Manteca is celebrating its latest downtown public art project with the Thursday, Sept. 17, ribbon cutting of the “Mural Alley” project.
The 5 p.m. ribbon cutting takes place on the northwest corner of Yosemite and Sycamore avenues.
The murals adorn a wall overlooking two parcels the city purchased two years ago for $80,000.
It includes the remainder of a wall that was left after a 1970s fire that destroyed two buildings.
The wall last year was partially removed with enough left to cap off for use as impromptu seating.
The city had a series of poles designed to look like flowers installed between the wall seating and parking lot.
Lights — similar to what crisscross the 100 block of North Maple Street — will be strung between the wall and flower poles.
The concrete area below will be programmed as an urban gathering place to play off the “Good Vibes” message on one of the murals
That includes:
*Working with the local roller skating group to program “skate nights.”
*Perhaps encouraging the winners of the city’s food truck contest to set up shop there as often as possible.
*Encouraging groups to have events there such as a small farmers market, an antique fair, and possible small scale concerts and such.
The long-term plan is to build a 5-story low-income senior complex on the corner where the parking lot and the concrete area next to the new mural is located.
That process — which requires meeting state criteria — could take two more approval cycles to advance meaning it good be another five years before the housing project moves forward.
The city bought the corner that also included the infamous free-standing wall that stood for 40 years after a fire destroyed buildings on either side of it including the old Waukeen Hotel where two people perished in the blaze.
City Manager Toni Lundgren indicated the city did not want the property to continue to be an eyesore while they work with a non-profit housing organization to move the five story building forward that will include retail on the ground floor.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
