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Is San Luis Obispo’s downtown losing its allure?

January 27, 2022

By KAREN VELIE

For years, travel writers have produced glowing reviews of San Luis Obispo’s downtown, at times referred to as the best downtown in the country. But that was before reduced parking, roadway reconfigurations and store closures.

A recent San Francisco Chronicle article titled, “Anything’s better than empty: This store in a struggling California downtown is managing to thrive,” paints a picture of a decaying downtown where businesses struggle to stay open. The article touts the ability of Boo Boo Records to thrive while the downtown decays.

“Over the past decade, businesses in San Luis Obispo have struggled to stay afloat, resulting in long-time local retailers and restaurants — many beloved for generations — shuttering, one after the next,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle article. “The onset of industrial decay is set off by nearby Bishop Peak, towering and green — courtesy of the late-December rain.”

The CEO of Downtown SLO, Bettina Swigger, disagrees with the article noting that 28 new businesses opened in the downtown in 2021.

“The downtown is vibrant,” Swigger said. “I do not agree with the article, that the downtown is in decline.”


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Downtown Bend, Oregon is what SLO Downtown use to be. Hope those in power in Bend take head – it is important to continually monitor how things are going or they too will loose the charm slo once had.


44

Bend is a yuppie ski town that has a compelling reason to keep out the riff-raff


2

Governments don’t decide who rents/buys or who/what has charm, its capitalism.


-3

This has all happened since January last year, what else would we expect? You can’t be “gaslighted” for to long, either you wake up or die, and downtown is dying!


41

Let’s see, parking is a fortune, beggars are everywhere, gas is 5 bucks a gallon, I’d rather stay home.


76

I was just downtown, parked for free and not a single beggar as I passed by.


-16

SF Chronicle said another way…ignore the piss on our own streets, but please look at the doo doo down there.

They write the book, then throw it at you I guess.


55

I’ve refused to spend a penny there since 1992. I spend my funds in friendly and respectful communities. SLO city falls way short of that.


50

Anyone who has tried to do business downtown knows Slo city could care less about small business. They love bike lanes and fecal matter from the camping crew. It’s just a traffic slow down for those of us who actually work and live in this county. Maybe they can build some more bike lanes?


130

Heidi Harmon, Tianna Arata, and the protests were the beginning of the end for downtown SLO.


Intimidating diners (anyone remember the ‘F%$# your comfort” chants to customers?), extorting businesses and breaking car windows on toddlers don’t exactly give tourists a sense of security.


Mix in the increasing number of agressive homeless and uptick in crime and you have a few reasons why I and quite a number of my friends and relatives avoid downtown. I feel badly for the merchants.


88

100%. Who wants to window shop and stroll with a coffee in hand while walking through pot clouds and be panhandled and yelled at? No one is comfortable just walking around anymore. And yes, I think I’m speaking for a vast majority.


55

“I’m speaking for a vast majority.”


No, you only speak for yourself hidden behind a made-up name. To think you do is a grandiose delusion.


-21

Ok, well, on the next page, your own post echoed my comments and original post which would lead me to believe that when I say “I think I speak for the vast majority”, meaning most people agree, includes you, because you just posted the same points I made.

And if you’re going to quote someone, please use the whole sentence.


0

Downtown slo l has lost its charm. The change in esthetics ruined the charming atmosphere. The new architecture is cold and depressing. Everyone is now going to Paso where things are happening. Slo has been attracting an unsavory crowd just look around at the Thursday Farmers Market. The cool people are up in North County.


62

Funny, the changes to the looks don’t bother me, it’s the people everywhere sleeping on it.


29

When SLO tried to become Santa Barbara they lost their soul.


164

Bingo


41
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