For a small, overlooked site with residential developments either planned or in construction around it, our task was to carefully balance client goals and tenant requirements while anticipating the needs of a future community. The client had entrusted our designers to maximize retail density and diversity in the heart of one of Redlands’ fastest growing areas, but parking requirements were high, with the location just off the 210 freeway. Our solution was to allocate the precise number of required parking stalls, utilize compact car allowances and direct trucking around the periphery of the site. The result is a finely tuned example of suburban retail, one that serves a growing neighborhood, attracts customers off the freeway and creates an irresistible leasing environment for tenants.
The design is anchored with a large-footprint grocery store supporting four retail buildings, flexibly divided into as many as 18 storefronts, with a fifth pad building intended for drive through, including traffic circulation and parking. Early concepts established a more industrial character, but to secure tenancy of the grocery anchor, our designers adapted the development’s aesthetics to their brand requirements. The final design has a contemporary character with simple building forms emphasized by brick columns and tower elements. Roofline and material variations give the development heterogeneity, and the industrial influences are apparent in gooseneck lamps and standing seam metal awnings. The design received unanimous approval from the Redlands Planning Commission, and the development is rounded out by landscaped buffers and a shaded plaza where neighbors can gather.
