Strip to Streetscape
Mere blocks from Concord’s park-studded downtown is a stretch of aging strip malls in the shadow of taller office buildings. With jobs and two BART stations, the City could add new mixed-use development to enliven Willow Pass Road.
Tony, who likes the liveliness of Todos Santos plaza, thinks spread-out areas could be improved for pedestrians and public transportation. “Americans love their cars. I like people living closer together— it’s better for community. I enjoy the life of a city.”
Arthur Chan, a lifelong Concord resident, is an avid native plant gardener. He believes living closer together is better for people and for nature. “It makes sense to get people driving less and interacting more. I don’t like when people live remotely from each other, especially at the cost of habitat. We need to think about our wild neighbors.”
At a Glance:
City:
Concord
Area of focus:
Willow Pass Road
What it is now:
Car-oriented strip malls
What it could become:
A pedestrian-friendly community
Why here:
Downtown and BART connector
Infill opportunity sites:
11
