MIXED-USED REDEVELOPMENT CENTER

 

 

The City of Lawrence includes areas where existing structures that have not been utilized for their original purposes for an extended period of time, have experienced a high turnover rate, or have remained vacant for an extended period of time and, therefore, are suitable for redevelopment. Such areas present potential opportunities for redevelopment into mixed-use centers, offering a mix of residential, civic, office, small-scale commercial, and open space uses. This mixed use is encouraged in individual structures as well as throughout the area.

 

Mixed-use redevelopment centers shall include a mix of uses designed to maintain the character of the surrounding neighborhood, achieve integration with adjacent land uses, and be no larger than six acres in size. As such, retail uses within mixed-use redevelopment centers shall not exceed 25% of the net floor area within the subject area, and a single retail shop or tenant shall not occupy more than 16,000 square feet of a ground-floor level, net floor area. Neighborhood integration shall also be accomplished by providing transitions through alleyways and use and landscaping buffers, and by ensuring existing structures are incorporated into the new center where possible. New development shall respect the general spacing, mass, scale, and street frontage relationships of existing structures and surrounding neighborhoods.  The City’s Historic Resources Administrator shall be contacted if it is likely that historic structures exist within or near the project area.

 

Centers shall provide multi-modal services, allowing bicycle, pedestrian, vehicular, and, if available, transit options. Pedestrians should be able to navigate the site safely and efficiently, and travel to and from the site with ease. Pedestrian-scaled street furnishings, plantings, and gathering places shall be utilized to allow for social activity in public places. Bicycle parking shall be provided when required by the Zoning Regulations, and transit services shall be incorporated into the design where necessary.

 

Policy 3.3.A:  Criteria for Mixed-Use Redevelopment Centers

 

  1. Encourage redevelopment of areas where existing structures are underutilized, have experienced a high turnover rate, or have remained vacant for an extended period of time.

 

  1. Mixed-Use Redevelopment Centers shall be no larger than six acres in size.

 

  1. Mixed-Use Redevelopment Centers shall include a mix of the following uses within the subject area and where possible, include mixed-use structures:

 

    1. Residential;
    2. Civic;
    3. Office;
    4. Small-scale commercial:

a.      Total commercial spaces shall not exceed 25% of the net floor area within the subject area, and

b.     A single retail space shall not occupy more than 16,000 square feet of ground-floor level, net floor area of a structure; and

    1. Open space.

 

  1. Mixed-Use Redevelopment Centers shall maintain the character of the surrounding neighborhoods by:

 

    1. Achieving integration with adjacent land uses by providing transitions between uses through alleyways and use and landscape  buffers;
    2. Incorporating existing structures wherever possible;
    3. Maintaining general structure spacing, massing, scale, and street frontage relationship when incorporating new structures.

 

  1. Mixed-Use Redevelopment Centers shall provide multi-modal services to include the following options:

 

    1. Pedestrian, including pedestrian-scaled street furnishings, plantings and gathering spaces;
    2. Bicycle, including bicycle parking;
    3. Vehicular; and
    4. Transit, if available.