Lancaster Boulevard Transformation

Lancaster, California

Client: City of Lancaster

After a century of suburbanization denuded Lancaster of its traditional downtown character, the City retained Moule & Polyzoides to redesign Lancaster Boulevard to stimulate the redevelopment of its historic core. The Boulevard was reconfigured into a rambla with fewer vehicular travel lanes, enhanced crosswalks, abundant street trees, and a central flexible zone for parking as well as pedestrian use. Within two years of completion, downtown Lancaster’s revenue increased 119% and property values rose 9.53% (in spite of a citywide decline during the same period). This project spurred the construction and rehabilitation of 800 dwelling units and 145,000 square feet of commercial space. Traffic collisions fell by half, injury-related incidents plummeted 85%, and the street redesign generated an estimated $280 million of economic output (figures sourced from the California Redevelopment Association IMPLAN Jobs Calculator). Lancaster Boulevard is now an attractive shopping destination civic center, which will foster long-term regional economic prosperity.