Dozen Distinctive Destinations
San Luis Obispo, CA
Year Listed: 2000
San Luis Obispo, California, is a spectacularly beautiful community, burrowed in the emerald hills slightly inland from the state’s Pacific Coast. It was founded in the mid-1700's around the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, along the historic El Camino Real, or trail, blazed by Father Junipero Serra. During the 1950's, San Luis Obispo experienced its share of suburban sprawl within its geographically defined borders. The first mall was built just a few miles from downtown, and in the 1970's, another mall was added. Even combined, the two shopping centers at first posed little threat to the city’s downtown.
Unfortunately, however, downtown San Luis Obispo was soon suffering from the blight of run-down buildings, car cruising, and a dearth of parking. City leaders and planners took the reins and developed downtown design guidelines, spelling out improvements for the streetscapes, façade restorations, sidewalk paving, public art, sign systems, architectural regulations, and lighting. Today, the San Luis Obispo program has become a showcase for downtown revitalization, with beautiful streetscapes and storefronts, a strong economic base, more than 300 retailers and restaurants, and solid relationships with other community agencies. The Downtown Centre, a well-designed complex of shops, restaurants, and theaters, now occupies an entire block in the heart of downtown and features nationally recognized stores as well as a variety of smaller shops. With a piazza-style setting, the Centre has become a gathering place for local residents and a starting point for visiting guests. The Centre’s appeal and energy have also raised the standard for other businesses in the area, which now keep later hours, clean their sidewalks, and offer creative window and storefront displays.
The community’s farmers market, established in 1983, enjoys year-round success for both farmers and customers alike. Held every Thursday night, the market features 150 vendors and boasts a weekly attendance of 15,000. It has also inspired downtown stores and restaurants to remain open later on Thursdays to take advantage of the visitor influx. San Luis Obispo is thriving today as a community and a travel destination because its residents cared about their city’s character, their rich cultural and architectural heritage, and the livelihood of their central business district. The National Trust for Historic Preservation honored San Luis Obispo with one of its five 1999 Great American Main Street Awards, which recognize the nation’s best efforts in Main Street revitalization through historic preservation.
