Yes for Charming Downtown Sunnyvale
The City of Sunnyvale
Please continue signing this petition. While it was delivered to the city planning commission during EIR public review period, it will be delivered again during the project Specific Plan public review.
There is a development plan for downtown Sunnyvale that includes adding 5 office buildings 4, 5 and 7 story high. That includes replacing old Macy's with two 7 story office buildings, ground floor commercial and adding one more 7 story office building where post office used to be (details).
Downtown is a heart of a city. Business district is not a downtown. We don't want to live in a city without a heart. Our downtown can be charming and inviting, a place to go. Unfortunately with the most recent development our downtown became a place to avoid an urban desert; it's an eyesore.
We need to create spaces that are relaxing, charming and bring a sense of harmony. We need to create places that people will want to visit and will care about.
We have an opportunity right now and are asking for the following:
1. Extend Murphy Street. That means keep both style and height of the buildings (no more than 2 story high, architecture consistent with existing Murphy buildings or Spanish style of the area). Keep the character of the current section of Murphy Street that we love and that attracts visitors.
2. No buildings taller than 4 stories in downtown. We want to see the sky and let sunlight in. We don't want to feel dwarfed by the buildings.
3. No more office buildings in downtown. They can be built elsewhere in town, just not in the heart of the city. They clash with the relaxed atmosphere we want to see in our downtown. They are busy during the week days and dead empty at nights and on weekends. They will further affect the rush hour traffic.
4. More commerce - stores, restaurants, bars, clubs and cafes.
5. Larger sidewalks that allow for outdoor sitting at restaurants and cafes.
6. Pedestrian only zones. Murphy Street should be closed to traffic or made one lane street with larger sidewalks.
7. More trees - and taller.
8. Beauty, harmony and charm. If a building does not fit these adjectives, it does not belong in our downtown.
Petition by
To:
The City of Sunnyvale
From:
[Your Name]
Dear Sunnyvale Planning Comission Member,
I'm writing regarding the proposed development of downtown Sunnyvale. While I'm happy to hear that we are going to have Whole Foods and a cinema, I'm appalled to see the sprawl of tall office buildings into our downtown.
Downtown is a heart of a city. Business district is not a downtown. I don't want to live in a city without a heart. Our downtown can be charming and inviting, a place to go. Unfortunately with the most recent development our downtown became a place to avoid. Development like this is destructive to our lives and our spirit.
We need to create spaces that are relaxing, charming and bring a sense of harmony. We need to create places that people will want to visit and will care about.
We have an opportunity right now and are asking for the following:
1. Extend Murphy Street. That means keep both *style* and *height* of the buildings (no more than 2 story high, architecture consistent with existing Murphy buildings or Spanish style of the area). Keep the character of the current section of Murphy Street that we love and that attracts visitors.
2. No buildings taller than 4 stories in downtown. We want to see the sky and let the sunlight in. We don't want to feel dwarfed.
3. No more office buildings in downtown! They can be built elsewhere in town, just not in the heart of the city. They clash with the relaxed atmosphere we want to see in our downtown. They will further affect the rush hour traffic around.
4. More commerce - create spaces that will attract more stores, restaurants, bars, clubs and cafes.
5. Larger sidewalks that allow for outdoor sitting at restaurants and cafes.
6. Pedestrian only zones. Murphy Street should be closed to traffic or made one lane street with larger sidewalks.
7. More trees (and taller)!
8. Beauty, harmony and charm. If a building does not fit these adjectives, it does not belong in our downtown.
Sincerely,