OPPORTUNITIES
The upcoming design process for the Parking Structure at Second and Wall provides three opportunities to enhance the Chico Downtown:
A typical design for a parking structure would provide satellite parking for the shops along Main Street, and would define the end or edge of the Downtown. Walking past Wall street would be a neutral (at best) block-long hike past the noses of cars visible at ground level. This is unnecessary; the Structure may be designed to extend the Downtown, creating human-scale spaces at street level. The perimeter of the ground floor could be space for commercial or office use, with shop windows and doors from the sidewalk. The City could lease undeveloped shell space to private or government tenants, with the understanding that storefront and interior improvements would be designed and constructed by the tenant. The mix of various tenants with their own designs would add to the vitality of the reclaimed street-wall. Shell areas for ground floor tenants could be proportioned for re-conversion to parking to provide future flexibility.
The Saturday Farmers Market at the structure site is a vital part of the weekend experience in Downtown Chico. While the Market could be accommodated inside the structure with high ceilings on the first level, there are structure configurations that would create a leafy “Market Park” on Wall street Saturday mornings, and allow expanded street parking the rest of the week. This would save most of the magnificent sweet gum and magnolia trees along Wall street, as well.
The Market Park concept provides an opportunity for public art, perhaps in the form of sculptural pylons marking the north & south ends of the market, with provision for seasonal banners raised each Saturday morning.
David Martin Griffith
Architect, Professional Engineer.
