A Look at the Heart of South Santa Clara Valley…
Our Downtown Centers and the
Organizations that Support Them
Written By Larry J. Mickartz
The Gilroy Downtown Business Association
(GDBA) has been spearheading efforts
to revitalize downtown Gilroy for
years. Gilroy downtown is in a unique
position to have a vibrant and vital
downtown. It has the mix of a business
area surrounded by diverse residential
neighborhoods. One area west of the
downtown has been called the “Willow
Glen” of Gilroy. The downtown area
also has many historical buildings
interspersed with newer buildings and
multi-family structures.
The issue at hand is to live up to that
potential to become that vibrant and
vital downtown. Back in 2006, some
43 buildings were designated as URM
(unreinforced masonry) buildings and
were required to be retrofitted. Today,
all but three of these buildings have
been retrofitted or are being retrofitted.
GDBA anticipates that approximately
60,000 square feet of commercial
space will come back online soon. A
recent significant residential addition
is the Cannery Apartments (103 apart-
ment units) which opened with full
occupancy. The downtown corridor has
also been designated as an “Opportunity
Zone” by the federal government.
This program allows for the deferral,
reduction and even the elimination
of capital gains taxes. The GDBA is
anticipating the City of Gilroy will step
up and provide additional incentives to
encourage private investment and devel-
opment in the “Opportunity Zone.” All
these movements are pointing toward
a strong downtown and if the GDBA
leadership has any say, a vibrant and
vital downtown will happen!
Recently
TODAY sat down
with Gary Walton and John Taft,
gmh
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both members of the GDBA Board of
Directors; and Nancy Marciel, GDBA
Coordinator. There are a number of
issues on the GDBA agenda. A unique
immediate item is the development and
activation of Gourmet Alley between
Monterey Road and Eigleberry. The
association is focusing on the south
end of Gourmet Alley between 4 th and
5 th Streets. This new destination down-
town will be the first phase of a host
of food, entertainment and shopping
options along the alley from 4th to 6 th
Streets. Several buildings, former URM’s
in this area, are coming online with
spaces having the potential to serve both
Gourmet Alley and Monterey Street.
Food trucks and pop-up spaces are also
an option. Watch the GDBA Facebook
page for more information as this
project takes shape.
A second major focus is to pursue
the Mainstreet America designation
for the downtown area. Mainstreet
America is a national program that “is
the leading voice for preservation-based
economic development and community
revitalization across the country.”
Currently Nancy Marciel, the GDBA
coordinator, is taking the training to
become a professional Mainstreet man-
ager. Recently the Mainstreet America
program shifted from a historical pres-
ervation focus to an economic develop-
ment focus, which lines up with the
needs of downtown Gilroy.
A third immediate focus is a new
coordinated marketing and advertising
campaign for the downtown businesses,
many of which today do not have an
online presence. This will also encour-
age cross-promotion and collaboration
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
WINTER 2020
between the businesses and a com-
munity calendar. The GDBA is also
evaluating a potential rebranding for
downtown Gilroy and a relaunch of a
GDBA website. The current GDBA web
information is on the Visit Gilroy site.
The GDBA will continue to host
some twenty events or programs.
They currently coordinate the popu-
lar Thursday night Downtown Live
music series, the Taco and Beer Crawl,
the Wine Stroll, the Health Fair, and
the Christmas Parade. Other events
include the recent Dia De Los Muertos,
Downtown is for Lovers, a Craft &
Vendor Sale, and promoting the Poppy
Jasper International Film Festival.
Most recently, they took over
coordination of the annual Porch Fest,
a musical event in the neighborhood
surrounding downtown.
The GDBA is supported by a
dedicated group of volunteers and
supporters who help make these events
happen. Nancy Marciel is the only
employee of the GDBA.
As a non-profit 501c3, GDBA
is limited in its ability to donate to
candidates and to get involved politi-
cally. However, members of the board
are considering forming a downtown
property owners' association that would
be able to contribute to and lobby
local elected officials. The GDBA will
continue to work with business owners
and the City of Gilroy to improve
the downtown. At the annual GDBA
presentation to the City Council,
GDBA showed how a 2018 City
investment of $21K in the organization
had an estimated 9:1 return on that
investment.
gmhtoday.com