Union City, California

General Plan Update

Westside Neigborhood

July 24, 2000 Workshop

On July 24, 2000, over 15 people attended a workshop that explored neighborhood planning objectives for Union City's east side communities. The participants worked as members of planning teams to identify important existing and future community places; existing and needed connections; and priority public investments.

Planning Team Features:

Planning priorities expressed by workshop participants included:

1. Expanding health clinic services

2. Affordable housing (near BART)

3. Increasing daycare for seniors and children

4. Development of a sports complex

Planning Team # 1
Exercise #1: Community Places
What are the most important existing places in your neighborhood?
o Smith Street
1. New Covenant Church
2. Filipino Community Center
3. Old Alva/Cesar Chavez Park
o Union City Blvd. Corridor
1. New Life Church
2. Store front plaza
3. Second Chance building
o Hall Ranch Park
1. Park Hall Ranch
2. Cabello School/Park
3. Four Corners
 
Assignment: Draw a line around your neighborhood on the map.
Identify the center of the neighborhood on the map.
 
What places or activities are missing that can improve the quality of residential and business environments in your neighborhood?
o Smith Street
1. Adequate playground area/facility
2. Land use­Lack of adequate space
3. Filipino Center more diverse use for the community
o Union City Boulevard
1. Need ability to expand facility (church)
2. More accessibility to stores
3. Building needs renovation/facelift (Second Chance)
o Hall Ranch Park
1. Upgrade Four Corner
2. More open recreational space
3. Renovation of school buildings
 
Exercise #2: Connections
What are the most important destinations for children in your neighborhood?
 
Assignment: show these destinations on the map. Say what they are. Draw a five minute walking radius around each destination.
 
How do children move around your neighborhood? Where do they walk and ride their bikes?
 
Assignment: Using a colored marker, map the key routes used by children.
Indicate connections that are missing.
 
Exercise #3: Priority Public Investments
What are the three most important public investments that should be planned for in your neighborhood?
o Safer accessibility for wheel chairs, pedestrians, children
o Traffic calming devices throughout neighborhoods
o Sports complex­all ages
 
Assignment: Make a list on the flip chart paper and list the three most important investments above.
Planning Team # 2
Exercise #1: Community Places
What are the most important existing places in your neighborhood?
From map:
o PO
o Churches
o Park/Farmer's market
o Historical
o Schools
o Museum
o Restaurants
 
Assignment: Draw a line around your neighborhood on the map.
Identify the center of the neighborhood on the map.
 
What places or activities are missing that can improve the quality of residential and business environments in your neighborhood?
1. Ambiance
2. Decent lighting
3. Police presence/station
4. Improved eateries
5. Expanded land use policy
6. Targeted use/Youth
7. Parking-Union Landing
8. Walkway
9. Bikeways
10. 10. Clubhouse in park
 
Exercise #2: Connections
What are the most important destinations for children in your neighborhood?
 
Assignment: show these destinations on the map. Say what they are. Draw a five minute walking radius around each destination.
 
How do children move around your neighborhood? Where do they walk and ride their bikes?
 
Assignment: Using a colored marker, map the key routes used by children.
Indicate connections that are missing.
 
Exercise #3: Priority Public Investments
What are the three most important public investments that should be planned for in your neighborhood?
 
Assignment: Make a list on the flip chart paper and list the three most important investments above.
1. Facelift (Ambiance, landscaping)
2. Parking (Union Landing)
3. Walkways/Bikeways
4. Sports complex
 
Alvarado
1. Post Office
2. Park w/Farmers market
3. Churches
4. School
5. Restaurants
6. Museum
7. Historical homes
8. Contempo Park
9. St. Anne Church/Baptist Church
10. Four Corners
11. Housing
12. Union Landing
Planning Team # 3
Exercise #1: Community Places
What are the most important existing places in your neighborhood?
o Holly Community Center (Filipino center)
o Seven Eleven, Shell strip
o Hall Ranch Park
 
On flip chart paper:
1. Smith Street
A. Park
B. Church
C. Holly Center/Filipino Community
2. Hall Ranch
A. Hall Ranch Park
B. Holly center
C. Union Landing
3. Almaden
A. Seven-11
B. Whipple strip mall
C. Kitayama School/Park
 
Assignment: Draw a line around your neighborhood on the map. Identify the center of the neighborhood on the map.
 
What places or activities are missing that can improve the quality of residential and business environments in your neighborhood?
o Retail/clothing
o Garbage dump into a park
o Street bumps (Smith Street/Horner Street)
On flip chart paper:
1. Smith Street
A. Street bumps
B. Historical culture back to children
2. Hal Ranch
A. Garbage dump turned to park w/walking/riding trails
B. Replacement grocery store to replace Lucky's
C. More frequent bus service (to) BART
3. Almaden
A. Bookstore
B. Retail clothing
C. Sports complex
 
Exercise #2: Connections
What are the most important destinations for children in your neighborhood?
o Logan High pool
o Union Landing
o Cesar Chavez Park
On flip chart:
o Logan High pool
o Union Landing
o Cesar Chavez Park
 
Assignment: show these destinations on the map. Say what they are. Draw a five minute walking radius around each destination.
 
How do children move around your neighborhood? Where do they walk and ride their bikes?
o Buses
o Private vehicles (#1)
o Bikes, skates, skateboards, walking
 
o School
o Parks
o Ride with friends
o Red Devil
 
Assignment: Using a colored marker, map the key routes used by children.
Indicate connections that are missing.
 
Exercise #3: Priority Public Investments
What are the three most important public investments that should be planned for in your neighborhood?
o Sport complex/skate park
o Park/ride location
o Rail grade separation at Dyer/UC Blvd.
On flip chart paper:
#1 Sport complex/skate park
Senior day care
#2 Rail grade separation at Dyer and Union City Blvd.
Better landscaping on central dividers in streets
Wall to come down in gated communities
#3 Better location for Park/ride areas (away from neighborhoods)
Medical/Dental center w/ labs
 
Assignment: Make a list on the flip chart paper and list the three most important investments above.

Schedule | Policy Issues | Concepts and Strategies

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