Apricot Annie to the Rescue of Downtown Los Altos (Hopefully)

Can a perky character like Apricot Annie help resuscitate a downtown afflicted with seemingly endless construction—and more on the way?

"She's very cute," Nancy Dunaway, executive director of the Los Altos Village Association, said approvingly.

Meet the all-new smiley face—Los Altos style—conceived during a painful time of torn-up streets and "road closed" signs to help shoppers navigate downtown and let them know their business is appreciated, again and again.

Los Altos is rolling out new signage this week to prepare people for more disruption along First Street. Now, along with the big, orange   Caltrans signs that tell you where you can't go, Apricot Annie signs are supposed to direct shoppers to the routes, parking and pedestrian pathways that make sense.

Dunaway had publicly pressed the city during a June 21 council meeting to do more than tell visitors of street closures, ever since a series of projects began last October. The same month, merchants spoke up, some tearfully, when the contract for another project was approved, meaning more months of street construction. Some feared they wouldn't be in business when the dust finally settled.

They said customers were starting to avoid downtown, which seemed to bristle with signs announcing an ever-changing set of road closures, new sidewalks taped off, restaurants blocked off.

"For people who were driving, knowing how you access Main Street from State Street, or with Third Street closed?" Dunaway said. "It wasn't clear. You could cross here, then have to go back a block later. We heard a lot from the community."

Add to Apricot Annie a brand-spanking-new website, First Street Los Altos, a First Street Project Facebook page, a Twitter account (@firststreetla) and the city's secret weapon—the friendly, helpful persona of Recreation Director Bev Tucker.

Tucker, whose minor in college was public relations, was suddenly diverted from the world of LEGO camps and free summer concerts to act as the project information manager for all things First Street.

Why? If you thought the four-month-long intersection beautification was tough, you ain't seen nothing yet.

The city is installing new storm drains, disabled access, street lighting, traffic signals, crosswalks, wider sidewalks, streetscape furnishings and landscaping.

Tucker's job is to make sure everyone knows what's happening and try to help solve merchants' problems, she said. The website, which Tucker set up along with the Twitter account, will have frequent updates.

There is a construction update at the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce, for example, every Thursday at 3 p.m., which anyone can attend, and a written report available on the website.

Tucker plans to spend a lot of time on the downtown, talking to merchants and trying to be responsive, even when it's not part of the project. She recently got an old Valley Transportation Authority trash can removed from the front of Maria's Antiques that the transit agency no longer maintains.

Dunaway is optimistic. And she thinks Tucker "will be dynamite," bringing hands-on attention to people's concerns that weren't being addressed well before.

"We were wanting to engage people and to help them feel less frustrated," Dunaway said. "We wanted something that would psychologically feel good. We recognize you're here, and we appreciate that."