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‘It’s kind of a melting pot’: how one US city transformed a highway into a leafy oasis

By · Via The Guardian Environment · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Initiated in 2010 with an $11.5 million municipal investment, the transformation replaced three traffic lanes with central, tree-lined pedestrian ramblas. The resulting walkable corridor generated over $270 million in economic output and attracted $130 million in private investment within four years. Today, the district supports roughly 250 entities, including a museum opened in 2012, a performing arts center, and the Lancaster Public Library. Local workers and residents note that the revamped environment consistently encourages pedestrian traffic and fosters broader community interaction.

Key points

  • Replacing vehicle lanes with tree-lined pedestrian corridors can drive significant region…: Replacing vehicle lanes with tree-lined pedestrian corridors can drive significant regional economic development and housing renovation.
  • Public-private partnerships such as the BLVD Association help sustain revitalized downtow…: Public-private partnerships such as the BLVD Association help sustain revitalized downtown districts through dedicated visitor and business services.
  • Designing downtowns around pedestrian accessibility creates inclusive communal hubs that…: Designing downtowns around pedestrian accessibility creates inclusive communal hubs that connect families, local businesses, and social service recipients.

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Passing through the Mojave desert on State Route 14, going by landscapes Hollywood uses to represent alien planets, a driver might not expect to find a walkable, tree-lined boulevard.

But there are nine beautiful, leafy blocks on West Lancaster Boulevard, a piece of what used to be Highway 14. They were redeveloped as part of a mixed-use urban streetscape in the city of Lancaster, California in 2010.

The BLVD, as it’s been rebranded, is home to 250 public and private enterprises, from banks, tattoo shops and restaurants to museums, a performing arts centre and a public library. City Hall is just a block south.

The city invested $11.5m (£8.5m) to transform a busy thoroughfare into an inviting public space. The three lanes in the centre of the former five-lane road were replaced by a series of tree-lined ramblas – Spanish for “avenue” and “watercourse,” because dry stream beds served as streets in early cities.

The redesign was planned and funded by the city of redevelopment agency. Within four years of completion, it had generated more than $270m in economic output,…

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