NEW YORK AVENUE CORRIDOR STRATEGY
west corner of the intersection , six parcels makeup the Opportunity Site . The largest of these parcels is extremely underutilized ( having an improvement to total property value of less than 40 %). Additionally , the City owns one of the six parcels in the area . The existing retail buildings on the site were constructed in the 1950 ’ s and 1960 ’ s , and the configuration of the buildings , the size of the floor plates and ceiling heights make them unattractive to the types of retailers that the community envisions in the area . Several factors make this site a good candidate for redevelopment including the limited number of parcels and owners that would be needed to participate in the redevelopment , the potential for public / private partnerships incorporating the City-owned library site , and the existing direct access from the site to the surrounding neighborhood .
In the visioning process , the Advisory Committee and the community agreed that this site is the “ heart ” of East Arlington . It was historically the location of many of the stores , restaurants and activities in East Arlington that provided a sense of pride and belonging to its residents . Because of this tie to the past , the community felt strongly that a civic component , including a redeveloped library and a new recreation center could be an anchor for this site . The existing library and recreation center are extremely important to the residents of East Arlington , providing community gathering space , programs for seniors and after school programs for school-age children . However , the program needs in the area have outgrown the capacity of the existing aging facilities .
The community also expressed a strong desire to locate neighborhood supporting businesses within the corridor , including restaurants , coffee shops , ice cream shops , and others which would re-create the places that will again provide the sense of pride and belonging that is currently lacking . Finally , the community had a strong desire to see significant change through major renovation or redevelopment to the La Jolla apartment complex . The complex has recently exhibited several issues related to crime and code violations , and was believed by residents to portray a negative image for East Arlington .
In the Opportunity Site scenario for this area , Kimberly Drive , which currently has very poor definition due to the surrounding parking lots , would become a pedestrian-oriented retail street providing a strong visual and physical connection to the adjacent neighborhood . On the north side of this street , mixed-use development consisting of ground floor retail with two floors of residential above would provide new energy to this part of the corridor , while also providing locations for many of the neighborhood supporting businesses desired by the community . The two blocks created by this new development would have an internal street to provide access to surface parking .
On the south side of the new retail street ( Kimberly Drive ), new civic uses are envisioned in the form of a recreation center , library and civic plaza . This area would form a strong anchor for hosting local community gatherings . Along the western edge of this site , live / work units would provide a clean transition to the single family residential uses that exist immediately to the west of the site . The parcels furthest south in this development and across New York Avenue to the east , which are the current sites of the La Jolla Apartments , would be transformed into a new townhome development .
On the southeast corner of the intersection , the existing retail center is envisioned to receive reinvestment in the form of façade improvements , as well as the enhancement of Kimberly Drive with the addition of trees , curbs and sidewalks .
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FINAL REPORT | SEPTEMPER 2013