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