The City of Morgan Hill has granted a building permit to the developer of a proposed two-story, 6,600-square-foot mixed use art gallery and wine bar in the downtown.
The project has been permitted at the corner of Monterey Road and West Second Street. The property, which is owned by Dan McCranie, is currently the site of the city’s pop-up park.
The project will be known as the Edes Building, and is set to break ground in the next few weeks, according to a press release from KTGY, the project’s architectural and planning contractor. The Edes Building is “designed to knit together a multi-use art gallery and pedestrian promenade to re-engage a key downtown intersection,” says the press release.
Construction is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2023.
The Edes Building will consist of two levels of open gallery space that will allow for art displays, display-style storage and art classes, as well as a wine bar, cafe and views of the surrounding hills.
The structure “is designed to be a piece of art in itself” with a sculpture-like exterior and “contrastingly light interior,” says the press release. The building’s appearance is inspired by the local landscape, drawing on timber construction in an eclectic urban context.
The project will use mass timber, a sustainable construction material that has an organic finish, according to KTGY. “While offering a more sustainable and economical option than a concrete or steel structure, timber has a natural appeal that is leveraged throughout the interior and exterior of the building,” says the press release.
Another key design feature is the use of large windows opening onto downtown Morgan Hill and creating “an intriguing and flexible space,” the press release continues. The first floor will include large glass panels to engage visitors and offer a view of some of the displayed art. The second floor will provide additional gallery space and room to host various community art classes and events.
“Edes Building provided an exciting opportunity for KTGY to break the mold of traditional art galleries,” said Sean Martino, associate principal at KTGY. “By embracing the surrounding rolling hills and greenery, along with the movement of downtown, we were able to design a flexible gallery that serves the community through art and entertainment while paying homage to the history of Morgan Hill.”
The project is named after the Edes Grocery Store, which was the first business on the site in the 1920s. Over the years, the previous building on the site housed Telfer Grocery Store, Statti’s Corner Drug Store and Squeri Brothers Hardware. South Valley Bikes moved in in the 1980s.
McCranie, who owns Ladera Grill restaurant and Colibri Art Gallery, purchased the site in 2016 for about $700,000. He had the former building on the property demolished shortly after the purchase, and has allowed the city to use the site as a temporary pop-up park since then.
In 2020, McCranie submitted plans for the Edes Building art gallery that will soon start construction.
“Dan McCranie is a pioneer (who) is elevating the arts and culture experience in Morgan Hill. We are fortunate for his vision, commitment and passion for the arts,” said City of Morgan Hill Assistant City Manager Edith Ramirez. “KTGY’s design of the Edes Gallery masterfully uses Cross Laminated Timber, an eco-friendly sustainable material which offers an aesthetically pleasing contemporary design while honoring the site’s historical significance.”
KTGY partnered with McCranie as well as construction manager Twelve22 Ventures; civil engineer KPFF; mechanical and plumbing engineer K2D; landscape architect RANA; structural engineer John A. Martin Associates; and Chromatic, who serves as lighting designer on the new development.
