It’s been
eight months since I last looked at the Fulton Mall. Back then, major construction had started in most parts, with fences everywhere. Concrete had already been poured on the parking areas at the southern end. I assumed it would be mostly done by now, but not even close. Let’s take a look at the current status (current as of last week).
Note: Pictures taken on New Years Day, so most businesses closed for the holiday, but if you look closely you’ll note many have been run out of business thanks to the abysmal construction staging. Also, please let me know if you have trouble viewing the image. As google has killed Picassa, which was integrated with Blogger, I have moved to Flickr.
We start at the north end, by Warner’s Theater. Nothing had happened in May, so the changes are pretty major.


The sidewalks have been built as planned, with the odd, but acceptable use of different crosswalk ramp treatments

As I mentioned way back when I went over the construction diagrams, this is the best part of the project. 3 wide lanes become 2 narrow lanes.

Having the sidewalk extension be the entire length of the box office would have been nice though

Nothing has happened to the orphan road

It is hard to get pictures in an order that makes sense because the fences are serious barriers

A relocated fountain is being built
Back in May

Now

Across from the CVS, moving south

By Hotel Fresno (no progress on that project) at Merced Street.

The construction phasing, by the way, is an absolute disaster for
retailers. Like worst case scenario. If they wanted to put everybody out
of business, they could not have done a better job. The signs were
terrible and the walking paths a mess.
Detour? To where?


I could not figure out how to access this block of the mall, so I took a detour through the alley.

Looking north, odd construction phasing




This next section hasn’t changed at all. Why did they even start with the destruction only to pause for 8 months?
May

Now:



May:

Now

May:

Now




This building is looking great





The dumbest road

Mariposa towards Brodway



This won’t change hence the DUMBEST ROAD

It will dead-end here

I can’t tell if this is restoration or abandonment

BONUS FONT

Remember, this alley will be a critical part of the new vehicle circulation plan

Looking north



The stop light remains in use, but there is no pedestrian crossing



It is a pedestrian maze


Zero effort made to create a safe, accessible pedestrian crossing during construction.


Plz come shop the stores are open we claim

The southern end was the quickest to move. Concrete was put in 8 months ago. Asphalt 4-5 months ago. Now lights are in. Still not open to the public

New lights. I don’t know how I feel about them. They feel modern and dated at the same time. LEDs on the modern cobra overhead.

The new ped lights send light out sideways, rather than down

Tree well I assume

Removing the tarps make the fence maze seem less like a prison escape haunted house at six flags. However, they should maximize pedestrian space.




Too small for trees, what are these holes for? Notice the double lights and the odd lower lighting well

The sidewalk is new btw, in the same style as the mall.

Midblock crossing to only section that will remain pedestrianized


Maybe too many light posts


Across the street looking north. These are the “super wide sidewalks” the proponents have continuously lied about.



While the sidewalk is a nod to preservationists, I admit it looks a tad dated

You can barely tell what is new or old
Just hurry up and end this construction


They rebuilt the river fountain with bridge. Bridge aligned with retail entrance. Smart. However, the sidewalk overhang demonstrates the failure of the new lights. Why light up the 2nd floor?

What is this

The usable sidewalk space is not that large
SUDDENLY FROM ABOVE

Looks very sad without the trees

Supposedly this lot will be a building soon. Any day now they say.


The southern intersection is also improved with curb extensions

Fresno’s Playground

New midblock crosswalk, with Fulton Mall pavement treatment.




A billion new lights and they couldn’t orient one over the mid-block crossing, where IT IS MOST NEEDED? Seriously.

Looking north is a dead end

Walking to the end



New sidewalk extension is large, but very grey. No green infrastructure?


I can’t tell if they’re adding angled parking, but the turn lane is gone. I guess continental crosswalks were too much for the budget.

New vs old
And the end


And that’s it. Lot’s of photos coming up in the next couple of weeks – the rest of downtown, Manchester Center update, BRT, and Clovis.
BONUS DROGE BUILDING
