Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Kristen Davis is happy with the move of her shop, The Front Window, from the back of Azule Crossing where it's been virtually hiding for eight years.
Azule Crossing gets bright new look
By Leigh Ann Maze
There have been a lot of changes at the Azule Crossing Shopping Center since the city council approved the owners' mixed-use development plan in February.
The front building in the center, which is located on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road on the corner of Seagull Way, has been completely remodeled, inside and out.
The once dark-brown building has been painted off-white with light-blue trim. The large overhang has been reduced, and new signs have been put up to give more visibility to the businesses there. More windows, a courtyard, public restrooms and a drinking fountain were added as well.
"The goal is to put a lot of work into this front building and make it more conducive to shopping," said Kristen Davis, who owns a business in Azule Crossing and whose mother, aunt and uncle own the whole center.
The front building also received a new roof, interior walls, lighting, landscaping outside and air-conditioning. There are plans for a new parking lot, better traffic circulation and an added traffic light at Seagull Way, according to Davis and general contractor and real estate agent for Azule Crossing, Dennis Griffin.
The two buildings in the back of the shopping center were sold to Classic Communities developers for $6 million, according to Griffin. Those buildings will be torn down in early July to make room for 20 single-family homes that will average about 1,850 square feet.
With all of the changes to the buildings in Azule Crossing, there have also been some changes to the businesses there.
The building that houses Manhattan Restaurant, will be demolished when Manhattan's lease expires on Sept. 1. After six years at Azule Crossing, Manhattan plans to relocate, and its owners hope to remain in Saratoga, according to general manager, Sam Nijmeh.
In place of Manhattan, a 6,000-square-foot, two-story commercial space will be added to the front building. Most of the space has already been leased out, according to Griffin. The bottom floor will house retail shops while the top floor will house offices. Most of the Azule Crossing businesses have moved to the newly remodeled front building. Some will stay there permanently, and others will move into the new building when it is constructed.
Davis moved her store, The Front Window, to the main building on April 24, as did other businesses, including J. Adams Interiors and Condon's Limited hair stylists. Davis said her store was in the back building for almost eight years, and many people never knew it was even there. It was not very visible, she said.
"The response has been excellent," Davis said of her new locale.
Other businesses, however, such as Libra Accounting, have decided to leave the shopping center altogether.
The entire commercial project, estimated by Griffin to cost about $800,000, is expected to be completed next spring.
Although there won't be as much commercial space in the shopping center, Davis thinks that with the changes, the city's sales tax revenue will increase.
When the project initially went before the city council in December 1999 on appeal from a planning commission approval, it was turned down. The main reason for the denial was some council members' reluctance to use the 1 percent of commercially designated land in Saratoga for a partly residential use.
The council decided to reconsider their denial on Jan. 5. Developers responded to the council's concerns with a revised plan that included more commercial space, and reduced the number of homes in the plan from 25 to 20. The council approved the revised plan on Feb. 2.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
