I suspect it is optimistic to think the Newell Bridge work will start next year. Environmental activists and adjacent homeowners will do everything they can think of to further delay it.

Cleaning the street will become more of an issue as more foot traffic comes into Cal Ave. Downtown Streets Team will be able to clean where there are no tables and no tents, but are they also expected to clean the eating areas? Also will there be inspections of tables, chairs and other restaurant areas in the same way that the inside dining areas are monitored?

There is still no mention of the insurance issue of mixing serving staff carrying hot food across pedestrian areas? Who will be at fault if a busy server is knocked by a pedestrian and food gets over both or even seated diners?

And what is the rules about ADA in these outdoor areas? How will they be assessed? Will dogs also be allowed to sit under diners chairs?

the bizarre project in Menlo Park - Sunset Magazines is next to the SF Creek. They think they are going to build a tower there. Building a tower in this area will break down the whole creek structure and affect the whole path of water to the bay. That is homes on both side of the county line - PA and MP, and EPA. Somehow common sense keeps evading the obvious short falls of poor planning. Decide on what is required and do it. Do not let out-of-state developers corrupt the logical use of the land and it's surrounding elements.

That miniature golf "course" near Izzy's is such a joke but that hasn't stopped our "leaders" from approving it.

That miniature golf course is really ugly.

"The city of Palo Alto has added about 40 wayfinding signs to the California Avenue business district that point to parking garages and bike parking. The signage reflects an effort to bring more people to the pedestrian mall."

Those signs are a Spinal Tap Stonehenge spoof, right?

Tiny (8.5" x 11") signs zip-tied onto light posts? This is the best Palo Alto can come up with since the street was first closed early in the pandemic?

What the city should have done, years ago, is to install official full size signs that inform drivers on Oregon Expressway / El Camino / Cambridge that:

1. There's a business district.
2. Show how to get there.
3. Provide directions to the parking lots.

Signs are needed for drivers, not for pedestrians and bicyclists that are already on the street.

As it is now, drivers are greeted by Road Closed, No Right Turn and Detour signs, and ugly orange construction site type barriers.

Unbelievable.

I agree that the miniature golf course is ugly. I think it is wonderful that cities are designing pedestrian streets lined with restaurants and stores. I hope that California Avenue becomes an example of how to do it beautifully.

Cal Ave: The 'golf course' is hideous. There need to be trees - and lots of them - to make Cal Ave inviting and beautiful. Rip up the street - put them right down the middle. It could look like a park and be a big draw. And Cal Ave is owed trees.

I used to like Cal Ave. The camera store, the stationary store, places to get a meal in an organized manner. Clean and well attended. I recently went there with my son for breakfast and we both walked away with an UGH. It is like a farmer's market every day.

The new building will encourage more take downs of ugly one-story shops and provide space for more multi-level housing. Now that is the place to put apartments.

Our government (at various levels and bureaucracies) is negligent for not replacing the two bridges on the creek (raging torrent). Expect additional major flooding for Palo Alto residents.
I notice they raced years ago to do a major project to widen and solidify the major channel adjacent to a good part of East Palo Alto. Meanwhile, we count on a piece of heavy equipment stationed at one bridge in Palo Alto to try to respond by pulling out large debris to reduce flooding.
It’s been crystal clear since the major 1998 flood that a good portion of Palo Alto needs major flood protection. A lot of homes are at risk. I’m not even near the creek but am listed as on edge of flood zone so must pay FEMA flood insurance and worry about backed up storm drains.