Dave Brubeck!
As some propose reimagining our downtown, let us remember our roots. The parking plazas were not an afterthought; they were a deliberate, community-built foundation of our village charm. What a unique and treasured place we call home: A hidden jewel in an increasingly boring and urban society.
Cindy Andrews
Los Altos
An electrifying experience
My home was part of the March 14 Green@Home tour for Los Altos, Cupertino, Saratoga. And I have to say it was an amazing experience, not because our place is the greenest home in these parts, or even in our neighborhood. It’s not.
First to show up were members of the Los Altos Rotary Club to set up a table,
meet, greet, and organize groups of people. Wow. Three Rotary Clubs were co-sponsoring the events with Acterra across the three cities. All I had to do was tell my story or rather the story of my 1952 ranch style home that has undergone successive modifications and upgrades over the years by its successive owners.
But my visitors totally upstaged me. So many interesting local people engaged in electrifying their homes, making them more efficient, and reducing their emissions for a variety of reasons. It was a real eye opener.
Most of us see home upgrades as a gradual, intentional process. A journey. I was impressed by the sophistication of recommendations and comments from people on the tour and how they’d solved practical issues that came up. In my first big effort back in 2010 there were few mature products or even contractors willing to take on these jobs. That’s all changed.
Some of my visitors said they’d taken advantage of Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s free home energy assessment. I’m signed up.
David Cain
Los Altos
