Fulton Mall: The Future
Improving the Fulton Mall is the the City of Fresno’s number one priority in revitalizing downtown Fresno. I talked about the deteriorating condition of the Fulton Mall in this blog post.
The Advisory Committee for the Fulton Corridor Specific Plan (FCSP), nominated three options for the future of the Fulton Mall. After the environmental review process, the City Council is expected to adopt an option next year. The new Fulton is expected to be completed by the summer of 2015.
The City was rewarded $1 million to complete the design and engineering of the options. The City is applying for federal grants -up to $20 million- devoted to traffic projects for economic development. Some of the money might be used to construct the Fulton project.
WHY START WITH THE FULTON MALL?
The Fulton Mall is Fresno’s historic main street and represents the overall health of Fresno. The idea is that if the Fulton Mall is successfully revitalize, it will act as a domino effect for other areas in downtown. “I have never seen a downtown revitalization that started with the secondary streets,” Craig Scharton, Director of Downtown and Community Revitalization for Fresno, says.
THE FUTURE
Click on the titles to learn more about each option:
OPTION 1: RECONNECT FORMER STREET GRID ON TRADITIONAL STREETS
OPTION 2: RECONNECT STREET GRID WITH VIGNETTES
OPTION 3: RESTORE AND COMPLETE THE ORIGINAL VISION OF THE FULTON MALL
Easier way to visually compare the options. These estimates for the cost were calculated by a third party. I have been told, by the City, that each option will cost around $15-20 million to construct. Click on photo to enlarge.
The chart gives you an idea as to which art features will stay on Fulton under each plan. All features will be located in the core of Downtown Fresno. Click on photo to enlarge.
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Have a lovely day in Fresno!
Veronica Stumpf, Co-Broker
Stumpf and Company, Commercial Real Estate
DRE Lic. #01906952
Good review and observations - but you don’t say which one YOU favor ? So - which one do you like best and why ?
Thank you for taking the time to read my posts. I appreciate it!
With what I know now, I support Option One: “Reconnect Former Street Grid on Traditional Streets.” I think it would appeal most to investors because of more visibility and easier access to stores. Increase in business activity would attract more residents. Breaking down visual obstructions would also make the Mall feel safer.
I do like how the Mall is currently; it’s peaceful and the events are a lot of fun. However, a park would be a better place if I wanted to go somewhere peaceful. Not on a six-block mall with businesses that need enough customers to survive. All options make it possible to use the Mariposa Plaza or other areas of the Mall for events.
Emotionally I want it left alone. But that’s because I still “feel” it as it was back in the 60′s/70′s. But that’s gone now - so I guess now I’m leaning towards Option 2. I’d like some of the old mall to remain but still see the traffic and such brought in. However - I am completely against PAID street parking. They want traffic back to downtown get rid of the parking meters - OR - at the very least greatly reduce the cost of street parking. It is honestly ridiculous to get SEVEN minutes of parking for 10 cents.. PARKING is one of the main reasons the people I know do not wanna go downtown. They also need to bring in some good anchor stores/locations. There needs to be some draws downtown.
My parents were there at the opening of the pedestrian mall. They find the design of the mall to be beautiful but it no longer works economically. I agree with both you and them on that.
I do like how Option Two is a compromise (open the mall to cars and keep most of the art in its original place) but I don’t think it’s the most efficient. We can still move the fountains and the sculptures around while still making sure they are on Fulton Street. The crosswalks provide enough room for the art features, from what I can tell. This can be done while decreasing visual obstructions and obstacles for pedestrians and drivers. And the art will be at more recognizable locations, unlike the Renoir sculpture that is hidden between Payless and the Pacific Southwest Building.
Burbank was once a pedestrian-only mall (about six blocks), like the Fulton Mall. It was opened up to traffic. They do have on-street parking and it’s FREE! The parking spots, however, have a time limit. That is a possibility to consider. Another possibility would be to have variable rates for parking spots. So, a relatively high price for prime parking spots and a lower price for parking spots in parking garages that are further away. Or free parking for the first 1-2 hours in parking garages.
Yes, an anchor store is needed for downtown. It should be a business you can’t find anywhere else in Fresno. It would be difficult attracting a national retailer to the Fulton Mall in the near future, I think. A national retailer might demand a major re-design to a historic building. That business could easily construct a suitable building somewhere else in North Fresno for at a lower cost. What would attract me to Fulton is a collection of small, creative businesses. Fresno Brewing Company is a great example of this. The business is unique to Fresno and the owners frequently host events. Side note: downtown Burbank has an equal balance of national business and local businesses. I like that!
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