Carefree Truth

Issue #407, July 10, 2015

 

 

 

Gary Neiss explained that although downtown Carefree is a pedestrian friendly environment, it is inward facing, so many of the shops and offices are not visible from Tom Darlington Drive and Cave Creek Road.  Both the Urban Land Institute and the Michael Baker International Revitalization Plan recommended adding gateways to create a better sense of entry and to direct into the Town Center those unfamiliar with the area.

 

 

 

Gateways can be used to create and celebrate the sense of arrival and to spark interest  from passing traffic.  The use of thematic elements present in the Town Center architecture further identify the area as Carefree.  Local architect August Reno designed gateways employing a combination of Spanish Colonial and Contemporary elements, using stucco, the Arizona Ledge stone on the wall of the curtain fountain and on the fireplaces in the Carefree Garden, and the gas lamps on the streets.  The top is curved wrought iron containing the word "Carefree".  Secondary entry monuments are simpler, with stucco, stone, and a gas lamp.  They would stand 8' wide by 4-1/2' wide.

 

 

 

 

 

The Rights of Way and utilities have been surveyed, and a proposed design has been presented.  The next steps are the determination of locations, and the preparation of construction plans and specifications.  Then the Town will receive quotes, the Council will award the construction contract, and construction will commence.

 

 

 

Councilman Mike Farrar asked if the slots under the lamps were for street names, and if so, would the existing street signs be removed.  Mr. Neiss said the slots were for street names, and that the current signs could be removed.  Mr. Farrar asked if the street names would be backlit at night.  Mr. Niess replied that they could be backlit or up lit, as both forms of lighting will be used on the gateways.  The street name lighting will be a future Council decision.  Mr. Farrar asked if there would be street names on the secondary gateways, and Mr. Neiss said room on the upper stucco caps allows for that.  Mr. Farrar pointed out that the original design suggested by Baker included the words "Carefree Village Center" on the wrought iron arch, and he asked why that had been modified.  Mr. Neiss replied that using only the word "Carefree" keeps it simple and elegant, expressing that one is in Carefree.  Mayor Les Peterson added that 3 words would force smaller lettering, and that not everyone liked the "Village" concept.  

 

 

 

I asked if the secondary gateways would include the word "Carefree", as it didn't show on the design.  Councilman Glenn Miller replied that they would just show the street names.  Mr. Farrar pointed out that  "Carefree" appears on the roundabouts and the large gateways, so people will realize they are in Carefree.

 

 

 

Mayor Peterson thanked the focal team of Councilwoman Melissa Price, Councilman Glenn Miller, and Councilman Bob Gearhart for their hard work, stating that he thought the design was excellent.  The designs for the primary and secondary gateways were approved 7-0.

 

https://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/133117563/b1b86c79d9

 

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

 

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