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Showing posts from August 14, 2014

Interviews With Plaza-Adjacent Business Owners, Sunset Triangle Plaza

I wanted to do some research on the impact of plaza projects on fronting business owners, so I went to Silverlake's Sunset Triangle Plaza and interviewed Julie Choe, owner of Mornings Nights Cafe, Vivian Ku of the restaurant Pine and Crane, and Genelle LeVin of Silverlake Improvement Association. Choe, who has owned her cafe for about ten years, said that once the plaza was installed, the street was safer and her business' profits went up by 20%. Ku and LeVin also described positive experiences with the plaza. "At this point, this place has become a destination spot, so we're just getting busier and busier," Choe said. Choe said many local business owners were hesitant at first, but decided to participate in the People St program, converting their street to pedestrians only on a temporary basis, to see how things would work out. A year later, they were convinced. "Regardless of financial reasons, this was good for the neighborhood, for the community