By Some familiar names are coming to Los Altos. A Walgreens drugstore is set for a mid-December groundbreaking. A new Trader Joe's is targeted for Foothill Plaza. Another Marriott hotel has just opened for business along El Camino Real.

What does this all mean? Will we see fewer Marion Jackston’s downtown and more Learnariums? Will chain operations fast become the only tenants that can afford Los Altos rents?

Time will tell, but safe money has it that this year’s Christmas shopping season will serve as a kind of litmus test for local retailers. Those hit hard by the economic doldrums of the past two years are hoping an end-of-the-year shopping flurry makes their struggles worthwhile. Some retailers rake in as much as 25 percent of their total year’s revenue during the Christmas season.

If sales are less than spectacular, however, we may see some significant changes in the look of Los Altos retail come 2003.

Not only are the downtown and other shopping areas likely to change toward more chain operations, at least four retail areas in the newly revised Los Altos general plan are targeted for a mixture of three-story housing and retail to attract additional housing units. The current status is two stories with no residential. Los Altos hopes to meet state-mandated requirements of 162 affordable units by 2006. Considering the city is just about built-out, the goal seems overwhelming.

This trend toward inviting housing in normally retail areas is already happening with neighboring communities throughout the county. Mountain View, for instance, has successfully mixed high-density housing along the fringes of its downtown with easy access to CalTrain.

At the same time, Los Altos officials are determined to discourage and reduce city traffic. This could mean longer delays on arterial routes such as San Antonio Road to deter commuting.

There seem to be opposing goals here. If the idea is to create more housing-retail opportunities, would discouraging traffic flow on major thoroughfares also discourage potential residents? Would clogging these arteries also discourage shoppers from frequenting Los Altos’ already small retail base?

Unlike Mountain View, Los Altos has no easy access to alternative transportation, other than bus service. Would downtown housing, for instance, be designed for residents who want to walk around downtown?

There remain many questions about the future of Los Altos. It will take more than an updated general plan to answer them. Residents, business and property owners ultimately will play the key role.