II. VISION Community and Economic Development II. VISION

component: 5 Planned well and with proper vision the Trinity has continued to provide a high quality River Corridor can become the focus of residential address for Dallasites, the Trinity sustainable development at the heart of the River Corridor could be the focus for an urban Metroplex. A small but increasing life-style centered on proximity to downtown number of people are seeking alternatives to and easy access to cultural and recreational conventional suburban living, tired of long opportunities. In the last century, reclamation commutes and isolation from neighbors and of Boston’s Charles River became the growth urban amenities. Nationally, a modest trend corridor for a burgeoning metropolis and more towards more urban life-styles is discernable, recently the Platte River has become the next motivated both by the allure of city living and by frontier for a growing Downtown Denver. The a growing awareness of the environmental and Trinity can do the same for Dallas. social costs of sprawl. The center of Dallas can attract new residents looking for such Existing residents and businesses will have alternatives to the suburbs: residents searching enhanced access to regional transportation via for a sense of place tied to the origins of the the Trinity Parkway and surface road city and its landmarks. Much as Turtle Creek enhancements along Industrial Boulevard and Riverfront development in Valencia, Spain.

Riverfront development in Cairo.

Proposed downtown Levee-top Road development and promenade at the Urban Lake.

57 A Balanced Vision Plan for the Corridor

proposed levee-top roads. Future development Lewisville Plano can be located to take advantage of existing and proposed light rail alignments. Walking and cycling will become viable modes of transit with Carrollton the construction of new trails within the floodway Coppell and improvements to historic viaducts to better Richardson accommodate pedestrians and cyclists.

Grapevine Residential communities along the Trinity - many of which are lower income - will be revitalized by the combination of enhanced transportation Garland access and development of open space resources. , South Dallas and DALLAS-FORTH WORTH Bachman INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Lake many other Southern Sector neighborhoods University Euless Park White will benefit from park enhancements that will Love Rick Field place these communities near an interpretive Highland Lake Park center, an equestrian center and new Irving East recreational playing fields and lakes. Dallas

DALLAS Existing businesses will benefit from enhanced West access to the regional roadway system via the Dallas Mesquite South Parkway. New businesses will be attracted with Dallas good transportation access and high visibility Cockrell sites along the river, while employees can be Hill Balch Springs attracted with open space resources for Grand afterwork leisure and recreation. Prairie

Levee extensions will stabilize property values Arlington and encourage investment by removing flood threats from low lying neighborhoods and businesses. Stabilizing - and increasing - Duncanville property values is essential to increase the tax base for the City of Dallas, both to help offset Lancaster Hutchins the cost of the project and support improved DeSoto services to the corridor. Communities and neighborhoods connected by the Trinity Corridor (Dallas city limits shown in yellow).

58 II. VISION

Enhanced corridor neighborhoods will make Boulevard, in carrying local and regional traffic. good neighbors for future parklands. Neighborhoods and businesses will become The levee roads would be designed to carry supporters and stakeholders in future park traffic during commute hours with up to four improvements by providing “eyes on the park” travel lanes, but also, during evenings and and future advocates for park maintenance and weekends, provide convenient on-street parking security. for park users. Wider lanes would support cyclists on the levee roads. Enhanced Access to Support Development Technical issues relating to the continuing A primary element of the Plan calls for levee- stability of the levees will have to be addressed top roads built adjacent to downtown, as part of this project’s design. For instance, Stemmons Design District, and Oak Cliff the USACE may require that the levees can neighborhoods. Levee roads would provide two accommodate additional raises in the future important functions: prestigious addresses for with low walls. Trees may have to be planted in new businesses and residences - like Turtle special structures that protect the levees from Creek Boulevard - and assistance to existing failure in a flood event. Backfilling behind the arterials, such as Canada Drive and Industrial levees - similar to the condition at Commerce

Potential Development

Oak Cliff Levee-top Road Section. Proposed pedestrian plaza at the Reunion overlook.

59 A Balanced Vision Plan for the Trinity River Corridor

Street now - could alleviate some concerns over the stability of the levees.

The roads proposed for the top of the levees could be constructed in several ways. One approach is to center the new roadway over the levee, two other concepts are to offset the roadway to either the inside or outside of the levee. Any of the three conceptual designs will require additional fill on the levee, and will result in the levee being strengthened, improving flood protection. The alignment on the outside of the levee will require relocation of some of the sump areas and other drainage structures, while construction on the inside of the levee would require off-setting excavation in the floodway to provide the same level of flood protection. The final alignment is a detailed design issue that will be based on development considerations, land use requirements, and construction costs. Continuing discussion with the USACE should ensure that the selected design will meet its concerns about levee strength and stability.

Better Access to Park Lands

Access to parklands will be achieved on the Oak Cliff (west) side of the Trinity River with a combination of continuous levee-top trails, and a proposed levee-top road running between IH- 30 and IH-35. Parking along this roadway would provide unprecedented views and immediate access to parklands for regional park users and adjacent development. On the Downtown (east) side of the river, pedestrian overpasses will Potential Oak Cliff Development between the Houston Street Viaduct and I-30 will bring new activity to the Trinity River.

60 II. VISION

provide access points to parklands between part of the parkway to bring the walker closer public investments should lead to revitalization Hampton Road to the north and Cedar Crest to views of the lakes and park. The Reunion and redevelopment that support existing Viaduct to the south. A total of 11 vehicular Street Plaza would become the focus for civic communities and create new business and access points will be located from most major gatherings and events that relate to both mixed use areas. Some examples of the river viaducts between West Dallas and South downtown and the Trinity River. potential for community and economic Dallas. In addition, a continuous park road will development are (listed from west to east): provide vehicular access for the length of the Development Districts park with entry points from adjoining Westmoreland Heights / Lake West neighborhoods. The combination of the Trinity Parkway and West Dallas neighborhoods would be made parkland development will spur new interest more attractive with enhanced regional access In addition to frequent pedestrian bridges, a along the corridor. At locations with enhanced to the Trinity Parkway via Sylvan and Hampton larger “pedestrian plaza” and widened access to recreation and transportation, new Roads and increased recreational resources pedestrian connections will be constructed large-scale development should be within the Trinity River Park. A variety of infill over the Trinity Parkway. These pedestrian encouraged. Larger scale development will be developments would be anticipated within areas would cover the parkway for distances required to support the cost of infrastructure existing neighborhoods or in commercial of up to 600 feet with public parkland or would such as levee stabilization and sump locations along major arterials. provide wide walkways that cantilever over a relocation. Throughout the corridor, these Singleton Boulevard would attract commercial and residential development at the western terminus of the Woodall Rodgers Bridge. Improved highway access and enhanced views over parkland would make this site particularly attractive for larger-scale commercial and residential development.

Oak Cliff Gateway The triangle of land bordered by Beckley, Zang and the Trinity River Levee is already becoming a desirable residential neighborhood. New development within this district would include residential and commercial development of sufficient density to offset the cost of relocating sumps and construction of a levee-top road. Future development would have unparalleled views and access to downtown, the lakes and Potential development at Woodall Rodgers North. Potential development at Cedars West.

61 A Balanced Vision Plan for the Trinity River Corridor

river parkland. Special treatment of the Houston visibility - from the Parkway and Woodall include housing, office and retail development Street Viaduct should be considered including Rodgers - for corporate landmark buildings. adjacent to the old Trinity Sumps. Light rail better pedestrian accommodations and transit would be available at the 8 th and Corinth architectural lighting of the structure. Reunion Place Station and the on South Lamar; On either side of Reunion Plaza extending over and a new station could be located at the Trinity Woodall Rodgers Landing the Trinity Parkway, and along a new levee-top River to serve new development. Highly visible commercial and residential sites road, new development opportunities would be would be available at the east and west landings created adjacent to downtown with access to South Lamar of the new Woodall Rodgers bridge. Land Industrial Boulevard and Commerce Street. A Enhancements to South Lamar Boulevard and takings needed for bridge construction could be mix of residential and commerical development improved regional access will encourage retail used to assemble parcels for future would benefit from views over the Trinity Lakes and commercial development adjacent to IH- development. The Woodall Rodgers Bridge - and easy access to the parklands via Reunion 45 and IH-75. South Dallas neighborhoods will to be designed by Santiago Calatrava - and the Plaza and the park road. have improved access to parklands via MLK Jr. existing Continental viaduct should provide Boulevard, which will become a significant ample pedestrian facilities to support adjacent Cedars West District boulevard connection between two major Dallas development. Sites on the north side of the Improvements to Industrial Boulevard could be assets - the Trinity River and . In the Trinity would have unparalleled views and high combined with a major change of use that would Trinity River Corridor Comprehensive Land Use

Lamar Center

Trinity Forest

Cadillac Heights

South Lamar Development Area (image from Draft Comprehensive Land Use Study, HNTB/GFF).

62 II. VISION

Plan, the HNTB team illustrates an opportunity programs and incentive packages, such created by the connection of I-45 and C.F. Hawn development will happen much more slowly. Comprehensive Land Use Study Freeway for a regional retail center at the Priority Areas intersection of the Trinity Parkway and Lamar. The City of Dallas has a comprehensive land This area is currently underutilized by scrap use study underway for the entire Trinity River • Dowdy Ferry / Interstate 20 metal salvage yards and other blighted industrial Corridor. The land use plan consultant team • Southern Gateway uses. Because the connection between I-45 has conducted detailed assessments of 22 and C.F. Hawn Freeway removes the need for ‘priority development areas’ that have the • Southward Industrial S.M. Wright to remain as a freeway, the Trinity greatest potential for revitalization resulting • Joppa River Corridor Comprehensive Land Use Plan from these public investments. In addition, the • Pemberton Hill proposes the conversion of S.M. Wright study has developed ‘prototype plans’ for 10 Freeway to an at-grade, landscaped boulevard. areas that propose site planning, urban design • Rochester Park This would link the residential neighborhoods and infrastructure strategies to encourage • Ideal Neighborhood on both sides of the roadway, and strengthen development. • South Lamar Industrial District the viability of the neighborhood currently between S.M. Wright and Lamar. The comprehensive land use study is currently • Cadillac Heights on hold pending decisions about the Trinity • Skyline Heights Cadillac Heights Parkway. Following action on the Parkway and • Tenth Street Bottoms Levee improvements will protect low-lying this Balanced Vision Plan, the land use study’s • Cedars West businesses and residents from periodic recommendations to date should be reviewed flooding. Cadillac Heights will benefit from so they maximize benefits from the latest • Mixmaster / Riverfront improved regional access with connections to designs for these public projects. Completion • Oak Cliff Gateway the Trinity Parkway at Corinth Street and Martin of this land use study and adoption of its • Woodall Rodgers Intercept Luther King, Jr. Boulevard viaducts, an asset recommendations for implementation is for a variety of possible future land uses in this essential to achieve the full community benefit • La Bajada / Los Altos area. of this vision plan. • Old Trinity Industrial • Westmoreland Heights / Lake West Planning for Revitalization • Commonwealth / Trinity Parkway Each of the areas within the Trinity River • Irving Boulevard / Regal Row Corridor must be planned carefully to ensure • Stemmons Crossroads that the public investments and future community/economic development are • Luna Road / Walnut Hill supportive of one another. Without clear land use plans, design standards, infrastructure

63 Fact Sheet A Balanced Vision Plan for the Trinity River Corridor

ENHANCED PHYSICAL ACCESS with two curb lanes for parking. Speed limits • Woodall Rodgers Gateway (west side) will be posted at 35 mph Approximately 100acres of highly visible • Trinity Parkway Connections sites with FAR of .30 could yield The Trinity Parkway will have connections PEDESTRIAN PLAZAS development of up to .28 million sf to the following major arterials: North Hampton • Reunion Plaza • Oak Cliff Gateway Sylvan Drive Area: approximately 2.75 acres (600’x200’) Approximately 60 acres of mixed-use and Continental (via Industrial Blvd) Programing for the plaza will be passive residential re-development with FAR of 2.0 Commerce (via Industrial Blvd) recreation; viewing of lakes; retail coul could yield development of up to .89 million Houston/Jefferson Streets include food service, boathouse for boating square feet and 960 residential units. Corinth Street clubs, public meeting rooms, and vertical Cedar Crest/MLK circulation for pedestrians and vehicles for • Cedars West Commonwealth park access Approximately 180 acres of mixed-use and Industrial Blvd residential redevelopment with FAR of 2.0 • Widened Pedestrian Connections could yield development of up to 2 million • Downtown Levee-top Road(s) These connections would be approximately square feet and 3,200 residential units. 2.1 miles 80’ wide and would provide pedestrian areas Downtown levee-top roads to be located as on the levee top and potentially cantilever • South Lamar appropriate to support adjacent urban over the riverside levee slope. Commercial development along South development Lamar Street could total up to 1 million sf DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS The street will have two full-time travel lanes • Cadillac Heights with two curb lanes capable of carrying peak • Westmoreland Heights / Lake West Residential infill within low-lying traffic but reserved for parking during non- Approximately 1,500 acres of existing neighborhoods could total an additional 200 rush hour weekday periods, and weekends. neighborhoods could see residential infill of households Speed limit of 30 mph 63 new units of housing

• Oak Cliff Levee Road • Old Trinity Industrial 1.8 miles Approximately 200 acres of transitional The Oak Cliff Levee-top Road will connect warehouse uses could see mixed-use re- Beckley, Houston Street Viaduct, Jefferson development and increased densities up to Viaduct, IH-35 and IH-30 FAR of 2.0 in selected locations totaling up to 7.4 million sf The street will have two full-time travel lanes

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