Ground-breakings have never done much for me. Grip. Grin. Hooold it. Take a picture. Boooorrring.

But the downtown Mall roof-breaking Thursday morning?

I wouldn’t have missed a chance to see Mayor Mary Stegall remove the first board from The Mall roof to recognize its upcoming deconstruction.

Stegall was the perfect person to do the honor, considering how much she’s championed for downtown for so many years. In fact, Thursday she shared how 13 years ago she said to then-city manager Mike Warren, “Mr. Warren, take down that mall!”

That was the same year James Theimer of Trilogy Architecture (friend disclosure) walked into the office of Larry Morgon, Redding Redevelopment manager, and began a discussion about downtown revitalization.

Thursday, Morgon credited the long road to to downtown’s improvements to the tireless work of people like James, and many other downtown “warriors” who never gave up on the dream of a restored downtown Redding.

Thirteen years came and went and delivered us to Thursday, when Stegall and Rick Bosetti - her fellow city council member - were hoisted into the air and beside The Mall roof edge in an REU aerial hydraulic bucket truck. Mike Mangas of KRCR hitched a ride, too, for the best photo op.  When they reached the top, Stegall took a crowbar and hammer to The Mall she’s wanted gone for so long, and pried some boards free.

Free at last, free at last. Of course it was purely symbolic. But it was a good start.

Meanwhile, everyone watched, necks craned. It was a celebratory moment, made better when the stinky smoke even cooperated and parted enough to allow a blue-sky backdrop for our city’s historic, downtown ceremony, made even more dramatic with the IOOF building and its 1888 birth date looming in view.

Scott Thompson was among those who gathered to watch. Thompson, who said his children are fifth-generation Shasta County residents, recalled how the downtown Redding of his youth changed after he left for college in 1970. By the time he returned home, downtown buildings were torn down. Market Street was blocked and enclosed.

We all know the rest of that story: retail rushed to the other side of the river. Downtown Redding fell into a depressed state. 

“I never thought I’d live to see this moment,” Thompson said.

I knew exactly what he meant.

James Baker was there, too. His company was awarded the contract to remove The Mall’s roof and implement all the improvements.

No pressure there.

He stood quietly with a roll of plans in his hands. I asked if he was ready for the July 7 start date. He said yes, and added that about the first half of his crew’s work would happen at night, to lessen the negative impact upon area businesses. Even so, Baker said this project is unlike most of his others.

“Normally, I’m used to doing our work out in the middle of nowhere,” he said. ” So this is different. This time, we’re in the spotlight.”

It deserves the spotlight. Hope you don’t mind if we stare. We just can hardly believe our eyes.

 Photo by Bruce Greenberg: Inside of stained glass column in the roofless section of the downtown mall.

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