Located in what is known as the Inland Empire region of Southern California, Eastvale is a relatively new city, rapidly growing and transforming from an enclave of dairy farms to the middle to upper-income suburbia that is common in this region along the freeway corridors. City officials have made strides to ensure that diverse and desirable amenities are located throughout the city. Their goal is to provide a unique level of design and quality to public spaces in the Eastvale community that stands apart from most neighboring communities.

A new development in Eastvale, Hamner Place, which takes its name from the bordering Hamner Avenue and includes dining, hospitality, retail space, gathering spaces, and the home for future civic buildings, is a great illustration of what has become the emphasis for all new and future projects within the city, and that is the concept of "placemaking."

The Parts of the Set
To make the project come together, Conceptual Design and Planning Company (CDPC) was hired to create the streetscape design; lighting, irrigation and planting design; and making sure all construction documents were in place.

CDPC is licensed in eight states and has four office locations: three in California and one in Nevada. Other key team members in the project included Dahi Kim, the senior engineer of the city of Eastvale; Erik Peterson, who served as project manager; the civil engineering firm of Albert Webb Associates, the general contractor firm of GMC Engineering Inc.; and the landscape contractor, LSCO.

The site selected for Hamner Place is considered a neighborhood area that has excellent visibility and positioning on two large roadways. It is also adjacent to the Silverlakes Sports Complex, an athletics and event center with a focus on youth sports and the equestrian sector, and brings in an estimated 1.7 million visitors per year.

The Big Picture
Developing a new type of streetscape design was needed to set a fresh standard for the streetscape aesthetic within the city. The primary goal of the city was to create a safe and pedestrian-friendly environment. This was achieved by providing a 6'-12' wide Class 1 multi-use pathway with seating nodes set apart from the roadway by wide planting areas.

 
Design Elements
A planting palette was developed to provide diversity and year-round color while still meeting the requirements for drought tolerance and low maintenance. Alternating pairs of tall Date Palms and multi-trunk Olive trees lining the street provides identity, scale and a cadence to the landscape.

The use of high-end paving stones with unique shapes, patterns and color combinations in asymmetrical and angular layouts create a fun and interesting pedestrian experience.

A key component of any "placemaking" project is the creation of unique and thematic gateways, signage and amenities within the public space. Considerable attention and effort was given to these elements of this project.

Resulting from this effort is a massive themed gateway element with unique project identification extending over the newly created street with walls on either side for city and tenant signage. This gateway structure includes laser cut steel features that replicate the three Streetlife steel columns that serve as the iconic focal point with the central roadway roundabout.

Lighting it Up
The final layer that sets this streetscape apart is the detailed lighting design. South Coast Lighting and Design was an important collaborator in this part of the project.

Color changing LED strip lighting brings the iconic steel columns to life at night. The matching custom laser-cut steel wraps over the street light poles to reinforce the theming and uniqueness of this space.

Light bollards and low-level light strips highlight the pedestrian seating areas and landscape walls for accent and safety. Well lights at the base of the Olive trees and ring lights near the top of the Date Palms up-light the canopies to ensure the scale and cadence which the trees provide is not lost at night.
All of the lighting fixtures were powder-coated with a custom bronze color specifically chosen for this project to match the gateway and
signage elements.

Looking Ahead
Since gaining incorporated cityhood in 2020, Eastvale has been on a fast track to growing into a sophisticated community. Hamner Place, with national and regional tenants in retail, hospitality and more, is on its way to becoming a well-known regional destination and cultural hub in this part of Southern California. Hamner Place is an attractive, well-received addition to the community and a draw for visitors to enjoy long into the future.

Team List
Client: Dahi Kim
Landscape Architect:
Conceptual Design and Planning Company
Project Manager: Erik Peterson
Civil Engineer: Albert Webb Associates
General Contractor: GMC Engineering Inc
Landscape Contractor: LSCO Inc
Lighting Contractor: South Coast Lighting & Design