Early in the
history of this blog, I bemoaned the closure of Copia in Napa, not so much for
the loss of what Copia could have met to the Napa Valley, although that was
also a loss, but for how the idle parcel undermined the fledgling walkability of Napa. I specifically suggested mixed-use
development on the under-utilized portions of the Copia site as a way to build
a more comprehensive urban fabric.
Two years
later, I cheered when a local developer began making serious noises doing the
exact kind of mixed-use development that
I had proposed.
Eighteen
months, that effort has faded away, but another, seemingly more solid development concept is being
put forth, one that incorporates a revitalization of the original Copia concept
by the Culinary Institute of America combined with mixed-use development by
Triad Development.
In my
earlier posts, I had been thinking of the mixed-use development on the north
side of First Street, occupying the same site as Copia. The current proposal calls for the mixed-use
development on the south side of First.
Honestly, I didn’t realize that the Copia ownership extended south of
First, but I don’t care where the mixed-use fits, as long as it extended the
core of urban walkability from downtown Napa past Soscal Avenue.
Based on the
history of failed hopes since the 2008 closure of Copia, I know that this new
proposal won’t have an easy path to implementation, but the role of the
Culinary Institute seems to make this the strongest proposal yet and well worth
following. It must be time for another
trip to downtown Napa, the Oxbow Market, and the Copia site.
Next time,
I’ll rejoice that Pope Francis seems to be devoted urbanist.
As always,
your questions or comments will be appreciated.
Please comment below or email me.
And thanks for reading. - Dave Alden (davealden53@comcast.net)
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