Sedona Main
Street Program nominates Uptown Mall Courtyard for AZ Main Street
Best Large Scale Renovation Project.
The Owners of
the Uptown Mall have invested $330,000 in this beautification project in
the heart of the SMSP District. In return, this investment has provided
multiple benefits for the visitors to our community, Uptown Mall owners,
Uptown Mall Merchants, the Uptown business neighborhood and the entire
City of Sedona. The new Uptown Mall will continue to provide benefits
for years and serves as an example for the vision and implementation of
equally successful future projects throughout the Sedona business
community.
What was
featureless, having no focal points to attract pedestrians existed in
this 2 story high open mall space. A myriad of heaved sidewalks and
walkways of different materials was asking for a lawsuit. If any
landscaping was still living it was minimal.
It became
apparent that a redesign could benefit all who patronize the SMSP
District by improving the aesthetics and safety for all who enter the
heart of Sedona's Shopping District.
Richard Hubbell, Landscape Architect,
began a redevelopment plan to address the following:
·
a strong visual interest
with physical improvements for a safe and ADA compliant environment (no
existent)
·
shaded seating areas for
all who patronize the area
·
a visual terminus that
provides screening and buffering of traffic
·
opportunities and space
for “art in public places”
·
incorporating the goals
and objectives of the City of Sedona “Master Development Plan”,
·
developing gathering
areas, pods or pockets within the business areas
·
utilizing historic
building materials, i.e., native stone, wood timbers and encourage use
of ornamental paving
·
incorporating the
objectives of the Sedona Main Street Program Design Guidelines
A conceptual
redevelopment plan incorporating the criteria above was prepared and
presented to the property owners, the City of Sedona, and Sedona Main
Street Program for review and comment. Construction began in March 2003
and was completed later that year.
The revamped
Uptown Mall superseded the property owners requirements and expectations
while providing a major improvement to a previously under developed and
unsafe space. The courtyard is a new gathering haven that provides many
focal points and features within its boundaries.
The front
entrance is now enhanced with raised planter areas that visually tie the
existing stone and timber, strengthens the sense of entry. A single
pavers pattern now flows throughout the outdoor mall creating a safe
pedestrian flow. Four circular raised stone planters containing
flowering trees that provide summer shade and a punch of color grace the
courtyard. The planters provide a relaxing place to stop for all to
enjoy.
Two water
features were erected. One fountain even adjoins a neighboring
restaurant’s outdoor seating. The cooling water and calming, trickling
sounds are appreciated by everyone. Great detail was taken to create a
stone water feature, constructed in strata’s and layers to visually
blend with the character of the adjacent “geology wall”. This “geology
wall” was laid up in a stratified manner to represent the local red rock
cliffs and included a bronze interpretive plaque identifying the
geological layers to screen the public restrooms that both were built on
Uptown Mall property donated to the City of
Sedona
decades ago.
This Large
Scale Renovation incorporates all the senses of old and new. The
renovation transformed this space from glaring sun to inviting shade,
from limited access to welcoming for all, and from pretty to beautifully
vibrant. For all these reasons we nominate the Uptown Mall Courtyard for
this Arizona Main Street Program Award.
Photos included with Nomination
