Yours, Frondly : Plantings of palm trees as part of a $3.5-million renaissance in downtown Ventura get a generally warm reception from residents and merchants.

Passersby and merchants reacted with nearly equal measures of relief and enthusiasm early Monday as workers began planting more than two dozen 20-foot palm trees on California Street between Santa Clara Street and Ventura City Hall.

On the one hand, they said, it’s nice to have the naked street repopulated with something green and growing. On the other, they liked those old ficus trees that were uprooted as part of the city’s $3.5-million downtown renaissance.

“Everything’s going very well,” said day supervisor Rick Fierro of Berry General Engineering Contractors Inc. “We’re right on schedule, and (the entire project) should be done by mid-July.”

In addition to California Street, Fierro’s crew was planting trees along Main Street between California and Palm streets. By 6 p.m., both sides of Main Street were lined with the spiky foliage sporting somewhat meager fronds. The east side of California Street had one side repopulated.

Some trees already had been planted along Main Street between Fir and Chestnut streets, but those put in Monday stood at the center of the downtown renovation, where motorists leaving the freeway get their first glimpse of downtown.

“People will really notice it,” Ventura Mayor Tom Buford said. “Sometimes it’ll be a little difficult to look back at those tough times (when the trees were gone), but I think everyone will be really pleased with it.”

The revitalization effort, undertaken by city officials hoping to boost downtown Ventura’s sagging business revenues, will boast broader sidewalks, antiqued street lamps and the somewhat controversial queen palm trees and their shorter, bushier relatives, the honey locust.

“I love the street lamps,” said Ed Lee, co-owner of Lindsay Insurance Agency on California Street, who is anxiously awaiting the planting of a honey locust just outside his door. “They’re great. It’s turning out real nicely. And when the palm trees get bigger, it’ll look even better.”

Echoing other merchants’ complaints that the old trees were too busy and reduced their stores’ visibility, Bertha Ormachea said the new trees would be good for business.

“It will make a difference,” said Ormachea, co-owner of The Peruvian Bead Co. at Main and California streets. “People can see us better, but I loved the other trees.”

Fierro said his firm has finished replacing about half of the Main Street sidewalks in the renaissance zone, as well as those along the length of California Street. All are being widened from 10 to 13 feet.

But even with all the new upscale accouterments, such as sidewalk dining, some county residents were skeptical about their ability to pry open tourists’ wallets.

“I don’t think it’ll really matter,” said 18-year-old Keri Noblitt of Somis, who described herself as a constant visitor to downtown. “It just looks more like Santa Barbara, and now people can walk in the sun. That’s a plus, I suppose.”

As Buford strolled through downtown this morning on his way to work, passersby already were taking note of the transformation, he said. “I’m getting a lot of comments from people appreciating the . . . work.”