Heather Lennon, founder and owner of Imagine General Contracting and Development, has built her career on saving the history of Phoenix, one old building at a time. Now, she is taking on Phoenix’ key historic Coronado neighborhood within the McDowell Miracle Mile Revitalization zone with her new project, Imagine Coronado.
With the desire not only to preserve the historic buildings of Phoenix but to make them viable local small business economic powerhouses for the betterment of the communities in which they reside, Lennon now has her sights set on rebuilding how the communities themselves thrive. Enter Imagine Coronado — a 50,000-square-foot parcel featuring a complex of eleven buildings, seven of which are historic each between 99 and 108 years old, that are being transformed into a wellness enclave and community hub for the Phoenix downtown community, elevating the area “from blight to belonging.”
“The project aims to be evolved not for Cornado, but with Coronado, engaging neighbors for input and engagement. It will become a neighborhood wellness hub that blends boutique-style overnight accommodations with ongoing access for the community to enjoy activities and amenities,” said Lennon. “Our ‘shop the experience,’ ethos invites guests to discover and purchase offerings throughout the property, all created by Phoenix-based entrepreneurs, makers and practitioners. Guests will be able to explore a wide range of locally made goods and services — from art and homewares to wellness offerings and specialty products — showcasing the depth and diversity of the city’s small-business and creative community while championing our ‘support local’ mindset.”
Empty for many years, the homes are undergoing extensive restoration, remediation, complete replacement of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC systems and more. Lennon estimates a two-year timeline for completion of Imagine Coronado.
Imagine Coronado looks forward to finding creative ways to be of service to the community. Currently, during its pre-construction phase, the cleaned-up property is being utilized by multiple local first responders for training including fire departments and the Police Department’s SWAT, Drone and Canine units, among others.
Extensive forensic historical research is being done to find and highlight each story of the homes and the people that resided in them. A discovered one-room schoolhouse basement will become the future humidor for Raconteuse Cigars, which Lennon also owns and operates.
Imagine Coronado’s design concept is based upon chakras, with each of the seven houses representing a different chakra, oriented north to south. This theme will unify the design, on-site amenities and services, curated retail and more — with each home taking its name from its corresponding chakra stone.
According to Lennon, Imagine Coronado champions adaptive reuse and circular design, repurposing materials in creative ways. From old metal containers as fire pits to architectural salvage as shade structures, Imagine Coronado demonstrates how elements can be thoughtfully given a second life. Lennon is actively seeking industry partners, specifically wellness practitioners, ancillary services, retail product offerings and community-minded corporations — all that are sourced locally, made by Phoenix small businesses and reflecting a belief in rising together and supporting local entrepreneurship. The enclave itself will stay under single ownership, with industry experts brought in to run and program the space.
