The Moule & Polyzoides redesign of Lancaster Boulevard  focuses on establishing Lancaster’s public realm, including reconfigured streets, plazas, paseos and other public spaces to remedy the loss of the City’s traditional downtown character. Lancaster had been platted by the Southern Pacific Railroad in the late nineteenth century as a simple grid of streets, much like many other California railroad towns but over the next century its main street suffered from high-speed traffic, poor pedestrian experience, excessive parking and reduced retail activity.

Among the Plan’s key elements are wide, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, awnings and arcades, outdoor dining, single travel lanes, enhanced crosswalks, abundant street trees and shading, and added lighting, gateways and public art. Lancaster Boulevard has been transformed into an attractive shopping destination, a magnet for pedestrian activity and a venue for civic gatherings.

The revitalized Lancaster Boulevard has been instrumental in the turnaround of downtown Lancaster. Since project completion in late 2009:

• 50 businesses have moved to the project area since late 2009.  
• Revenue from the downtown area is up 96% compared to the same period in 2007, the year before revitalization efforts began.
• While Lancaster’s assessed property valuation fell 1.25% overall from 2011 to 2012, property values in the downtown area rose 9.53% — nearly three times the increase of the Amargosa area, the next-highest in the City.
• Private investment is estimated at $130 million.
• Over 800 permanent jobs have been created, in addition to approximately 1,100 temporary construction jobs.
• The project has generated an estimated $273 million in economic output (source: California Redevelopment Association IMPLAN Jobs Calculator).
• Just over 800 housing units have been constructed or rehabilitated.
• Over 116,000 square feet of commercial space has been constructed or rehabilitated.
• New public amenities include American Heroes Park, a 13.5-acre, $7 million facility, and the Lancaster Museum of Art & History (MOAH), a three-story, 19,246-square-foot complex.
• The overall number of traffic collisions has been cut in half, while injury-related collisions have plummeted 85% as a result of the new streetscape and traffic pattern.  (These figures compare the two-year history prior to the transformation with the two years following.)

“Well done. First two blocks are open!!” said Deputy City Manager Jason Caudle shortly after the project’s completion. “Thanks for your help. It looks spectacular.”