A group of Boulder residents has started collecting signatures for a 2025 ballot measure that would close two blocks of West Pearl Street to most vehicles, reviving a pandemic-era street closure that made space for outdoor dining.
The move is expected to reignite debate over how to balance efforts to create pedestrian-friendly spaces with business interests, pitting transportation advocates against some business owners who want to keep that section of Pearl Street open to cars and parking. Opponents argue that lost parking during the previous closure hurt business.
The ballot measure calls for creating a “community space” on Pearl Street between 9th and 11th Streets by closing it to private vehicular traffic. Commercial and emergency vehicles would still be permitted. The measure does not specify whether the HOP bus could continue running on the stretch.
Proponents say they want to recreate the street’s atmosphere during the Covid-19 pandemic, when businesses set up patios in the road and pedestrians roamed freely. The measure calls for supporting “public use, outdoor dining, and street activations including art installations, green spaces, and community activities.”
“It felt a little more free-form, a little less programmed,” Kurt Nordback, a member of the city’s Planning Board who is chairing the Pearl For You campaign, told Boulder Reporting Lab, referring to the pandemic-era closure. “We feel that it will be great as an active, interesting urban space that will be attractive to tourists and very much attractive to locals.”
Lisa Snow, a Pearl For You committee member, said she envisions a vibrant, informal area where people can experience downtown’s energy without being confined to a narrow sidewalk.
“As the mother of a toddler, I’m energized by the idea of creating a public space where my daughter can safely explore and engage with the community, free from the constant threat of vehicles,” Snow said in a news release.
The Covid closure was ordered in May 2020 to help restaurants serve food and alcohol outside when indoor dining was restricted, part of a nationwide trend of closing streets to traffic. But in 2022, city officials reopened the street, citing concerns from struggling businesses and the need to restore the HOP bus route.
The decision to reopen the street faced pushback from some residents who wanted the closure to be permanent. A city questionnaire in January 2023 found 86% of nearly 1,800 respondents said closing the blocks had improved the “overall appeal” of West Pearl. The city’s Transportation Advisory Board also formally opposed reopening the street to cars. Alex Weinheimer, former chair of the Transportation Advisory Board, is serving as treasurer of the Pearl For You campaign.
“We feel that pedestrianizing it is not just good policy — we feel like it’s good democracy,” Nordback said. “We feel like that is really important with all the chaos and frustration at the federal level. It’s a way for people to take control of something that we do have power over and really assert our democracy locally.”
Some business owners are expected to oppose the plan, though no formal opposition campaign has been filed.
“The reason this is such an important issue is because it really affects my livelihood and my family’s well-being,” Edwin Zoe, owner of Zoe Ma Ma and Dragonfly Noodle, told Boulder Reporting Lab. “We already tried this and it failed.”
Zoe said many remember West Pearl Street bustling on nice-weather Saturday afternoons during the closure, but he recalls Friday nights when the street was desolate. And if the street closes again, he said, revitalizing the area will likely require construction, further impacting business.
Justin Hartman, CEO and founder of OZO Coffee, said that during the closure, OZO’s East Pearl Street location outperformed the one on West Pearl. Since reopening to cars, the trend has reversed, he said, with the West Pearl shop now seeing stronger business. He said many of his customers are over 50 and prefer to drive to the coffee shop. If the street closes, he said many will take their business to the 29th Street Mall instead.
“I would never have agreed to open a shop on the walking mall,” Hartman told Boulder Reporting Lab. “You’re changing the playing field on us halfway through the game. And we all have millions of dollars invested in this.”
To qualify for the 2025 ballot, the campaign must collect 3,401 signatures from Boulder voters by May 28, according to a city official.
This is the first ballot measure campaign to register with the city ahead of the 2025 election. If it makes the ballot, it could shape the debate in this year’s Boulder City Council race, where four seats are up for grabs.
If were going to have the Boulder Progressives running our lives, it would be nice to get some of the bennies, like fun pedi street closures. Maybe weekends only? I’m all for it, but how about actually making 14th Street an actual bike lane closure, rather than the cluster it is now. How about closing East Pearl as well, business spaces on the blocks between 17th and 19th are mostly empty and a jolt of energy is needed to these blocks.
Would it be possible to share a link to the ballot in the article so we can review it?
Hi Vaishali,
We avoid linking to ballot measure petitions to prevent the appearance of political bias and to maintain some neutrality.
John
I know several businesses in Denver that have run across the same issue-it WILL HURT businesses because of the parking issues. Not everyone who visits the downtown lives blocks away where ease of walking is available. Most people need to drive in and the garages are generally full or close to capacity the majority of time. Also, keep in mind that the weather is not always walking weather in CO and being able to drive and be closer to a specific store/restaurant is essential especially if handicapped, elderly or with children etc… keep the streets available for parking and stop forcing agendas that only help a few and not the majority.
Sounds like Cris Jones, the DBP, and pro-biz lobby are working hard to smear this grassroots campaign already; however given the advocates involved, I have faith the signatories and subsequent voters will recognize this astroturf activism effort and see the tangible benefits to area already predominantly a walking mall
I also got a laugh from the OZO CEO, especially the tenuous sports metaphor and how as a man-of-the-people is certain his feeble customers really need that (paid) parking to get their coffee. I further did not appreciate the conflating the broader trends with Pearl Street in terms of visitation/revenue/draw, to whether or a not these few blocks are closed to cars. The problems of Pearl, in fact, are far far bigger and the Boulder Weekly has been covering this lately. Its more about the glut of empty commercial spaces (conspired to stay empty to preserve a tax write-off), a reduction in downtown workers now, dwindling attraction of this area to locals (in favor of boom-bust shopping tourism), unsustainably-high rents, and the resulting steady churn of long-time stores/restaurants that have been bankrupted….a credit to the consequence of such monopolistic real estate ownership among our public retail district.
Linda, Haven’t you heard? We don’t need cars anymore! Check out the Planning Board last night, which is in the process of denying the application of 1855 Flatiron Court, a commercial 3 bldg complex w/ bike trails and beautiful landscape amenities because it is ringed with modest aesthetic parking. (Facetious). I don’t want it because of sprawl. We can’t even agree why to say no!
Love this! I signed as soon as I read your article!
I have lived in Boulder for 51 years and have supported downtown since before the Pearl Street Mall was built. A lot of consideration went into the original planning, for access, maintenance and design. Over the now, almost 50 years, that the Mall has been in existence, many businesses have opened in the historic buildings of the West End. They have limited space for their kitchens at the rear and nicely designed patron areas. Covid pandemic era arrangements were emergency accommodations to the only alternative of closing completely. The reason people used the outdoor spaces then, is that there was no other option. For those of us who have been long time customers of many of those businesses, it was a relief to have their interior space back. We enjoy the internal ambience, the protection from the elements, and the wonderful food served directly from the kitchen.
Accessibility is important to many of us. The Hop bus is a treasure to access downtown for those of us who cannot drive. Having it on these blocks, also allows workers to get to all Mall business very efficiently. In the past, I often drove some handicapped friends to the Mall, and those dedicated spaces, close enough to the central part of the Mall, was important. How far away will they have to be if those blocks are closed? How far away will the Hop have to be rerouted? I see handicapped riders on the Hop. Does accessibility mean anything to the people requesting this closure?
I feel that this street closure proposal will prevent people from coming and will not increase the customer base. Is Boulder in a position right now to not only spend money to build this, but to take a loss in sales tax revenues that fulfill our city budget needs? I think not. This earlier model was a stop gap to complete failures of the pandemic and it would not be worth repeating. Keep the West End open.
Hello, I want to be sure everyone hears from the businesses on Pearl. I work at a business on Pearl Street, and I strongly disagree with this initiative. I encourage everyone on this committee who loves and cares about West Pearl (really all of Pearl) to talk with the business owners about the destructive effect of street closure on their businesses.I read the article on the Boulder Reporting Lab. If you would like to help Pearl Street, please visit the existing pedestrian mall as well as the East and West End now. Downtown loves and needs the locals! You don’t need to close off more of the mall to take advantage of pedestrian-friendly spaces. Downtown and the city did a great job allowing extended patios as a happy medium. This initiative will surely make it more difficult for local favorites to survive. For the businesses on Pearl this hurts and adds to the chaos you mention that you’re feeling. It feels like another whim we now have to fight. Thank you for reading this and considering the shops and restauranteur experiences during the original closure.
Thanks Heather. I totally agree. I love to go to Pearl and I, as well as others. need the Hop actually “ON” Pearl along the well designed loop around the bricked blocks. Example tonight, Walnut was totally blocked in front of the St Julien. If the bus was to be moved there to the street which was fairly vacant during the pandemic, it would freeze the Hop, the most user friendly transit line in the city.
Just Google “pearl for you” if you want to sign the petition!
All these businesses whining so much about everything lately.
Who’s the customer? Us or them?!?!?
Absurd. I’m keeping a total of everyone complaining and my friends and I (and we’ve all lived here for longer than most of you have been alive) will not be customers anymore of any of these whiners! Nor will our children nor grandchildren!
I am a customer who has supported them for years. I want and need their services. I have been in Boulder since 1974, as a working adult. I don’t see this as whining. They employ many citizens as well as provide good dining options. There are some retail stores on those blocks too, all with employees who need jobs here. Why shouldn’t they care about making things better for all who shop and care about our local providers,
Looking at google maps, the amount of parking on this street can’t be more than 40 spaces, for about 25 restaurants and stores on pearl between 9th and 11th. Meaning that at peak times each store benefits from less than 2 cars at any given time (if the street is completely full of parked cars) and let’s assume some are just single occupancy vehicles. Call me crazy, but there’s no way the loss of 1-2 parking spots will bankrupt these businesses. The majority of people who patronize these businesses are already parking on a different street and walking here during the busy hours. Pearl St is a destination specifically because it is car free. Plus there’s a giant parking garage one block away on walnut and 10th that is free on weekends and holidays.
Here we go again…private business’s take over of public spaces….trust me that’s the next step as soon as you restrict traffic on West Pearl. Up go the fencing to enclose private dining areas on public/city property. That’s okay since it’s on public property it’s a treat to find such comfortable accommodations on Pearl Street when tired and need a brief rest…..
I worked on the mall for more than 20 years. I can tell you that the lack of close parking in downtown Boulder has a direct and negative effect on businesses esp. from local shoppers. TE suggests that the loss of 40 spaces can’t possibly impact these businesses (my guess is that he doesn’t own a business downtown). Perhaps folks from out of town don’t mind walking 3 or 4 blocks (1/2 mile if you count both ways) to shop but imagine; if you had to walk 3 blocks to get groceries or shop at McGuckins or the paint store, if you had a baby and a toddler and wanted a quick bite, if you had a hitch in your get-along and wanted to meet a friend for coffee, if you only had 30 minutes for lunch and wanted to buy a book or candy or some fine paper? Would you go down town and spend 15 min looking for a parking space? The answer will always be no. Closing West Pearl and losing some of downtown ‘s most accessible parking is a terrible idea and would be a disaster for small businesses. I love bikes, I love the bike paths, I am an environmentalist, but not everyone has extra time or can ride a bike or walk in snow or rain to do their shopping. About the only small businesses in downtown Boulder that can last are those who are lucky enough to own their property. No Mom and Pop’s any more. Pretty soon the city will not only have to use taxpayer money to make housing affordable but will need to supplement small businesses.