SPECIAL REPORT: 2012 BUSINESS WALK
Willow Glen & San Carlos Business Districts Parking, speed of traffic, regulations and public safety issues top list of improvements needed The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber hosted its inaugural business walk Nov. 7 in partnership with Bridge Bank, PG&E, City of San Jose, VTA, Republic Services, SCORE, San Jose Water Company, Downtown Willow Glen Business Association and Silicon Valley Community Newspapers. The business walk provides the opportunity for business and civic leaders to take the pulse of a local business district and gives local business owners and managers an outlet to voice concerns and successes they are having. Through direct contact relevant information is gathered that can be utilized to better advocate for positive change for the community. Walkers visited Willow Glen businesses on Lincoln Avenue, from Minnesota to San Carlos, and on West San Carlos between Meridian and Bird avenues. Seventy-three chamber members surveyed over 160 business owners or managers. Three questions were asked: • • •
How is business? What do you like about doing business in the area? What should be done to improve business?
San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber
How’s Business?
graphic location. Businesses along West San Carlos and northern Lincoln avenues tended to have larger issues with homelessness, graffiti and crime. Businesses in downtown Willow Glen most often expressed concern about parking and traffic safety. Business owners throughout both corridors had issues with licensing and fees, increased taxes, and several mentioned increasing the minimum wage as a threat. Overall, the comments and recommendations on how to improve business along Lincoln and West San Carlos avenue can be grouped into several categories:
Parking •
Condition of business Overall, more than 70% of the businesses surveyed said business was good and improving. Of the remaining 30%, • some indicated that times were tough, and a few said they were barely hanging on. The ratio of positive to negative responses was 5:2, signifying the resilience of many local businesses through a very tough economy. The responses were somewhat dependent on geo-
Business in downtown Willow Glen most often complained of scarce parking. It seems many businesses tussle over who “owns” parking lots and can be territorial about them. Several businesses mentioned that the opening of recent parking structures and lots near Willow Street and Lincoln Avenue has alleviated problems and now they would like to see similar improvements elsewhere along the avenue. >