Downtown construction aims to ‘beautify’ village

A series of beeping and horns honking echoes throughout Saratoga. Large neon orange and black “Do not enter” signs line the roads. Metal fences demarcate the boundaries of the new construction areas where trenches gouge the earth, five feet deep. Traffic is congested and pedestrians race across the street.

This is the ongoing construction that many have witnessed in downtown for years. After this long waiting period, the “Village Pedestrian Enhancement Construction” project will be done in November, according to Howard Miller, vice mayor of the city council.

The project has been going on since 2004. In its current phase, which costs more than $1.3 million and began in early May, workers will be adding features such as paving and lights.

Downtown Saratoga has long been regarded as “dead” by many students, residents and shopkeepers of stores along Big Basin Way. Students whine about the lack of aesthetically pleasing architecture and teen-friendly hot spots that other downtowns boast, and shopkeepers lament the lack of customers.

In response to complaints about the lack of nighttime lighting and appealing vegetation, the City Council of Saratoga decided to take action and improve downtown in phase two of the project.

Pavement lights will be added in front of Starbucks and hanging planter baskets on top of the light poles. Safety fences and electrical/landscape upgrades will also be new additions to downtown, along with GIF electrical outlet upgrades for tree lights.

On Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, new inlaid brick pavement construction work has already started outside of Starbucks and next to Bell Tower Bistro. Decorative concrete paving has also begun on Blaney Plaza.

At the Saratoga Historical Park, Wi-Fi, a drinking fountain and safety fence will be installed. A bus shelter on Saratoga Avenue is also being constructed.

The city is also planning on improving safety along Big Basin Way, while simultaneously striving to preserve the unique and historic aspects of the Saratoga Village. The main goal is to focus on pedestrian safety and to beautify downtown for residents and visitors.

Adding to the atmosphere, new restaurants such as Minicakes and a hamburger restaurant have emerged in the Blaney Plaza next to Starbucks.

“I am hopeful that these features will make the Saratoga village just a little bit more teen friendly,” Miller said.