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The Arroyo Group The Mobility Group
Stanley R Hoffman Associates Waronzof Associates
EPT DESIGN JMC2
Katherine Padilla and Associates
May 7, 2013
CITY OF SOUTH GATE
Tweedy Boulevard Specific Plan
November 22, 2014
SPECIFIC PLAN AREA
Specific Plan Area
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Background and Purpose Tweedy Boulevard, especially the Tweedy Mile section, was the original
“main street’ in the City of South Gate in the 1950-60’s. Over the succeeding decades, with the development of other retail
areas and the closure of major employment centers within the city, Tweedy Boulevard has been in decline.
The City established the revitalization of Tweedy Boulevard as a priority in its 2035 General Plan.
What’s a Specific Plan?
Long-term vision, priorities and rules for the public environment as well as future development
Private development – What types of housing, businesses, and public facilities should be
allowed and where? – Design standards and guidelines for existing and future buildings
Public realm – Circulation network improvements (cars, bicycles, transit, etc.) – Infrastructure improvements – Pedestrian improvements (sidewalk, landscaping etc.) – How to finance and implement the vision
Project Schedule September 2014 Existing Conditions and Opportunities
and Constraints November 2014 Preliminary Land Use and Design Plan Spring/Summer 2015 Public Review Draft Specific Plan Summer/Fall 2015 Public Hearings Fall 2015 Final Specific Plan
Community Feedback to date
General agreement that long range planning for Tweedy Boulevard offers a prime opportunity for Tweedy to once again become the “heart” of South Gate.
Desired types of land uses along Tweedy Mile: – More choices for restaurants and retail, unique stores, local and smaller uses,
farmers market (at a more convenient time), banquet hall, art galleries, live events, entertainment and recreation uses for the younger population
Urban Design Issues: – Better connections between the west end and the rest of the Blvd. – More street trees; better landscaping, street lighting and streetscape amenities – Connection to the Los Angeles River – Improved street maintenance and cleanliness
Community Feedback to date Private Development Issues:
– Improvements to building facades – Need for affordable housing and assisted living uses – Consider mixed uses in selected areas along the Blvd.
Traffic Issues: – High vehicular speeds along Tweedy Blvd. – Hard to make left turns on Tweedy Blvd. – Difficult to ride a bike
Parking Issues: – Lack of time limit, use of parking by employees, insufficient supply for shoppers – Visibility and safe access to off-site parking lots – Need better signage to off-site parking lots – Need a holistic look at parking
PRELIMINARY LAND USE PLAN
v
“Main Street” Pedestrian focused retail
and environment
Transition Zones (Retail, Residential,
Offices)
Services / Businesses / Residential
Multi-Family Residential
Atlantic Corridor - Mixed Use /
Business / Light Industrial / R &D /
Incubator Uses
Educational Uses
PRELIMINARY LAND USE PLAN – TWEEDY MILE
v
“Main Street” Pedestrian focused retail
and environment
Tweedy Mile Subarea – Elizabeth to Hunt
Preserve and build upon existing retail Maintain the walkability of small scale, pedestrian-oriented retail uses on
ground floor Continue buildings at edge of sidewalk forming a continuous street wall
Tweedy Mile Subarea – Elizabeth to Hunt
Office, medical and/or residential uses allowed on upper floors Parking primarily to the rear of the properties Pedestrian access to parking through mid-block walkways and/or secondary
entrances
Tweedy Mile – Existing Land Uses
Tweedy Mile - “Main Street”
Before
After
Before
After
Tweedy Mile - “Main Street”
PRELIMINARY LAND USE PLAN – TWEEDY WEST
v Transition Zone
(Retail, Residential, Offices)
Services / Businesses / Residential
Tweedy West – Stanford to Elizabeth
Transition to less intense retail uses westward from Tweedy Mile
Focus on mixed uses Retail, office, medical
and/or residential uses allowed on all floors
Buildings primarily built at edge of sidewalk or pushed back to provide space for gathering places such as plazas
Tweedy West – Stanford to Elizabeth
Tweedy West – Alameda to Stanford
Service uses, business and employment uses, and residential uses
Accommodate existing uses Allow for higher-density
residential uses
Tweedy West – Alameda to Stanford
PRELIMINARY LAND USE PLAN – TWEEDY EAST
v
Multi-Family Residential
Atlantic Corridor: Mixed Use /
Business / Light Industrial / R &D /
Incubator Uses
Educational Uses
Tweedy East Subarea–Hunt to Pinehurst
Build on existing residential uses
Focus on medium density residential uses along Tweedy, adjacent to and across from South Gate Park
Stoops, porches, setbacks to ensure privacy
Tweedy East – Residential
Tweedy East–Atlantic Corridor
Atlantic Corridor (west): – Mixed Uses - Retail and
residential uses Atlantic Corridor (east):
– Mixed Uses - Retail, light industrial uses, incubator, R&D uses
Tweedy East–Atlantic Corridor
Tweedy East–Atlantic Corridor
Tweedy East Subarea–Atlantic to LA River
Educational uses
PRELIMINARY MOBILITY PLAN – TWEEDY MILE
Mobility Goals
Tweedy Boulevard as a Community Street
A Complete Street with convenient access from the neighborhoods Walkable Bikable Good transit access Convenient parking
A street with a good walking and biking environment
Calm traffic on Tweedy
How Can We Improve the Tweedy Street Environment ?
Tweedy Mile carries 26,000 ADT Has 9’ sidewalks
Great streets are defined more by the sidewalk environment than
the number of traffic lanes or traffic volumes.
How Can We Improve the Tweedy Street Environment ?
Key issue on Tweedy Mile is the 9’ sidewalks.
A lot of pedestrian infrastructure is already in place between State and Hunt: 20 intersections (every 300’) 10 traffic signals (every 600’) 10 unsignalized intersections 20 crosswalks (every 300’) 14 blocks with mid-block curb extensions 12 intersections with curb extensions
But ineffective – not substantial enough to calm traffic or enhance
pedestrian environment.
Existing – Four Lanes
Existing Tweedy Street Environment
Existing Tweedy Street Environment
Option 1 – Retain Four Lane Street
Many examples of successful four lane streets in Southern California
Some over 30,000 ADT Most have 12 – 15’ sidewalks A few have 10’ sidewalks.
East 2nd Street, Long Beach Colorado Boulevard, Old Pasadena Coast Highway, Laguna Beach Whittier Boulevard, East Los Angeles
4L Example: East 2nd Street, Belmont Shores
4L Example: Colorado Boulevard, Old Pasadena
4L Example: Coast Highway, Laguna Beach
4L Example: Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
4L Example: Whittier Boulevard, East Los Angeles
Option 2 – Road Diet, 3 Lanes, Add Bike Lanes
In City’s Bicycle Plan Provides 6’ Bike Lanes Retains Parking Retains 9’ sidewalks – does not improve Not recommended
Option 2 – Road Diet, 3 Lanes, Add Bike Lanes
Option 3 – Road Diet, 3 Lanes, Widen Sidewalks
No Bike Lanes Retains Parking Provides 15’ sidewalks
Option 3 – Road Diet, 3 Lanes, Widen Sidewalks
2 Lane Examples
Examples of two-lane streets:
Generally less than 17,500 ADT Typically in 9,000 to 15,000 ADT range Typically 12 – 15’ sidewalks A few have 10’ sidewalks A few have >15’ sidewalks
Greenleaf Avenue, Whittier Glassell Avenue, Orange Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles
2L Example: Greenleaf Avenue, Whittier
2L Example: Glassell Avenue, Orange
2L Example: Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles
Team Recommendation
A road diet is not necessarily the right solution Volumes on Tweedy are at high end of range for road diets. Potential impacts on adjacent residential streets from diverted traffic.
Widening sidewalks for over a mile of street is a major project – cost and implementation issues.
Recommending a “hybrid alternative” to focus on enhancing the pedestrian
environment.
Team Recommendation – Hybrid Solution
The “hybrid solution”
Retain 4 Lanes Install Bike Route (Sharrows, not Bike Lane) Extend depth and length of mid-block bulbouts (three times current length) Extend depth of intersection bulbouts at intersections Widen and replace all paved crosswalks with more visible crossing treatments. Add pedestrian countdowns at traffic signals Time and sign traffic signals for 25mph progression
Improves sidewalk environment to 15’ in many places Calms traffic Can be implemented incrementally Does not preclude road diet in future.
Proposed Hybrid Solution
Sidewalk Extensions
Sidewalk Extensions
Sidewalk Extensions
Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood
Sharrow Bike Route
Parking
Improve utilization and efficiency of “rear lot” parking Improve alleys Improve lighting in lots Restripe where feasible for greater efficiency
Improve access to rear lot parking
Add mid-block access corridors and plazas Add sidewalk bulb-outs on north-south streets
Allow shared parking. Allow parking requirements to be met within 1,000 ft.
Consolidate operations of parking lots in Community District?
Add new lots as sites available and demand warrants
Tweedy Mile – Alleys and City-owned Parking
Tweedy Mile – Alleys and City-owned Parking
Alley Walkway Network
Mid-Block Parking Access with Plaza
PRELIMINARY BICYCLE PLAN
Bicycles
Implement bicycle network in City Bicycle Plan, with some modifications
Bike Route not Bike Lanes on Tweedy
Bike Boulevards on Missouri and Michigan
Bike facilities on north-south streets per Bicycle Plan or modified.
PRELIMINARY TRANSIT PLAN
Transit
The Tweedy Shuttle From LA River to Alameda Street
Ties together numerous destinations and activity nodes along the
corridor.
PRELIMINARY STREETSCAPE PLAN
Streetscape Improvements - Goals Improve pedestrian safety Enhance pedestrian environment Enhance neighborhood identity Improve neighborhood and school connectivity Improve storm water retention Contribute to increased economic activity
v
Streetscape Improvements Improved crosswalk visibility Warning light systems (where necessary) Curb bulb-outs Street trees Streetscape amenities – lighting, benches, trash cans Wayfinding and signage system Planting areas along street edge
Improved Crosswalk visibility
Existing
Street Trees
Streetscape Amenities
Planting areas along the street edge
Signage and Wayfinding System
Implementation
New image for Tweedy based on urban design opportunities.
Potential to obtain grants for pedestrian network improvements.
Signage and banners – early phase public improvements can help create the desired image of the area.
Art fairs and music events/community gatherings in public spaces to introduce the desired image of the area.
Marketing and developer/tenant solicitation.
Opportunities to prioritize catalytic sites and public improvements.
Zoning incentives for private assembly of development sites.
For More Information
Please visit our project website:
www.cityofsouthgate.org
Click on the Tweedy Boulevard Specific Plan Link