$6 MILLION RENOVATION OLD TOWN CAMARILLO GUSSIES UP.Byline: David Greenberg The creator of this article, or someone who has substantially contributed to it, may have a conflict of interest regarding its subject matter. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Staff Writer CAMARILLO - A $6 million face lift to Old Town Camarillo has shop and restaurant owners restaurant owner n → dueño/a or propietario/a de un restaurante hoping motorists speeding by on the Ventura Freeway The Ventura Freeway is a freeway in southern California running from Ventura to Pasadena. It is the principal east-west route through Ventura County and in the southern San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County. will now detour into the more pedestrian-friendly business district. The pre-World War II business mecca, which fell prey in recent years to the boom in nearby retail and outlet malls An outlet mall (or outlet centre) is a type of shopping mall, in which manufacturers sell their products directly to the public through their own branded stores. Clothing, sporting goods, electrical products, cosmetics, and toys are among the types of items sold at outlet , has narrowed its street and widened its sidewalks to place a focus on outdoor dining and increased foot traffic. ``It will make it a more viable commercial area,'' said Tony Boden, the city's community development director. ``It's far more aesthetically pleasing and will create a lot of charm and character. ``We recognize that old Ventura Boulevard Ventura Boulevard is one of the primary east-west thouroughfares in the San Fernando Valley; as it was originally a part of the El Camino Real (the trail between Spanish missions), Ventura Boulevard is the oldest route in the San Fernando Valley. It was also U.S. is an area worthy of preservation. There's a lot of (local) competition for retail. This is going to help put them on an even plain.'' Although another $500,000 to $1 million in city redevelopment money will be pumped into the restoration, planners anxious to show off the area's new look have invited the public to attend a celebration Sunday, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Most relieved will be the shopkeepers who, since last September, have endured the noise and backed-up traffic as construction workers labored to breathe new life into the two-mile stretch of the boulevard. But for Kevin Nunn, manager of the 51-year-old Camarillo Plumbing & Paint store, the inconveniences are a small price to pay for an economically thriving district. ``It will return it to one of the major attractions,'' he said. ``The outlet malls are more of your corporate stores while the boulevard is more of your mom-and-pop stores. There's a friendlier atmosphere on the boulevard. And now it's more user-friendly. ``The investment the city has made will definitely pay off,'' he said. Changes include transforming the four-lane strip of road to two lanes with a center divider divider See European currency quotation. , allowing for more sidewalk space; restoring 22 building facades; and installing a 27-foot-high, four-sided clock tower with chimes. Decorative street lights, signs and statues of actors and former Camarillo residents Walter Brennan Walter Brennan (July 25 1894 – September 21 1974) was a three-time Academy Award winning American actor. He is remembered as one of the premier character actors in motion picture history. and Joel McCrea - to be dedicated Sunday - have also been installed. The last phase of the project, including more aesthetic improvements and creation of 150 additional parking spaces, will go out to bid next summer. The project ties in with plans by the state Department of Transportation to replace the Arneill Road freeway overpass and the addition of on- and off-ramps on both sides of the freeway just west of the Lewis Road exit. During Sunday's celebration, Camarillo officials will place two time capsules - containing old and current newspapers, the city's flag, civic organization yearbooks and other artifacts artifacts see specimen artifacts. - in the pedestal pedestal In Classical architecture, a support or base for a column, statue, vase, or obelisk. It may be square, octagonal, or circular. A single pedestal may also support a group of columns, or colonnade (see podium). of the clock tower, to be opened July 4, 2050. Adolfo Camarillo Day will be observed Sunday, Oct. 29, the 136th anniversary of the birthday of the city's founder. A statue of Camarillo will be dedicated at 2 p.m. in Dizdar Park. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Enrique Perez works Thursday to finish the new, wider sidewalk installed along Ventura Boulevard in Old Town Camarillo. (2 -- color) Pedestrians check out shops in Camarillo's renovated Old Town, three days before its grand opening set for Sunday. Michael Owen
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