Rick's Director of Martin Flores, while employed by the Redevelopment
Agency of San Jose, directed the completion of Design
Development documents for the proposed streetscape improvements
in the Civic Plaza Redevelopment Area. Under Mr. Flores direction, the draft Streetscape Master
Plan was completed in June 2002.
Mr. Flores fostered the Civic Plaza
Redevelopment Area when the new Civic Center was being located,
at which time community residents requested improved street
and pedestrian lighting, a softer green path from the residential
neighborhood to the Civic Center, traffic calming and diversion
to minimize traffic through the neighborhood, and adequate
vehicular access to the Le Petit Trianon Theatre and other
uses along North Fifth Street within the Civic Plaza area.
Mr. Flores presented the plans that the community endorsed,
as well as the concept of public art along Fifth Street,
green pedestrian linkages along adjacent streets between
residential, commercial, and public spaces, improved pedestrian
scale lighting, and benches in shaded areas. These ideas
were incorporated into the plans for the area. At subsequent
community meetings, the Agency agreed to proceed with these
improvement plans concurrently with the City’s development
of adjacent Civic Center plans. The goal is to have the neighborhood
streetscape improvements completed simultaneously.
