Arcade Plaza Draft Guidelines Revealed

The city has unveiled draft architectural guidelines for buildings behind the downtown arcade, part of a larger city plan to draw more tourists to the rear of the shopping area.

The guidelines, which city officials and San Luis Obispo-based RRM Design Group have been working on for a year, complement a $2.5-million city project planned over the next two years to renovate the Arcade Plaza, public areas behind the Arcade.

The plaza project includes more trees and walkways and public art in the one-block area south of Matilija Street between Signal Street to the west and Montgomery Street to the east. There are 50 to 60 businesses in the block, said Kathleen McCann, city redevelopment analyst.

The guidelines would carry that improvement theme over to the buildings behind the Arcade, showing building owners considering renovations the facade examples that would maintain the Arcade’s mission revival architectural style.

McCann said public reaction to the guidelines at Tuesday’s meeting was positive, with a few minor suggestions that property owners keep rooftop antennas out of sight from the street.

The project goes back to RRM Design Group to incorporate suggestions from Tuesday’s meeting and will be reviewed at a later public workshop, she said.

City officials are also considering a loan or grant program for property owners who want to improve buildings behind the Arcade, McCann said, but those plans are in a preliminary stage. The city might also eventually extend the guidelines to cover buildings on the north side of Matilija Street, she said.