On the May 16–17 weekend, the Hometown Days parade went down Laurel Street over a trench. The Harrington Park construction crew had covered it with steel plates so the parade could safely pass. At that point the storm drain work had been underway for about a week.
That fix set the pattern for the rest of the year. Since then the City has moved a farmers' market and a statue, added outdoor chairs, and booked a full fall calendar of street events, all while the park stays fenced. The City expects Harrington Park to be finished in early 2027. It is the first phase of the Downtown Revitalization. A larger second phase on the 700 block is already designed but has no construction schedule. So this fall is also a test of how downtown handles construction, and that skill will matter well past the park's reopening.
What the fence covers, and what it doesn't
The City broke ground on May 8, 2026, after first scheduling the start for April 6. The City's project page sets the ground rules:
- Work hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Short off-hours work may happen for utility connections such as PG&E, with notice given in advance.
- Storefronts: Access to Laurel Street shops is expected to stay open.
- Truck routes: Construction vehicles mainly use the alley behind Laurel Street, entering and leaving from Cherry and Olive Streets.
- Parking: The four public spaces behind Harrington Park are being removed to make room for a new drop-off and loading zone.
Regular hours don't include weekends, which is when the Art & Wine Faire and the Sunday market fill the street. The busiest alley is Cowgill Alley, just north of the 700 block. The City emailed nearby businesses before scheduled work there in May, June, July, August and again on September 23.
Some of the most important work will end up out of sight. In June, crews put Silva Cells under the park. These underground structures give tree roots room to grow and filter stormwater before it runs off. The finished park is planned to have a multipurpose plaza, a new building with public restrooms and storage, public seating, a rain garden, and a grove of trees.
The street was rearranged first
The first changes came before groundbreaking. On May 3, the San Carlos Farmers' Market switched to a new layout. Since 2021 the market had used a curbside "promenade" setup that kept emergency access clear. After hearing from downtown businesses, the City worked with the Urban Village Farmers' Market Association and fire officials to move booths away from the curbs. Vendors also spread into the Wheeler Plaza parking lot, which let Cherry Street reopen to traffic and parking. The market still runs Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Laurel between Cherry and San Carlos Avenue.
Balancing Act, the blue figure statue, moved to a new spot near Laurel and Cherry in early May. Adirondack chairs went up along Laurel Street after Hometown Days, and the City added more on August 18. During the week of September 28, the City planned to install two information boards on the 700 block, one in the raised planter near Diddams and one near U.S. Bank.
Wheeler Plaza has become the overflow space, and it has already handled a crowd. The City's World Cup watch party for the USA vs. Paraguay opening match drew about 500 people there. Fans brought takeout from downtown restaurants. The City's recent events have made the same request. The City's "Life on Laurel" series ran downtown yoga on September 18, games on September 25, and an obstacle-course fitness event on October 1. The City says more fall and winter programs are planned but hasn't posted dates.
The fall dates, in order
Three of these four events are on Laurel Street, the same street the construction sits on. The City hasn't yet posted a location for the fourth.
- San Carlos Art & Wine Faire, October 10–11, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Centered at San Carlos Avenue and Laurel Street, with more than 200 artists plus food, beer, wine and live entertainment. It falls on a Saturday and Sunday, outside the site's regular work hours.
- Goblin Walk, October 30, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Trick-or-treating along downtown Laurel Street from San Carlos Avenue to Arroyo Avenue, for children 7 and under with an adult. October 30 is a Friday, and the walk starts shortly before the crew's 5 p.m. quitting time.
- Diwali, November. The City's events calendar lists November 14. The event's own page only says November 2026 and asks residents to stay tuned, so check the date before you plan around it.
- Night of Holiday Lights, December 4, 5 to 8:30 p.m. On Laurel Street between San Carlos Avenue and Cherry Street, with the main stage on Cherry. It's a Friday evening, so it begins as the workday at the site ends. The stage sits on the street the farmers' market reopened in May.
The businesses beside the fence
Before construction started, the San Mateo Daily Journal reported that Mama Coco and Faith & Spirits were expected to feel the most impact from the Harrington Park work. City staff said it had reached out to both. Faith & Spirits, Mama Coco Cocina, Town, Spasso and Stamp Bar & Grill were all represented at a second City coffee chat, held in Harrington Park on March 26. Mayor Venkatesh joined staff there. Topics included parking permits for downtown employees, parking enforcement, signs to help drivers find their way in the parking garages, and ways to include businesses in downtown events.
The City's responses so far have focused on those two problems. Its March update said contractors would park at the SamTrans garage, equipment would be staged off-site, employee parking permits for Cowgill Alley businesses were under review, and pest control had started early. The Daily Journal described other ideas still under consideration. They included steering visitors to free parking in the Wheeler Plaza garage, shared parking arrangements, temporary lighting and art, and signs for rear entrances. In November 2025 the City formed a Downtown Prosperity Team to look for ways to support businesses during and after construction. It presented its mission to the City Council on March 23.
In June, the Adult Community Center's Lunch Bunch, run with the Friends of the San Carlos Adult Community Center, held its monthly outing at Mama Coco's, next to the park work. The City's construction page puts its main promise to the street in one sentence:
Access to Laurel Street storefronts to remain open
There is also a newcomer on the way. WhatNow reported on August 28 that Casa Mia plans to open at 677 Laurel St., Suite B, based on a state alcohol license filing. No opening date has been announced.
Why this fall is a rehearsal
The 700 block is already closed to cars for good. The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1605 on December 11, 2023, after directing staff that spring to turn the block into a public plaza. The plaza design came next. On October 14, 2025, the Council approved the final design for what will be called Centennial Plaza. It includes new paving and sidewalks, rain gardens, new trees, custom benches, a multipurpose pavilion, lighting, bike parking and drinking fountains. A water feature is also planned, and its centerpiece will be designed through a separate public process.
Construction documents are still being prepared, and the City says the 700 block's construction schedule has not been set. An earlier San Mateo Daily Journal report said work on the rest of the 700 block was expected to begin in 2027. The City's current project page gives no timeline. The streetscape plan goes beyond the 700 block. According to the Daily Journal's coverage of the plan's approval, the 600 and 800 blocks would extend the walking path while keeping one car lane in each direction.
That puts this season's adjustments in context. The farmers' market in Wheeler Plaza, the steel plates over the trench, the emails before alley work and the extra chairs are all things the City is testing now, while the job is still small. They are likely to come up again when work moves onto the 700 block itself. If you have questions about Harrington Park in the meantime, the City answers them at [email protected] and (650) 802-4310. For a broader look at the city around downtown, see our San Carlos neighborhood guide.
Downtown projects like Harrington Park and Centennial Plaza change how a block feels to live near, and that affects how a nearby home is presented when it goes on the market. If you're thinking about selling in San Carlos while Laurel Street is under construction, Maria Afzal can help you plan the timing and marketing around the work schedule. Request a complimentary luxury marketing consultation.
