Sovovatum Village Town Center, Designed by KTGY In Partnership With The Soboba Economic Development Corporation, Breaks Ground On Tribal Land
August 13, 2021
Sovovatum Village Town Center creates an attractive gateway to Soboba Economic Development Corporation landholdings.
San Jacinto, Calif. – August 13, 2021 – KTGY, a leading full-service architecture, branding, interior and planning firm focused on residential, retail, hospitality and mixed-use developments, today announced that construction is underway on Phase I of Sovovatum Village Town Center, a retail and recreation center located on the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indian’s Tribal Land. Phase I consists of a fueling station for autos and RV’s and a state-of-the-art drive-through convenience store complete with store-to-back seat loading. A temporary outdoor space for dining, entertainment and music has also been designed as an option for the Phase I construction. Developed by the Soboba Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), the roughly 20-acre, master-planned site is conceived to accommodate up to 60,000 square feet of retail and a variety of recreational uses and community gathering areas reflective of the Tribe’s history and future desires. KTGY prepared the overall master plan and was retained to design Phase I, with completion anticipated by Q1 2022.
“It has been such an honor partnering with the Soboba Economic Development Corporation to assist them in achieving their vision for the Sovovatum Village Town Center,” said Ken Ryan, principal, and leader of the Community Planning and Urban Design Studio at KTGY’s Irvine location. “We utilized various outreach techniques and worked closely with Tribal representatives as we have with other Tribes to gain direction and consensus from the various stakeholders. The process allowed us to receive meaningful input, listen and respond to issues, particularly with the pandemic going on this past year. Ultimately, we delivered a plan that incorporates the Soboba Economic Development Corporation’s design and economic objectives, without compromising the vision.”
Envisioned as a gateway to the Soboba Economic Development Corporation’s landholdings, Sovovatum Village Town Center will serve as an attractive entrance complementing the Tribe’s adjacent, newly constructed hotel and casino. Working around environmental constraints, including earthquake fault setbacks, drainage areas, and roadway access issues, KTGY proposed a master plan that reflects the priorities of the SEDC by combining revenue-generating uses with family gathering and recreational opportunities. The planned site provides latitude for the future development of additional retail, a community building and a variety of recreational uses, including a garden market, splash pad play area, playground and water features.
The design of the Town Center reflects the Tribe’s agrarian heritage and the beauty of the surrounding setting, including splendid views of the San Jacinto Mountains and the San Jacinto River. The architecture, while contemporary, features barrel roofs and materials such as timber and stone that nod to nearby community landmarks and seamlessly integrate into the surroundings. The landscape concept incorporates water features, flora, and hardscape elements authentic to the history of the Tribe’s use of the land and the setting in the region.
“The planning studio took such care working with the SEDC for the initial architectural vision for the site,” said Michael Tseng, principal and leader of the KTGY retail studio. “Working from that shared vision, our team was able to bring that design to life to establish a sense of place and create an experience for visitors that tied directly to the history of the land and the Tribe.”
“It was powerful seeing our entire community rally behind the vision for Sovovatum Village Town Center, in no small part thanks to KTGY’s thoughtful process and design sophistication,” added Becky Flores Chairwoman of the Soboba Economic Development Corporation. “This project will directly benefit the families of Soboba, by not only generating revenue for our Tribe but also providing beautiful outdoor spaces that pay tribute to our heritage and where our children and community at large will be able to come together and enjoy themselves.”
KTGY is partnering with the Tribe’s project manager Oak and Stone, General Contractor WE O’Neil Construction, Civil Engineer ERSC Engineering, Landscape Architect C2 Collaborative, Traffic Engineer Urban Crossroads, Geotechnical Geocon, Market Profiles for Marketing and Sunflower Consulting Group for the Retail Operations.
View renderings and learn more about Sovovatum Village here.
About KTGY
Founded in 1991, KTGY is a leading full-service architecture, branding, interior and planning firm focused on residential, hospitality and mixed-use developments and neighborhood revitalization. We envision a future where residential and hospitality design inform one another to deliver spaces that merge design and desire. KTGY’s architects, designers and planners combine big picture opportunities, leading-edge sustainable practices and impeccable design standards to create memorable destinations of enduring value.
