Architects Charles Kahn and Greg Tung speak to the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association

(L to R) Carlos Babcock WGNA VP, Charles
Kahn, WGTS Architect, Kevin Swanson
WGBA past pres., &
David Dearborn WGNA Treasurer

Last night, the two principals involved with the Willow Glen Town Square, Charles Kahn and Gregory Tung came to speak to the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association about how bring life to a classic business districts such as Willow Glen. Charles Kahn's firm also designed the Bikestation Building in Berkeley, CA.

Charles Kahn's (Kahn Design Associates) gateway building located at the corners of Willow and Lincoln in Willow Glen has redefined private space used as the public square with the return of the meeting place in front of Willow Glen Creamery. The newest addition to the avenue will include 1 existing restaurant (Willow Street Pizza), and three new restaurants; Crepevine, Willow Glen Cremery, and the re-opening of the historic Lou's Village. This coincides with the recent grand opening of The Table,  Executive Chef Jim Stumps newsest addition to the culinary scene.

The new plaza at Willow and
Lincoln in Willow Glen.

Gregory Tung of Freedman Tung + Sasaki has already made a local name for himself and his firm with projects such as the downtowns of Mountain View, Livermore, and Redwood City. Last night Charles and Greg spoke about how to expand the human space at the street level. With most of the ground or street level being used to move cars, pedestrians are also designed into commercial district as a second thought. By extending sidewalk pavement textures and colors out into the street parking zone and moving street trees out as well it not only provides a physical buffer but a psychological buffer as well. By moving trees out into the street, drivers now drive more carefully as they experience a narrowing of the roadway.

Mr. Kahn also talked about an early design feature that they have incorporated into their work. Known as Flexible Space, or flex space it is now used in San Francisco under the name of parklets. By merging the interior private space with the exterior public space you encourage a more vibrant commercial life, or what James Howard Kunstler calls a "permeable membrane" (5:25).

The use of trellises to define space.

In the case of the city of Livermore, that private space seems to extend into the street with addition of trellises and street trees. The additional of bulbouts (or curb extensions) helps elderly pedestrians as well as slowing traffic.

The community came out to thank Charles Kahn for reinvigorating downtown as a modern, viable traditional shopping are. Thanks Charles and Gregory.

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Watch this excellent 10 minute video to see how downtown Livermore reinvigorated their downtown, while remembering their history.