There is a lot in motion at the Promenade, with many steps forward and sometimes a few back.  The steps forward include the:

• Delivery and placement of much of the decomposed granite (DG) sections;
• Planting of the 48” box Eucalyptus polyanthemos (Silver Dollar Gum);
• Bollard installation near Coast Highway;
• Fountain / art pedestal has been poured and is plumbed;
• Irrigation mainlines are in and connected to the water system; and
• Speaker/lighting poles have been stood up and the electrical conduits are in place (along with cabling that will support lighting across the middle).

And the brickwork is going in.  But it’s going in slowly.  The design is pretty complex – a herringbone pattern where the tumbled bricks lay vertically on their sides.  The crews struggled a bit for a while with it, and parts of the laydown were skewed.  Argh.  So they had to remove this section and re-do it.

This week, we had to lift out (they were still boxed) some of the smaller Eucalyptus polyanthemos because the arborist was concerned about their survivability and health – we’ll return these and look for other trees of the same species and similar size. We are also considering two 24” box Eucalyptus spathulata, which are known to do better in saline environments.  We’re monitoring closely the Quercus virginiana nearest Tuvalu (it was evaluated by the arborist today), as its leaf drop has been more significant than the other one near the center of the Promenade.  But it’s being watered well and should hold its own.  The two Oaks will be planted in place when a new special soil arrives in the coming days.  Irrigation is operative at the tree wells.

The upcoming week will see more bricklaying, including the rest of the central area which has a cement base now. Evenings/nights will see paving of the areas in front of the stores and restaurants with thinner brick pavers (in the same herringbone pattern).  More DG will come in, and more plants.   Street furniture has begun to arrive and is being stored at the CRC. Additional furniture will continue to arrive over the next 2 weeks.  Speakers and the string lights will be attached to the poles and will be powered up.  We also expect delivery of the “Kelp Forest” sculpture to be placed on the fountain base.

We are still gunning for opening up of much of the site to the public and removing much of the fencing before July 3, but a couple of things might make us leave some areas protected with low snow-fencing.  The western brick area, and the location where Forest meets Glenneyre will be among the last sections to be completed (this site includes the large sycamore).

There is light at the end of the tunnel.  It could still be a train, but we’re all working to have it just be a light.  I so appreciate everyone’s patience, as well as the hard work of the contractor, Sara Bekr the construction manager, Jorge the lead inspector, Katrina our project arborist, and our Public Works team led by Tom Perez.