A Civic Center Without an Orchard?

It was billed as a last opportunity for input before the city survey goes out and the City Council decides whether to go ahead and schedule a $65 million bond election.

About 30 residents attended the informational session in Grant Park about Los Altos' proposed "Community Center Master Plan," something that residents more often refer to as "the civic center." 

Los Altos City Hall is bursting at the seams, the Senior Center is "disgraceful," and the police station needs to be closer to San Antonio Road, Lou Becker, a former city council member conducting the session, said.

There were some concerns about the two-story building planned, questions about the interest rate and term, and whether using a mail-in ballot for a vote in August, two months before the November, was unhelpful to voters who might want to consider how many other bond measures were in the offing.

What really aroused passion among several residents, however, was the loss of apricot orchard.

The two spots marked "M" on the plan layout denoted orchard. But a small knot at the northeast corner and another cluster by the history museum is hardly an orchard, some said. One unidentified woman, who said she had lived in Los Altos since 1954, compared the new city "orchard" more bleakly to a "family plot." 

"I feel so sad about the orchard being pulled out," said resident Linda Brinsfield, who grew up in the neighborhood.

"People hear that the orchard is being saved but they don't realize it's a little corner in the back."

There was value placed on having a pool, a theater, a senior center, but Brinsfield said she feared that planners had overlooked the orchard itself as an element with value. It brings tangible value to residents, she said. As the blossoms came out earlier, she said she watched a toddler hug an apricot tree as a family frolicked in sheer enjoyment among the civic center trees. 

For more information, see www.losaltoscommunitycenter.org or contact James Walgren, at (650) 947-2635, JWalgren@losaltosca.gov