Half Moon Bay is planning to forgo a monument-style arch in favor of more cost-effective wayfinding signs to direct visitors to its historic downtown and Main Street, the City Council said at its meeting Aug. 19.
After meeting with a design firm and consulting with the Architectural Advisory Committee, it was found that the challenges of installing a gateway sign at the State Route 92 and Main Street intersection — including utilities, streetlights and visual obstructions from nearby businesses — would make the project extremely difficult to build, staff said.
Both councilmembers and residents who spoke at the meeting said using the remaining $50,000 in funding for wayfinding signs would make the most sense, given that the original goal of the arch would be to steer visitors to the downtown corridor.
“The idea of the monument, as you expressed, was as a wayfinder,” Councilmember Deborah Penrose said. “I have an objection to a big monument anyway.”
Another alternative would be to pursue a monument arch in another, more easily buildable location like the north side of the Main Street bridge. Because that wouldn’t be easily seen as visitors drove down State Route 92 to popular tourist areas like Half Moon Bay’s beaches, the idea was largely dismissed for now.
City residents and business owners, who’ve been pushing to make downtown a more obvious destination for travelers, expressed disappointment around the impossibilities of a gateway arch but spoke supportively about the possibility of enhanced wayfinding services in the city.
Some, like graphic designer Colleen Henney, even offered services to support cohesive wayfinding signs.
“Some of us would be willing to donate graphic design time and have professional experience doing that,” she said. “There are ways around the cost of that option.”
Henney also suggested that a large billboard on State Route 92 advertising the town’s Main Street could help with downtown foot traffic.
Councilmembers said that having community members help design the signs would not only be cost-effective, but also keep the spirit of quaint, coastal charm for which Half Moon Bay is known.
“We have a lot of talent sitting here tonight in our own community that have a very good feel for what our community is about,” Vice Mayor Debbie Ruddock said. “I think that will better serve us than outside consultants.”
(4) comments
I can't help but feel sorry for the residents of HMB with this gaggle of amateurs posing as council members. I find HMB a very pleasant destination, so should the business community desire more traffic, then make it more attractive to come. An arch is not going to do it. Find out from visiting folks what they would like to see instead of the apparent proliferation of coffee houses and pastry shops. More art, things to do for the kids, close a section of Main Street to automobiles, outside seating on wider sidewalks, lots of potential. Have a real professional consultant look around and visit other successful destinations for ideas. No arch needed, no utility relocation and no silly signage.
I hear leading cars around downtowns and creating walkable space is all the rage in Europe .... since before the 1990s.
It's like no one in San Mateo county has ever taken a trip to an urban center that is built by smart people and led by professionals.
Let me take that back. Is anyone still complaining about B Street in San Mateo or Broadway in Redwood City. I keep hearing good things about how lifely those places have become.
Right now they create a lot of congestion along Hwy1. and then lead cars through Main Street ... and then are surprised they don't stay or spend.
Cars kill downtowns, pedestrians wake them up.
eGerd – TBot here. Not sure what your point is since we’re not Europe. Are cars being led around downtown on a leash? Perhaps you can take your city planning ideas and apply them to the Pacific Palisades. I hear Newsom and Bass are attempting land grabs by slow walking permitting and rebuilding. Wait, the slow walking might not be on purpose - that’s just the Democrat way when it comes to helping citizens. BTW, for HMB to get pedestrians or tourists, they need to get there easily and efficiently. As we’ve already determined, biking to HMB isn’t much of an option. I don’t believe mass transportation is much of an option. Ergo, cars. And without places to park, they’ll continue up or down the coast to more welcoming cities since they know parking is a hassle.
What? A gateway arch project would be extremely difficult to build? We’ve built planes, trains, and automobiles, ships that go to the moon, satellites, and probes that have left our solar system. And an arch is extremely difficult? C’mon, man! Wasn’t a private donor going to pay for the arch? I’d bet it’s more of the overall cost that is the limiting factor. Perhaps if union labor wasn’t used? A gateway arch would definitely be more memorable than the anodyne alternatives being proposed. A billboard? I’d bet most folks would see the billboard and forget what it was about within the next mile down the road.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.