San Carlos to support businesses during downtown construction: Improvements to Harrington Park to begin in April, kicking off major downtown revamp on 700 block of Laurel Street

To mitigate the impacts of construction and change, the city’s Downtown Prosperity Team will manage communication, outreach and coordination that works in tandem with the revitalization project. 

As city staff prepares to support downtown vibrancy and attraction as it is improved, Councilmember Neil Layton raised the need for responsiveness and flexibility. 

“I don’t think you should have a set game plan, it’s going to have to be very fluid, of what comes up and meeting the needs of the people,” Layton said. 

A key component will be redirecting residents and downtown visitors to the city’s parking areas, Andrew Douglass, senior management analyst for the Community Development Department, said. 

This will include promoting the free parking at Wheeler Plaza parking garage and coordinating with underutilized parking lots to allow for resident use during construction phases. A parking permit may be offered to affected businesses for employees to be able to park long term in parking garages. 

SamTrans is slated to move out of its building on San Carlos Avenue this year, so staff is also considering leasing parking spaces in that building for public or employee use as well, Douglass said. 

Other ways to support downtown may include activating construction zones with lighting or art displays, providing businesses with identification banners should they use rear entrances more and helping establish a downtown business association as well. 

During the Harrington Park upgrades, Mama Coco and Faith & Spirits will be the businesses most impacted. City staff has said it has engaged with both, and more surrounding, to ensure the businesses are up to date with construction progress. This communication intends to be ongoing, Management Analyst Quinne Woolley said. 

Councilmember Sara McDowell said it may be time for more enforcement of parking downtown as construction goes on, mainly in an effort to encourage employees and business owners to utilize the parking garages, rather than parking in spots that should be saved for patrons. 

The downtown farmers’ market will also be reworked so stalls are in the street, to continue offering weekly produce shopping as construction continues.

Echoing Layton’s point for flexibility, Councilmember John Dugan reiterated the fact that a “successful intuition” of the downtown plan will be both tricky and important. 

“This is a historic project for San Carlos and a turning point for our downtown,” Dugan said. “There will be bumps along the way so I encourage all of us to be dynamic and responsive. Don’t let us off the hook.” 

The upgrades to Harrington Park, located near the center of the 700 block of Laurel Street, will include a repaved open space, a new multipurpose building that will include two public restrooms and hand-washing station, replaced trees and a mass timber pavilion extending over the restroom building. 

The blue man statue currently located in the park will be relocated within a similar area of the 700 block of Laurel Street, and donor bricks will be repurposed in the site, with more bricks added likely for purchase. 

The first phase of these upgrades are slated to begin next month, and is in the city’s budget for the next two years. Upgrades to the rest of 700 blocks are slated to begin in 2027. 

The Centennial Plaza will be a new pedestrian mall on the 700 block of Laurel Street, and include a promenade lined with trees and rain garden, which is landscaping for capturing stormwater. There will be bicycle racks, benches and movable eating options included throughout as well. 

There will also be a multiuse pavilion that will stand where Harrington Park and Laurel Street meet. It will be a raised stage to host events. The 700 block will also get a water feature. 

The Downtown Specific Plan, guiding goals, policies, action items and standards for development surrounding Laurel Street until 2045 was approved by the City Council in November 2026. The plan area is framed by Holly Street and Greenwood Avenue, and El Camino Real and Walnut Street.