Elysian Valley Under Pass Gateway
This project looks to transform the portion of Riverside Drive that passes beneath Interstate 5 as well as looks to utilize portions of the public right-of-way and conditional use of adjacent vacant parcels to work comprehensively as both a new gateway to the neighborhood and provide needed community serving uses.
The Interstate 5 and Highway 2 have created a common instance of deeply shaded and inhospitable moments for pedestrian and bicyclists to pass through. The intent is to treat these underpasses as opportunities for art that lead to safer conditions but also express the varying identity and character found within this portion of Elysian Valley, also known as 'Frogtown'. As a companion effort, the project will look to integrate the much needed retail and community services to amend the historically unbalanced land use designations as part of this district.
To increase a sense of comfort, safety, and level of interest near and around the underpass vertical landscape elements, lighting, navigation through the underpass, way-finding signage, clear sight-lines and visual connections to overall network will be incorporated into the site. Further enhancements would include soliciting community-driven art projects beneath the underpasses, distinguished tree plantings and distinctive paving to transform the existing impacts caused by the freeways/highways and contribute to the identity of the neighborhood.
Providing a well-identified and accessible route will also improve bicycle and pedestrian accessibility, mobility and safety offering connection in and out of Elysian Valley as well as accessing another entry point to the River. The addition of a DASH bus line will also increase public transport ridership and mobility around Elysian Valley and neighboring
communities.
In order to transform underutilized spaces into vital places that highlight local assets, spur rejuvenation and serve common needs an alternative pop-up retail is suggested in the space adjacent to the Public Storage Facility. This could include portable or temporary local entrepreneurial opportunities such as an outdoor market and/or café. As a recommended public private partnership, these spaces could be co-facilitated by Public Storage connecting private sponsorship to opportunities for local entrepreneurs to help revive our communities' shared places, from parks and parking lots to downtown corridors which could at times (weeknights or weekends) spill out into the Public Storage parking lot.
As part of a longer term transition, the identified opportunity areas should be planned for the eventual contribution to the neighborhood as locally serving retail and community facilities that are currently absent. It is important to note that several community members, including representatives from the Elysian Valley Neighborhood Council, have stressed that the existing infrastructure of Elysian Valley is reaching, or has already reached capacity and additional growth will stress the system and compromise the integrity of the neighborhood. With that, it is the intention of this proposed project to put forward improvements that can contribute to improve the identity of the neighborhood as well as provide much needed community resources within the neighborhood.
