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Hayward Brainstorms for Business Improvement Downtown

Businesses on B Street (above) currently do not draw
enough revenue according to participants.

Citizens, business owners, landlords and council members gathered last Saturday, Nov. 5, at City Hall to discuss ideas of renovation for downtown Hayward to attract business and consumers.

The City of Hayward hosted the workshop with the help of Cal Poly students from a planning program that also offered ideas and considerations.

“I remember downtown Hayward back in the ‘60s and ‘70s. It was a hopping place,” said Richard Patenaude, City of Hayward planning manager. “You could find anything from movies to bars to bowling alleys—all the services you wanted. We would like to re-create that feeling.”

According to David Rick, Development Services Director for City of Hayward, the city plans are 20 years old and need revamping.

He believes that Hayward businesses struggle in part because of the economy. He also thinks that property owners are not motivated enough to engage with clients because they are not in the strongest financial position.

“We need new creative ways to help generate interest,” said Rick.

The workshop was organized for public input to start brainstorming on integrating new ideas into downtown Hayward.

The meeting discussed what people liked about Hayward, what they didn’t like and what could be improved. Participating citizens agreed largely on transportation issues and the business sewer fee.

Ralph Farias, citizen of Hayward, said he would like to see “red tape” removed from operating a business, pointing out that just the sewer fee for businesses is monumental.

“I’ve been trying to open up my restaurant in this area for two and a half years but I’m also not willing to pay a $100,000 sewer fee,” said Farias.

“It’s a big risk to open a business, we shouldn’t be increasing that risk with such a high fee,” said Hayward citizen Perry, who requested his last name not be known.

President and CEO of the Hayward Chamber of Commerce, Kim Huggett, agreed that the sewer fee scared away business.

Huggett also expressed that Hayward is notorious for poor public transportation. He believes that a commuter shuttle from CSU East Bay to downtown Hayward would help the local economy by bringing more students to struggling businesses.

The workshop participants agreed that Hayward could be a college town but it must revamp its image in order to attract college students. Bijou, Buffalo Bills and the movie theater on B Street bring in some revenue as attractions but are not enough, according to participants.

“A lot needs to be done. We need more shops and entertainment. We have a college and the city just isn’t trying hard enough to attract students,” said Ryan Taslin, regional planning manager of Cal Poly planning program.

“Hayward has a unique place; its location is at a crossroads. I would like to see people visit Hayward and not just pass through,” said Myron Freedman, employee for Hayward Area Historical Society.

Farias maintained that the city doesn’t try hard enough to market itself. Foothill is a busy street but those cars are not stopping by downtown Hayward, according to Farias.

“People don’t even know that downtown Hayward is here; we need to market this area. We are the heart of the Bay Area but people just pass through going to San Jose, Berkeley or San Francisco,” said Farias.

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Hayward Brainstorms for Business Improvement Downtown