Around the block

THE OLD CLICHE . . . The Architectural Review Board is appointed to hold up a certain standard of design for new or renovated buildings in Palo Alto. That's why the board sent architects for Blockbuster Video back to the drawing board in their renovation of the former All American Market on the corner of El Camino Real and Los Robles Avenue. "We call it a generic building," said ARB member Bob Peterson. "It's just the current cliche." So, Blockbuster, which will move down El Camino from Vista Avenue, will be redoing its plan. Eventually, the video store will move into the center space of the former market and rent out the spaces on either side. The ARB expects to take up the building again at a future meeting.

DISASTER PREP . . . The Palo Verde Neighborhood Association will host a workshop called "Getting Read for the Next Flood, Earthquake or Severe Storm," Thursday April 23 at 7:30 p.m. Desserts and a social time will take place from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event will be held in the Palo Verde School multipurpose room at 3450 Louis Road in Palo Alto. Scheduled presentations include Assistant Fire Chief Judy Jewell and Battalion Chief Mick McDonald, as well as Tom Cascone from the Red Cross. The three will go over the city's updated emergency plan and give advice for preparing your family, home and neighborhood for a disaster. Participants can learn about becoming block captains. For more information, call Bonnie Packer at 493-5077.

AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS . . . Santa Clara County plans safety and operational improvements to Palo Alto Airport, including runway and taxiway overlay, new lighting and striping, drainage improvements, gate installation and security fencing. The existing airplane parking areas will be lighted to deter vandalism and increase safety. Lights will be put on 42 poles, each 32 feet tall. Most of the improvements will be done to meet current Federal Aviation Administration requirements.

FACELIFT . . . The former Bank of America building at Stanford Shopping Center will soon have a new face. The center plans to demolish part of the second floor to create a two-story atrium. The plan will update the old bank building and make it look similar to Max's Opera Cafe and Oakville Grocery, with large windows and columns, with mounted light sconces.

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Let us know what's going on in your neighborhood and with your neighborhood association. Mail us your local newsletter, leave a message for Elizabeth Lorenz 24 hours a day at 326-8291, ext. 241, send e-mail to neighborhood@paweekly.com or fax us at 326-3928.

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