Lancaster city redeveloped highway into a tree lined commercial district

The city of Lancaster, California, transformed a section of Highway 14 into a mixed-use urban streetscape known as the BLVD.

City officials invested $11.5m to convert a busy five-lane thoroughfare into nine blocks of walkable space. The project replaced three central lanes with tree-lined ramblas, which are Spanish term for avenues or watercourses. This area now hosts 250 enterprises, including a performing arts centre, a public library, and various restaurants and shops.

The city says the redevelopment generated more than $270m in economic output within four years of its completion. The project also attracted $130m in investment, created hundreds of jobs, and led to the construction or renovation of hundreds of housing units. Residents say the transformation turned the city centre into a community gathering space.