Similarly to the rest of the County, San Carlos is experiencing an affordable housing shortage. The Association of Bay Area Governments has determined that San Carlos must plan for 368 units or 2% of the total units needed in San Mateo County. These units will need to accommodate a variety of income levels.

Issues

Laureola Park.

The property around the train station provides one of the best opportunities the city has to meet the bulk of its housing unit shortage. Its excellent location within walking distance to transit and to the downtown retail and services, makes the train station site a prime opportunity to develop a transit-oriented community. New mixed-use housing could indeed be accommodated while preserving and enhancing San Carlos' "small-town feel" in the downtown core

Opportunities

Short Term

Topiary sculpture in Balboa Park.

There are a number of quick and fairly easy ways to enliven downtown San Carlos and add to its character: flowers and other plantings, better signage, and public art are among the most common ideas.

Another quick measure would be to paint a welcome message such as "Entering Downtown San Carlos" or "Entering San Carlos Business District" on the railroad bridge over Holly street or transforming the existing structure into a gateway feature.

Business owners and managers should better maintain the areas around their establishments (especially Starbucks, on the southeast corner of San Carlos and Laurel) and better identify their businesses through new signage and banners. Moreover, some businesses like El Charrito, should improve their facades. The City should better promote the current facade improvement program to local merchants to help give downtown establishments a facelift.

Improving, upgrading and activating the public spaces downtown would draw more people at different times of day, making it safer, more interesting, and economically vital place to be. Another good way to activate the downtown's public spaces would also be to declare specific car-free zones on weekends in order to promote regular events, such as markets or fairs. Additional ideas for enhancing City Hall Park in the short term include:

Map showing proposed land use.

• Add moveable seating, plantings, play equipment, and more lighting to attract families with children and seniors to City Hall Park;
• An information kiosk with listings of upcoming cultural and civic events, along with public art, could be located at the northeast corner of City Hall Park and San Carlos Avenue to draw people in;
• An arched gazebo along the pathway between City Hall and the library, with plantings on the wall, would go a long way to improving the library's visibility and improving its connection to the Park and City Hall;
• Better signage is needed to lead people from the train station to City Hall, the library, and senior center.
• The flagpole should be relocated closer to the palm tree, which should have seating added around it.

Long-Term

Mixed-use housing with retail.

During Phase B of this project, the CAC should further explore a variety of housing typologies to identify the most appropriate locations for different types of residences on the property next to the train station(single family, multi-family, townhouse/mixed use). PPS suggests three typologies that can enhance downtown's character and help support the station: mixed-use housing with retail on the ground floor; townhouses; apartments located around a courtyard with parking in the back, etc.

It is crucial to the preservation and enhancement of San Carlos' village-like atmosphere that all of these typologies interact well with the street by limiting parking to the curb and to the rear of the residences, ensuring that the front doors face the street, and improving the pedestrian experience in front of them (such as with outdoor seating areas, front stoops, front porches or balconies).