The Meriam Park Masterplan emanates words like innovative, fresh and groundbreaking, both literally as well as figuratively. Interesting then, to realize that it comes with its own vocabulary. The list includes verbs like thrive, dwell, blend, purpose-built, cultivate, connect, and spark. It also offers nouns such as cultural infrastructure, makerspace, incubators, lofts, walkable, opportunity, wellness and community. It includes proper nouns; the Barn, Culinaria, and the Park, all of which are integral to creating a sense of place. Perhaps the most important word associated with this endeavor is Community. This word captures the essence of Meriam park, self-proclaimed as “an inspired place.” This juxtaposition is taking place on 233 acres, soon to be recognized as one of “the last and largest fully-entitled, developable properties in Chico.” While it may be a literal complex its vision is anything but. It’s always been simple in its focus; to build a self-sustainable community where people can live, work and socialize. This paradox plays itself out, one purposeful juxtaposition at a time. The Meriam Park development office lives in the Foundation Building, one of the occupied buildings on site. In this office there is a wall that resembles a giant, living Pinterest board with scads of cut and torn out pages and pictures creating an inspiration wall of Meriam Park’s demographic. It is clever, smart, and intriguing in a mesmerizing fashion. These pictures represent concepts, ideas, and realities of the future physical makeup of Meriam Park. Three years in the making, this 42
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wall represents the brainstorming involved and captures the essence of what Meriam Park will become someday. A place for people to work, to live and to socialize both as walkable and as a destination. The office that houses this wall is home to Gonzales Development Company, currently the Meriam Park headquarters where Dan Gonzales and his team of 8 build the vision. Perched on the second floor of this inspiring architectural design, this office serves as an example for the entire project. Also located in the building are Chico start-up, Pocket Points, and Kornerstone Wealth. It is the first of the buildings constructed in the “Thrive District” which is an area of over 30 acres that will be home to between 20 to 30 office buildings, someday providing homes to the Veterans Administrations new Clinic, and other medical, office and many service-type businesses. The entire plot, known as the Thrive District, exudes this side by side for a purposeful reason. For example, a just finished twin medical building features a Podiatrists office face-to-face with a Physical Therapy spot. Also, a currently under construction two story attorney building that will sit across the street from the newest Butte County courthouse. The purposeful placement of these buildings creates a synergistic effect. This Thrive District will be home for additional health, wellness, fitness, tech, real estate, shared office concepts, and many service type businesses who will “thrive” from being located next to each other “all the while providing access to the award-winning local talent pool offered by Chico State.”
Also under construction is the Marketplace, the heartbeat of Meriam Park, also known as the “Tank District”. This will be a place where farm and food meet innovation, healthy eating and economic development all while fostering a sustainable community. The Tank District will have a balanced mix of retail, food & beverage, maker spaces and mixed-use while offering beautiful streetscapes, loft-style buildings, captivating outdoor spaces, and one-of-a kind retail amenities. A baker or coffee roaster will be placed next to a grocery or restaurant, while together, they can ready food for delivery upon order, or a caterer can deliver food to the active senior district north of the creek. The retail space will include unique shops, restaurants, a farm-to-table market concept, and health and wellness amenities, including a yoga studio. In addition, the area will feature mixed use ground-floor storefronts with residences above. Dan assures new concept restaurants, such as those that are showing up in many other cities. The crown jewels of the Tank District are “Culinaria” and “The Barn”, a 110 year old barn relocated from Meridian Road in Chico, both new and old juxtaposed to create a place for music and community events, social gathering and commerce. The 38,000 square foot Culinaria is a mixed use of culinary, education and training, retail, and co-work offices, private kitchen for dinner clubs and an event center boasting two rooftop terraces. More importantly, it offers a 7,000 square foot, shared use commercial
WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN PHOTOS BY FRANK REBELO & PROVIDED BY MERIAM PARK
The Building of a Community