My Kingdom for a Plan

I came across something interesting recently. After months of consternation over the fact that no unified Plan blueprinting the future for Old Town seems to exist, what should appear in my mailbox but a nicely bound, official looking 45 page booklet entitled, “Tustin, Visions of Old Town”. Perhaps the post office is justified in raising the rates for stamps. The book is dated September 1991.

My mother taught me to regard the glass as half full whenever possible. So what won’t be addressed here is why a plan like this has apparently not been kept current for seventeen years. Rather, it would be a good exercise to mention some of the document’s still relevant recommendations and open up for discussion whether or not these ideas can be implemented today for the betterment of your downtown. 

1. Appointment of an Old Town Coordinator. The recommendation is for a city staff person whose primary responsibility would be to work with Old Town residents, business people and property owners as a single point of contact for all Old Town activities.

If there is one thing that has historically stifled change in Old Town it is factionalism. After a meeting I attended with members of the City Council and staff, there was agreement that a coordinated effort (let alone opinion) was needed amongst the various groups that held a stake in the district. 

Upon floating the position, the unsurprising response from most of those contacted was, “great idea, you’re welcome to join our group any time ”. I think a city-empowered Coordinator sitting on a committee comprised of a representative from each affected organization (see #2) would go a long way to breaking this perpetual logjam.

2. Establish an Old Town Business Association. To a certain degree this occurred with the eventual creation of TOTA. However, the recommendation called for the city to identify its leaders and provide seed funds as well as coordinate “private security, landscaping, signs, street furniture, and other facility maintenance programs” with the city through the Coordinator which would sit on the Association’s board.

At it stands, the present incarnation is a watered down facsimile of that proposed organization. There are however, many plans to increase TOTA’s effectiveness. One of the initiatives is to invite the property owners to re-join the group. The length of a merchant’s vision is understandably tied to the length of his or her lease. Lasting change requires lasting stakeholders. The property owners fit that description. Together, with the aforementioned city oversight, participation from some enlightened business owners, and infrastructure support from the Chamber, there should be enough ‘skin in the game’ to commit to and execute against long range plans.

3. Make Old Town the Festival Center of Tustin. The plan calls for all major civic activities to happen in Old Town and reinforce the area’s role as the heart of the community. 

This would happen through the designation of Peppertree Park as a central city park with large(r) scale facilities for events (a mini “Great Park”?). Most importantly, Third Street would be designated the city’s Festival Corridor with access to the Civic Center and provide evening and weekend closure to host the Farmer’s Market. 

The Third Street “special events” makeover is particularly appealing as a pedestrian friendly promenade - something that would be difficult to do with Main Street. 

Besides offering a more user-friendly home than the regrettably undeveloped lot that houses the Farmer’s Market today, this street ties the Civic Center to the central Park both literally and figuratively. The arrival of Prospect Village makes it all the more timely and exciting.

I encourage you to email your feedback or comment below and offer your opinions. It all starts with a plan. All we have to do it blow a little dust off of this one. 

As always, see you on Main Street.

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