Northlake Tower Festival
September 28th, 2010 By Laurie Marion
BY LAURIE MARION
This shopping center in my neighborhood is an example of a space that does not make much sense. The buildings and a large parking lot were built around a radio tower. Originally it was called “Northlake Tower Festival” and now the signs just read “Northlake Festival.”
Sign for Northlake Festival shopping center
Below is what one sees when entering the shopping center at the west entrance:
Entrance to Northlake Festival
The radio tower is in the middle of the very large parking lot, which has islands planted with trees throughout. The tower is enclosed inside a brick wall, and its three anchors are set in planted areas with chain-link fencing around them. The next four photos show the tower and the anchor points.
Northlake Tower in center of Northlake Festival Parking Lot
Anchor for Radio Tower near Jason's Deli
Radio Tower Anchor near Monkey Joe's
Radio Tower Anchor in Large Planter
Very few people walk from one store to another along the walkways; most foot traffic is from parked car to one store and back. The parking lot usually has a fair number of cars in it, but is never full.
Here is a video showing what the tower and parking lot look like from the east side of the parking lot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6mtxwy3tBM
This second video shows a 360 degree view of the parking lot and buildings on the east side of the parking lot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NyoZL9CNpI
I think you will agree that this is one amazing (excuse the pun) parking lot.