Proposed Grandview Plan Emphasizes Mixed Use, Connectivity

A preview last week of the recommended plan for the renovation and renewal of the  gave residents a glimpse into the possible future for the maligned district.

The plan included a mix of commercial, retail and residential buildings, public amenities, revised traffic flow, increased pedestrian and bike paths and a handful of environmentally friendly projects.

If all goes according to the plan, the first phase would get underway within a year and would begin by designing new use and structures for the sites currently occupied by the city's former Public Works facility on the corner of Arcadia and Eden avenues and the nearby school bus garage site on Eden.

In 10 or more years, the plan calls for the elimination of the on the east side of Highway 100 and a possible relocation of the to a new spot inside of the Grandview District.

The plan was unveiled to the special steering committee at a meeting at the . The next step will be for committee representatives to meet with the City Council at a work session on Dec. 20.

A release of the draft of the final plan—which will no doubt have a few changes from what was revealed last week—is scheduled for Jan. 25, which will kick off a public comment period running through March 9. On March 20, the plan will be presented at a regular meeting of the City Council, which is expected to vote on whether to approve and proceed with the plan.

Mike Lamb of the Cuningham Group, one of the consultants working with the steering committee, said the land under the ownership of the city will be the "major focus of the entire project."

“The greater value and power of the public realm is its ability to connect neighborhoods, businesses, schools, parks and open space into a larger whole greater than the sum of the individual elements,” Lamb reported.

Among the goals of the plan are increased use and improvement of bike and pedestrian pathways, a civic/community center, prominent public realms of parks, green spaces, paths and plazas and a strong use of sustainable energy and green concepts.

A new use of existing and future streets as well as a major revamping of the entrances and exits off Hwy. 100 is another major focus.

Details of the plan can be seen by visiting www.edinacitizenengagement.org and clicking on engagement projects.