VCU students see renewal along Lakeside corridor
VCU urban planning students took a hard look at Henrico County’s Lakeside corridor stretching from Bryan Park to Lewis Ginter and saw green. The Times-Dispatch reports that the students have proposed Lakeside Avenue Revitalization Plan with dozens of environmentally friendly development recommendations: The plan recommends improving pedestrian access and promoting the district’s small, independent retailers […]
VCU urban planning students took a hard look at Henrico County’s Lakeside corridor stretching from Bryan Park to Lewis Ginter and saw green. The Times-Dispatch reports that the students have proposed Lakeside Avenue Revitalization Plan with dozens of environmentally friendly development recommendations:
The plan recommends improving pedestrian access and promoting the district’s small, independent retailers as alternatives to big-box chains. Lakeside is like many older commercial areas that have lost their edge with the rise of large retail centers.
“Lakeside was never built to be that way,” Accordino said. “The market has shifted.”
The VCU students found market potential in Lakeside for a 1950s-style diner and other sit-down restaurants, as well as a coffee and ice-cream shop, a small grocery store, a garden center and other retailers.
For years, Accordino’s classes have taken similar looks at other commercial districts in parts of Richmond, Hopewell, Chesterfield County and Petersburg.
He said the Lakeside plan echoes many of the earlier ideas, but it also offers new ones, such as marketing the district to local Internet blogs and establishing it as a “green” business zone. The students suggested expanding Henrico’s enterprise-zone incentives to encourage such practices as rain gardens, green roofs, permeable paving and energy-efficient lighting.
“It’s almost like Lakeside Avenue is a natural, with parks on each end,” Accordino said of a strong “green” theme.
The study comes as Henrico is wrapping up a $4.2 million project to build sidewalks, curb and gutter and a new median along Lakeside Avenue.
Area property owners also have been making good use of the enterprise-zone incentives. Since 2004, Henrico has awarded about 20 grants for design assistance and facade improvements there, said Mary Reynolds, a community revitalization planner. County officials are considering expanding their enterprise-zone incentives to offer grants for landscaping, paving, renovation and demolition projects.
Reynolds said it’s too early to say whether any of the plan’s recommendations will be embraced by the county, but she applauded the class’s efforts and insights.
One of the ideas has already taken root. The Board of Supervisors approved Francisco’s plan to establish an outdoor farmers market at the Lakeside Towne Center. Opening is expected this spring.
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