Wilshire Corridor Urban Strategy

Notes from Gary Russell, Architect, President of G. L. Russell & Assoc., Chairman of CRA-CAC Urban Design Committee, Wilshire Center Chamber of Commerce Planning Committee and Executive Director of the Wilshire Center Business Improvement Corp. (WCBIC) - 11/14/99

A work in progress.

The beginning of a new urban strategy for Wilshire Center has been approved by the WCBIC Board and the Wilshire Center Chamber of Commerce. The goal of the strategy is to make Wilshire Boulevard/Wilshire Corridor a better linear urban area for working and for living, to set an example of what L. A. can become, and to help L. A reinvent itself as many unique centers within a unique world city. Some key elements for a better place are good transportation, good schools and good pedestrian environments.

A new Wilshire Corridor Coalition is being formed to help develop this new urban strategy. The Coalition is looking to put together a Wilshire Corridor Urban Strategy Conference with leading urban planners, real estate professionals, local community groups and community members this coming spring to develop the Strategy with a series of luncheon leading up to the Conference. A kick off luncheon was held on November 10, on urban schools, and another luncheon is being planned on transportation on January 13, 2000.

The questions are how do we position and define Wilshire Center and the Wilshire Corridor in L. A.? Whom do we attract, who is here, and what are their needs? How do we make this place better? How do we make the Corridor a more livable and workable area? The following quote from William Mitchell, Dean of MIT School of Architecture and Planning, offers a solution:

"One promising strategy is to pursue the development of polycentric cities (communities) composed of compact, multifunctional, pedestrian-scale neighborhoods interconnected by efficient transportation and telecommunication links. These units might be arranged linearly, along public transport spines. By remixing homes, workplaces, and service facilities in this way, we can seek a more sustainable balance of pedestrian movement, mechanized transportation, and telecommunication."

This linear element in L.A. is Wilshire Boulevard from Downtown to Santa Monica connected by the MTA Red Line and a possible future monorail system from the Wilshire and Western MTA station. This Boulevard links some of the most dynamic and varied communities in the Los Angeles County area, such as, Central City, Westlake, Wilshire Center, Miracle Mile (Museum Row), Beverly Hills, Westwood, and Santa Monica. The Boulevard represents what makes L. A. a great and unique city - a city of many cities/communities/centers. As Frank Gehry, Architect, said "The real downtown of L. A. is linear, it’s Wilshire Boulevard."

In the 20^th century Wilshire Boulevard became one of the classic automobile-oriented streets with development of the commercial and residential areas along and around the Boulevard clearly influenced by the automobile. Architectural critic Reyner Banham called this area "the world’s first linear downtown."

As we enter the 21^st century we need to rethink the role of the automobile and buses, and look toward a better means of transportation. There is a population currently of approximately 500,000 and a work force of approximately 500,000 along the Wilshire Corridor. It is time to look at a new rapid transportation system for L.A. that is environmentally friendly such as a monorail. Just within the Wilshire Community Plan area (Wilshire Center to Miracle Mile) there is a population of 300,000 (a growth projection to about 400,000 in 2010) and a current work force of 150,000. A comparison is with Central City, Downtown, with a population of 27,000, and a work force of 210,000.

The monorail presents a potential mass transit alternative that is cost-effective, quite, convenient and "sexy." It runs on simple, inexpensive elevated tracks that can be constructed, installed and operated without major impact on existing neighborhoods, medians, streets, buses or traffic patterns.

As Al Martinez, L.A. Times columnist, said; "It's difficult to imagine that this world city, this giant of on the rim of the Pacific, this metropolis of tomorrow, is still thinking in terms of yesterday". 11/13/99.

The monorail, a concept for this metropolis of tomorrow, is discussed in the latest update of the Wilshire Community Plan, 6/3/99, by the L. A. Planning Department. The monorail concept is talked about in conjunction with a Wilshire bus system and a local shuttle system.

The Objective 10-3 of the Plan states we need to encourage the planning, design, and implementation of a light rail, elevated all-electric, rubber-tired, Monorail System, as an additional mode of public transit in the Wilshire Community Plan Area. This public transit system is seen as a way to improve mobility with an efficient, reliable, safe, convenient alternative to automobile travel.

OBJECTIVE 10-3 POLICIES:

10-3. 1 Establish the location of the Wilshire Monorail System along the approximately 10 miles of routes, and nine station locations, and the Customer Service and Maintenance Center, located as shown on the Wilshire Public Transit Map.

Program: Coordinate the planning, design and development of the Wilshire Monorail System with the MTA and LADOT, and private interests, to expedite completion of the system.

10-3.2 Coordinate the Wilshire Monorail System to function as a complement to the routes, stops, and station locations of other forms of existing and proposed public transit, such as the subway stations, major bus line routes and stops, DASH routes and stops, and Smart Shuttles.

Program: Continue to work with the MTA and LADOT to establish increased public transit efficiency through common and integrated route and station locations.

10-3.3 Encourage the connection and extension of the Wilshire Monorail System to the east to the Wilshire and Western Subway Station; and to the north into Hollywood; and to the west into Beverly Hills, Westwood, West Los Angeles, Century City, and Santa Monica; as a continued complement to the routes, stops, and station locations of public transit in those adjacent areas.

Program: Continue to work with the MTA and LADOT to establish increased public transit coordination through the extension and connection of the Wilshire Monorail System through common and integrated route and station locations in those adjacent areas.

10-3.4 Encourage the involvement and participation of private groups in the financing, planning, design, development, marketing, and operation of the Wilshire Monorail System.

Program: Continue to work with the MTA and LADOT, and with participating private groups, to expedite the completion of the Wilshire Monorail System.

10-3.5 Encourage the use of the street side areas of City of Los Angeles right-of-ways, along Wilshire Major Class II and Secondary Highways, for the placement of small support pylons for the Wilshire Monorail System.

Program: Continue to work with the MTA and LADOT, and with participating private groups, to locate areas for pylon placement which will minimize interference with vehicle and pedestrian traffic

There are number of urban issues that need our attention: 1) The six new proposed school sites; the question is, what sites does this Community support? 2) The MTA Transit Study; the question is, does this Community support a monorail system and/or dedicated bus lane and/or a special Wilshire rapid bus lane along Wilshire Blvd.? 3) The Wilshire Community Plan - Update; the question is, does this Community support control growth, the proposed Wilshire Monorail System, and Urban Design Guidelines? 4) What about the Ambassador Site question; what is the Community position?

More information go to our planning efforts page.

Comments? email: Gary Russell at glra@pacbell.net