Project Overview
Construction of the first phase of the Grand Vision Plan is complete. Phase II is currently in the engineering design phase and design will be completed by the end of 2023. Construction of Phase II will occur in early 2024.
This page is continuously updated with the latest information from the City. The first project concept meetings began in 2015. Learn more about the visioning and planning process for the project here.
Phase I project renovation benefits include:
- New string lighting (known as festoon lighting) from Maple Street to Kalmia Street.
- New light posts on both sides of Grand Avenue from Maple Street to Kalmia Street.
- Sidewalk widening on the north side of Grand Avenue from Maple Street to Broadway.
- Improved parking: re-striping to include diagonal parking which will increase the number of parking spots from Escondido Boulevard to Juniper Street.
- Pavement resurfacing and re-striping on Grand Avenue from Escondido Boulevard to Juniper Street.
Phase II project renovation benefits include:
- Sidewalk widening on the both sides of Grand Avenue from Maple Street to Juniper Street.
- A traffic circle at Grand and Broadway
- Permanent improvements to support outdoor dining and diagonal parking
Phase II Survey - The plans are finalized, but the City is seeking your feedback and preferences on some of the details that are still being worked out.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is on-street dining back?
Grand Avenue businesses are continuing to operate in dining areas directly in front of their stores and neighboring storefronts with the permission of neighboring businesses. These businesses are required to have a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) which will expire when Phase II construction begins.
When will construction begin and end?
Phase 1 construction began on January 10, 2022, and ended in April 2022. The timing Phase 2 construction will be determined during design.
What areas are going to be impacted by the construction?
New street lights with festoon (string) lighting were installed on both sides of Grand Avenue from Maple Street to Kalmia Street. Sidewalk was widened on the north side of Grand Avenue from Maple Street to Broadway by about five feet. Pavement resurfacing and re-striping occurred on Grand Avenue from Escondido Boulevard to Juniper Street. Phase II will expand sidewalk on Grand Avenue from Maple Street to Juniper Street and install a traffic circle at Broadway and Grand.
What is being installed or modified?
The project permanently narrowed Grand Avenue to one lane in each direction from Escondido Boulevard to Juniper Street, widened the sidewalk on the north side of Grand Ave from Broadway to Maple Street by five feet, added diagonal parking to create a net total of 45 more parking spaces, and installed new light fixtures and overhead string lighting. Phase II will expand sidewalk on Grand Avenue from Maple Street to Juniper Street and install a traffic circle at Grand and Broadway.
What if I want to keep my outdoor setup permanently?
The sidewalk on the north side of Grand Avenue between Maple Street and Broadway was widened and concrete barriers will not be returned at this location as they will no longer be required for outdoor dining. Phase II will widen sidewalks on both sides of Grand Avenue from Maple Street to Juniper Street. In the interim, businesses may continue on street activities with a new Temporary Use Permit (TUP) which will expire when the next phase of construction begins in January 2023.
What will happen to the existing light posts?
Old light posts from the project area will be salvaged. New light fixtures were installed at the top of 22-foot-tall light poles along with festoon (string) lighting which will cross over the street.
Visit the Grand Ave Vision Project FAQ to read more. Email your questions to business@escondido.org.
What's Next? Phase II Planned for 2023.
City Council approved $5M in funding for Phase II on September 29, 2021.
The City engineering team met with businesses in January 2022 to discuss Phase II. For those businesses and building owners who did not attend, we captured your feedback through a short survey about the future design of Phase II.
Phase II is planned to widen both sides of Grand from Maple to Juniper and engineering design has begun.
- Engineering Design late 2022 - mid - 2023
- Construction timing to be determined
Additional Business Resources
Learn more about business resources, including state and federal programs here.