Fulton Mall's fountains in Downtown Fresno

The Fulton Mall in Downtown Fresno delivered on the promise, sort of...

Billed as a revolutionary solution to downtown blight and the mass exodus out of the city center, the Fulton Mall project was going to revitalize Downtown Fresno and bring a beautiful work of art that the residents of Fresno could enjoy for years to come.

The Fulton Mall did deliver on part of that promise, The Fulton Mall is a beautiful example of Mid Century Modern design, however the Fulton Mall did not bring people back to the downtown area. The area and the businesses languished, one by one relocating farther and farther north of Downtown Fresno.

Following World War II men returned home to Fresno with a desire to own their own home and federal financing through the G.I. Bill and other programs intended to increase home ownership in the United States. Developers responding by building thousands of homes in the area north of Fresno and east of Fresno.

Eventually, with most of the residents out of Downtown Fresno, leaving the heart of the city dark at night, downtown was a shell of its former self. With the exception of the homeless, people only came to downtown to work or in the case of the minority population that shopped the indoor malls, on weekends. For the next thirty years the city languished, new committees were formed and campaigns were proposed, yet year after year the heart of the city barely had a pulse.

The Fulton Mall was designed by Garrett Eckbo, a Harvard trained landscape architect that believed that design should be functional and livable. Mr. Eckbo used clean lines to recreate forms found in nature such as streams and lakes. Fine art by true masters can be found on various parts of the six block pedestrian mall, including works by Renoir and Clement Renzi.

One of Clement Renzi's most popular pieces is on the Fulton Mall. "The Visit" a bronze by Renzi was commissioned specifically for the mall and installed shortly after the mall opened in 1964.

Pierre Renoir is a world famous French artist who is most famous for his impressionist paintings. He worked in other media as well. His sculpture, La Grand Laveuse, is located on the Fulton Mall near Mariposa Street. The piece depicts a woman washing clothes manually, it is one of only six bronze sculptures by Renoir and the only one that people can actually touch, the others are in museums.

Additional works of art can be found throughout the mall. A clock tower made of laminated wood and fiberglass by Jan de Swart is located at the center of the mall. Jan de Swart is famous for working with different materials, including plastics, and wood.

Much of the the art on the Fulton Mall reflects the style of the time, Mid Century Modern and modernist design. Orion is an abstract piece by Tony Rosenthal, Rosenthal was a prolific artist of the day who has been recognized by Los Angeles Art Museums, American Institute of Art, and the Academy of Fine Arts.

Many distinct water fountains feature prominently on the Futlton Mall. Multilevel fountains, man-made streams, and small lake recreations are located on each section of the pedestrian portions of the mall.

Recently, many people have called for the removal of the fountains due to water shortages in the region. More recently, the City of Fresno has cut back on cleaning and maintenance of the fountains due to budget cuts.

Fortunately, the mall has survived the years and the various calls for the removal of the mall. A recent revitalization effort went so far as to recommend tearing out most of the fountains, relocating the artwork and opening the mall to vehicle traffic again.

In 2004, a pioneer project came to Downtown Fresno. Despite the complaints of crime and lack of retail options, a project was presented that would build a new housing complex in the area four blocks north of the Fulton Mall. The project was named Vagabond Lofts after a rundown motel that was demolished to make room for the loft project.

Vagabond Lofts have been successful, quickly reaching maximum occupancy and remaining near full occupancy in the two years that followed. H Street Lofts were built next to Vagabond Lofts. Then in 2009 the largest loft project in the neighborhood, Iron Bird Lofts was completed. The 86 unit Iron Bird Lofts brought the total of new apartments in Downtown Fresno to 200 units.

Additional loft projects and mixed use apartment developments have been built or are currently being built. Many of the residents of these projects are professionals and students. With the influx of young professionals to the area, new discussions have been directed toward the Fulton Mall.

As previously mentioned, some have called for opening up the mall to vehicle traffic again, others have suggested that the mall be restored to its former glory. After restoration, the mall could serve as a showcase of Mid Century Modern design and an architectural destination for students and fans of the style from all over the world.

Fresno serves as a gateway to Yosemite National Park. Thousands of people come to Fresno every year on their way to Yosemite. Combining a visit to the Fulton Mall with a trip to Yosemite would allow visitors to appreciate man made masterpieces and natural masterpieces on the same trip.