Oak View Energy
Wow! What a great conversation about possibilities for the Dahl's Market in Oak View. I'm hearing through the grapevine that the new owners are in conversations with potential new tenants for a new market there, and will happily share any updates I get on what's happening when I hear anything certain. (And of course welcome anyone else who might know with certainty before I do to share concrete news -- I'm not in the "inner sanctum" of grocery conversations locally, just trying to...er....foment!) :-)
But, the interest in all of this leads me to my next question..
Downtown Oak View is, by all accounts, rode hard and put away wet right at the moment, in spite of ongoing efforts to increase its curb appeal. How can we all help to change that?
A couple of thoughts:
1. March 18, 6:30 PM An open meeting on the beautification of Oak View at the Oak View Park and Resource Center on Mahoney Avenue. Please go if you can!
2. There are a number of empty storefronts in town. What else would make sense in Oak View's downtown? What other businesses are missing? What would help to keep our community buying local by providing the goods/services/doodads/necessaries here that would allow us to buy them from local merchants? What would you like to see in town?
3. Is there a way to think about a unifying sense of identity/design for Oak View's downtown? Ojai has gone the way of Spanish Revival...I keep thinking that a more rustic sense of aesthetics for Oak View would make sense, both because of its history and as a way to differentiate it from Ojai...for example, one of my fantasies has been a wooden Western style facade on the Dahl's strip, with a covered walkway and wood planking as the surface...fun, a little silly, but a way to break up all of that concrete and asphalt. Anybody have any wishful thinking about how to build a little unification here...not to Disney-fy, but to imagine amplifying Oak View's sense of identity through its downtown...???
4. I love Dennis' idea of the "Bring the Oaks Back to Oak View" movement...
Any thoughts?
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Comments (4)
Leigh, First off, I am sooo glad you're in my neighborhood, you're on my side, because woman you know how to make it happen. Thank you for your dedication to this community. Now that I am aware of this meeting on the 18th, we will try and make it. I love your idea about the rustic facelift. I couldn't agree more, I think a little stagecoachy, old west style would be perfect for this small town. But more important than the "beautification" is the conservation of energy that is possible if they rebuild that plaza. I think the goal the we should be focusing on, is how to rebuild that plaza in a green manner. Solar panels would be a start. Both Ventura and Ojai have their own green initiatives. If there's anything being built in OV we could hold it to the highest green standard and further our counties green initiative.
Comment #1 Posted by: Katie Kosmala | March 6, 2008 06:15 AM
I love this conversation.
It's exciting and makes me proud to be an Oak Viewan.
No more will I say I live in "upper" Oak View or "lower" Ojai.
One day I will stand tall and proud and say I live in the great (and beautiful) little town of "OAK VIEW"!
Comment #2 Posted by: El Anonimo | March 6, 2008 06:33 AM
Hi Leigh,
Good on ya! Great brainstorming!
Another idea is to adorn the shops, homes, lamp-posts, etc .with flowers, window boxes and other greenery. I have seen many seemingly plain, ugly and “dead” villages in Europe instantly take on a wonderfully vibrant, quaint and welcoming vibe with these simple and inexpensive touches. All it would take would be a few dedicated people to coordinate, the willingness of shop / home owners, and the permission (I would assume) to hang / mount on public property. And of course – maintenance. But a big cheery bang for the buck, in my opinion.
Just my two cents…
Comment #3 Posted by: LTOR | March 6, 2008 07:24 AM
Oh, all excellent ideas, you all! Keep 'em coming!
Thanks and best,
Leigh
Comment #4 Posted by: Leigh | March 6, 2008 08:35 AM