Students, Biz Group Brainstorm Del Mar Alley Upgrades

The Downtown Business Association commissioned a San Clemente resident and Cal Poly Pomona Architecture Professor to brainstorm with his students new features to make the alleyways off Avenida Del Mar more attractive and pedestrian friendly.

Prof. George Proctor presented his students renderings -- based on photos of the alleys and paseos -- at a DBA meeting Wednesday evening.

"These are broad-brush, conceptual ideas," said Downtown Business Association head Michael Kaupp.

(See the attached photo slideshow for "before" photos and "after" renderings showcasing some of the students' ideas.)

Some proposed improvements included overhead trellises, pocket parks, patios, water features and plenty of landscape plantings. Many ideas hearkened to the thoughtfully finished alleyways in downtown Laguna Beach.

At that meeting, Kaupp pointed out that synchronizing the projects would save time and money if the improvements were ready while the pavement was already torn up.

Proctor said Wednesday he was assembling the ideas he presented, along with other renderings, to present formally to the San Clemente City Council in furtherance of the proposed master alley plan.