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The Boomburb Downtown Robert Lang, Ph.D. Arthur C. Nelson, Ph.D. FAICP Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech
The Boomburb DowntownRobert Lang, Ph.D.
Arthur C. Nelson, Ph.D. FAICPMetropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech
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.
Why Study Boomburbs?
Account for about half the growth in cities between 100,000 to 500,000 in populationHave lots of new development, both greenfield and infillAre seeing major infrastructure investment, including light rail systems, regional rail, airports, and freewaysIn sum—Boomburbs are booming
Boomburb Downtowns
Are typically modest sized given the scale of the surrounding cityCome in all shapes, sizes, mixes, and agesThe biggest ones are late 20th century new town centers in places such as Irvine, CA and Irving, TXThere are also plenty of “Old Towns”
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
Boomburb Downtown Examples
Urban Village – Plano, TXUrban Center – Tempe, AZMain Street – Orange, CASuburban Center – Scottsdale, AZTOD Village – Hillsboro, ORTOD High Rise – Irving, TXLifestyle Center – Rancho Cucamonga, CANew Town Center – Irvine, CA
Plano, TX – “Urban Village”
Small scaleTransit orientedInfill redevelopment of an exiting Main StreetRetail and housing mixedLarge-scale office development remains in the suburban office parks
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Scenes Around the Plano Station
Tempe, AZ – “Urban Center”
Switching from small scale to large scale developmentThree stops along the new Phoenix Metro System, including a transfer stationMix of major retail, high rise housing, and office towersHeadquarters for US Airways and branch offices of several national companies
Bridgeview Apartments in Tempe
Tempe Light Rail Stops
Orange, CA – “Main Street”
Small scale and mixed use classic “Old Town” with late 19th century originsSo 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.
There are evenwalking tours
Cars Circling Plaza Square in Orange
Scottsdale, AZ – “Suburban Center”
No rail planned, but a booming downtown with multiple high rise residential towers plannedThe downtown needs to switch its branding from cowboys to urban sophisticationAlso contains major retail, with upscale shopping
Mixed Use Housing and Retail
Old and New Downtown Imagery
Hillsboro, OR – “TOD Village”Orenco Station “Green Field” Project
Irvine, TX – “TOD High Rise”
One of the largest “downtowns” in any Boomburb is the New Town Center of Las ColinasProject was begun in the 1970s and contains is mixed use, with major retail, offices and multifamily housingLas Colinas is on the DART system and has an additional “people mover”
People Mover and Water Feature
The Famous Mustangs in the Plaza
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – “Lifestyle Center”
Victoria Gardens is a new mixed-use lifestyle center with major retail and multifamily housingDevelopment is meant to provide a real center to this otherwise sprawling BoomburbThe project has been a success and is crowded with “pedestrians”
Victoria Gardens
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 connectionThe area may not be pedestrian friendly, but it is dense with mixed use office/ retail/housingMany new high-residential units are planned
Irvine Skyline at South Coast Plaza
To Sum
Lots of diversity in scale, setting, and transit optionsSignificant activity around the U.S.All are adding a greater mixture of uses, especially new housingUrbanizing suburbs are one key to remaking the American metropolis based on smart growth principals
