Client: The City of Huntington Beach
Type: Equity Study, Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
The West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor (WSAB) light rail will connect historically underinvested communities in southeast Los Angeles to downtown LA. The Pacific/Randolph and Florence/Salt Lake Station Area Plans for two proposed transit stops along the line create a vision, goals and recommendations to guide future mixed-use and housing development in the neighborhoods within the station areas.
Recommendations in the Plans include land use and zoning guidance for the cities to accommodate compact and walkable development, but also focus on programs and policies to anchor neighborhood growth and change in principles of equitable development that will uplift the existing residents and legacy businesses and protect them from displacement.
The Plans are based in TOD principles and envision a station area concept of ‘Incremental Infill’, that can strategically develop under-utilized commercial sites in the vicinity of the proposed stations, while preserving parts of the existing fabric that are define the culture and character of the place and existing housing or local businesses that are valued by the community.
The Plans are unique in that they show a path forward, empowering communities that need transit investment without the potential challenges of associated displacement due to gentrification and loss of community or local identity. They place the focus of change on equity first, recommending policies and programs to provide new housing that serves the existing population, as well as improving quality of life and economic opportunity while making room for better transportation options to create healthy and sustainable communities.
