“The
whole idea is for cars to be parked and not sending gas fumes
into downtown,” said Mayor Vincent Francia. “Also, because the
downtown is eclectic and funky, it’s a way of seeing the town.”
The
streetscape has been a goal of the town for 10 years. Its landscaping
will act as a buffer between the road and the meandering pathway.
The six‑foot‑wide footpath will wind through a streetscape
that widens to as much as 20 feet in some places.
Tycha
Flickinger’s business, Tycha’s World Imports at 6061 E. Cave
Creek Rd., is located along this initial 900‑foot stretch.
“I
like the streetscape because there are so many people walking
up and down the street and they
need some place to walk,” Flickinger said. “I think it will
help me to get a lot more walk‑in traffic.”
But
Miguel Camarena, owner of Camarena Art Gallery at 6131 E. Cave
Creek Rd., sees the streetscape in a different light. Although
he does not object to the project per se, he does not like that
it will reduce the number of his parking spaces.
According
to Camarena, the streetscape will cut deep into the existing
parking in front of his business, leaving him with only one
parking space in front. As it stands now without the street‑scape,
customers can pull in to the front of his gallery from Cave
Creek Road and he has room there for 10‑12 parking spaces.
Camarena
acknowledges that when he bought the property, he knew the town
had an existing easement across the front where it planned to
place a walkway. He says, however, that he did not expect the
pathway to severely limit his parking. He wants direct access
off Cave Creek Road to the front of his business, which the
town has denied.
Cave
Creek planning director Ian Cordwell said access off Cave Creek
Road was denied because it would create a drainage problem on
Camarena’s property.
Cordwell
and Camarena have been talking about a compromise to allow the
gallery access off Cave Creek Road near Big Earl’s Greasy Eats
at the driveway that serves the Treehouse Condominium Project.
The driveway would allow access to the front of Camarena’s business
and he would still have about four parking spaces in front,
according to Cordwell, but no agreement has been reached. Camarena
says he doesn’t think he will have four parking spaces under
a compromise.
“Since
the demolition started, business has slowed down,” Camarena
related. He said cars slow down and look, but the construction
is discouraging people from stopping.
Lynda
Orescanin owns Cosmopolitan Beads at 6061 E. Cave Creek Rd.,
also located along the soon‑to‑be‑constructed
streetscape.
“I
am for the streetscape because it will improve pedestrian traffic
in Cave Creek,” Orescanin said. “I’d love to be able to walk
up and down the street.”
The
town awarded the project contract to AAA Landscape of Phoenix
for $788,000, Fahringer said. Demolition will resume in the
next week or two, after a pause for the holidays. The first
segment is expected to be completed in March.
Anthem
resident Cathleen Woodall said now when she walks with her children
in Cave Creek, she has to corral them and watch them closely
for safety reasons.
“I
think the sidewalk will create a demarcation line for drivers
and slow them down,” Woodall stated.
Dave
Thompson, owner of the Flat Tire Bike Shop at 6149 E. Cave Creek
Rd., will lose six parking spaces in front of his business when
the streetscape goes in, but he will have adequate parking behind
the shop.
“We’re
going to lose all of our parking in front,” Thompson said. “I
think initially the streetscape will hinder my business a little,
but over the long haul, when people get used to where the new
parking is and start walking by, it will be a positive for the
business.
“I
think it is a positive for the community as a whole,” he added.
“I think it will provide a place for people to get out of their
vehicles and something to walk on or ride on.”
Fahringer
said the project is starting at Hidden Valley Road because of
the availability of space and the fact that business owners
have expressed a willingness to go along with the project.
The
pathway combines a variety of media, including exposed aggregate
concrete, pavers, and stamped concrete, he said. Some of the
path will lead to business doors. Bench seats, native shade
trees, a metal shade structure, elevated planters and native
shrubs will decorate the streetscape. Curbing will border the
road as a method of water control.
“It’s
going to be nice. It’s going to be decorated. Eventually, it
will be built on both sides (of the road),” Mayor Francia said.
Property
owners who propose new development along Cave Creek Road will
be required to include a landscaped walkway consistent with
the town’s streetscape plans. Phase 2 of the project is not
yet on the design table, Fahringer said.
Reach
the reporter at kathleen@thedesertadvocate.com.
