The City Council has approved an initial $20,000 to pay for a professional consultant to provide guidance to a new Downtown Business Association made up of business owners on First Avenue and a block or so in both directions on Huntington Drive.
The group was formed last summer, sparked by Arcadia Chamber of Commerce executive director Beth Costanza. Business owners quickly elected Matt Denny’s owner Matt McSweeney to lead the group, including myself, that has a goal of reviving the area with more restaurants and shops that will attract locals to park, walk and hang out, and eventually attract riders on the Gold Line to get off at the light rail commuter train station being built on First Avenue at Santa Clara and walk to the revitalized downtown Arcadia. The group is considering regularly-scheduled events to encourage more customers.
We’d like to know what kinds of businesses and activities would get you to frequent the area. Type in your thoughts below and take a couple seconds to fill out the poll at right.
— By Scott Hettrick