The Boomburb Downtown. Robert Lang, Ph.D. Arthur C. Nelson, Ph.D. FAICP Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech

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1 The Boomburb Downtown Robert Lang, Ph.D. Arthur C. Nelson, Ph.D. FAICP Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech

2 Boomburbs Have over 100,000 residents and are mostly found in the Southwest U.S. Are not the core city in their region e.g., not Las Vegas, but North Las Vegas. Maintained double-digit rates of population growth for each census from 1970 to 2000 (most have been booming since 1940). Form incorporated places. Lie in the top 50 U.S. metros.

3 Why Study Boomburbs? Account for about half the growth in cities between 100,000 to 500,000 in population Have lots of new development, both greenfield and infill Are seeing major infrastructure investment, including light rail systems, regional rail, airports, and freeways In sum Boomburbs are booming

4 Boomburb Downtowns Are typically modest sized given the scale of the surrounding city Come in all shapes, sizes, mixes, and ages The biggest ones are late 20 th century new town centers in places such as Irvine, CA and Irving, TX There are also plenty of Old Towns

5 Downtown: Rail, Scale, and Setting Boomburb Downtown Types Infill Setting Greenfield Setting With Rail With Rail Small Urban Village TOD Village Large Urban Center TOD High Rise Without Rail Without Rail Small Main Street Lifestyle Center Large Suburban Center New Town Center Source: Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech

6 Boomburb Downtown Examples Urban Village Plano, TX Urban Center Tempe, AZ Main Street Orange, CA Suburban Center Scottsdale, AZ TOD Village Hillsboro, OR TOD High Rise Irving, TX Lifestyle Center Rancho Cucamonga, CA New Town Center Irvine, CA

7 Plano, TX Urban Village Small scale Transit oriented Infill redevelopment of an exiting Main Street Retail and housing mixed Large-scale office development remains in the suburban office parks

8 Dallas Area Rapid Transit

9 Scenes Around the Plano Station

10 Tempe, AZ Urban Center Switching from small scale to large scale development Three stops along the new Phoenix Metro System, including a transfer station Mix of major retail, high rise housing, and office towers Headquarters for US Airways and branch offices of several national companies

11 Bridgeview Apartments in Tempe

12 Tempe Light Rail Stops

13 Rail Bridge into Downtown Tempe

14 Orange, CA Main Street Small scale and mixed use classic Old Town with late 19 th century origins So authentic looking that it has been used as a movie set for example, That Thing You Do! New infill housing planned but there is no major retail in the works.

15 There are even walking tours

16 Cars Circling Plaza Square in Orange

17 Scottsdale, AZ Suburban Center No rail planned, but a booming downtown with multiple high rise residential towers planned The downtown needs to switch its branding from cowboys to urban sophistication Also contains major retail, with upscale shopping

18 Mixed Use Housing and Retail

19 Old and New Downtown Imagery

20 Hillsboro, OR TOD Village Orenco Station Green Field Project

22 Irvine, TX TOD High Rise One of the largest downtowns in any Boomburb is the New Town Center of Las Colinas Project was begun in the 1970s and contains is mixed use, with major retail, offices and multifamily housing Las Colinas is on the DART system and has an additional people mover

23 The Las Colinas Skyline

24 People Mover and Water Feature

25 The Famous Mustangs in the Plaza

26 Rancho Cucamonga, CA Lifestyle Center Victoria Gardens is a new mixed-use lifestyle center with major retail and multifamily housing Development is meant to provide a real center to this otherwise sprawling Boomburb The project has been a success and is crowded with pedestrians

27 Victoria Gardens

28 Irvine, CA New Town Center The South Coast Plaza is the largest suburban office cluster in the U.S. It may be the largest downtown in the US that lacks a rail connection The area may not be pedestrian friendly, but it is dense with mixed use office/ retail/housing Many new high-residential units are planned

29 Irvine Skyline at South Coast Plaza

30 To Sum Lots of diversity in scale, setting, and transit options Significant activity around the U.S. All are adding a greater mixture of uses, especially new housing Urbanizing suburbs are one key to remaking the American metropolis based on smart growth principals

South Fulton Parkway Transit Feasibility Study

South Fulton Parkway Transit Feasibility Study Study Purpose To conduct a high level assessment of potential transit improvements in the South Fulton Parkway Corridor through the evaluation of various