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Chapter I -Introduction Central San Leandro /BART Area Revitalization Strategy Transit facilities are in need of significant renovation; they reflect design pa- rameters of 30 years ago - stand-alone facilities unrelated to the surrounding community in terms of locally oriented access and basic site design and archi- tectural characteristics. I. Introduction The Vision for Central San Leandro Central San Leandro is the city's best location for new, higher density infill development. Close proximity of Downtown and San Leandro BART, com- bined with a significant number of vacant and underutilized properties, cre- ates opportunities for investment in land uses that are supportive both of transit use and downtown revitalization. Over time, this investment will help draw attention to the value of adjacent neighborhoods, highlighting the con- venience of the area's geographic location as well as the period charm of it's older homes. Tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly streets, new workplace and residential devel- opmentreflecting the scale of surrounding neighborhoods, open space con- nections to San Leandro Creek, convenient access to Downtown and BART, and an attractive landmark transit center are major ingredients of the Revital- ization Strategy. Together, these ingredients will combine to re-create the "ur- ban village' that Central San Leandro was before the 1950's. It will be the city's second liveliest district, after downtown, with less emphasis on auto- mobile use and more focus on the environment- and community-enhancing effects of pedestrian and bicycle circulation. Background Central San Leandro has the basic ingredients needed to be one of the Bay Area's more attractive pedestrian-oriented districts. Housing, commercial services, existing and potential employment concentrations, and a major tran- sit hub all are located within acompact,'/z square mile area. As employment growth and commute times continue to increase in the inner Bay Area, the value to home and business owners of "inner ring" districts like Central San Leandro also continues to increase. However, existing on-the-ground conditions in Central San Leandro tend to negate the district's location-related assets. Overly wide and unattractive streets deter the pedestrian activity that should be a basis for the district's value, as it is, for example, for the Rockridge district in Oakland. Long-vacant properties in key locations project an image of disinvestment. BART and AC In many ways, the Central San LeandroBART Area is a void that separates more coherent adjacent districts, such as the North Area neighborhood and Downtown. Like many formerly active railroad corridors, its lack of connec- tion to the surrounding fabric of the City was desirable at one time, limiting the negative land value effects of its industrial land uses. The challenge is to turn this historic relationship inside-out, to promote new investment that reintegrates the Central San LeandroBART Area with the surrounding fab- ric of the city and adds value to surrounding districts and the City of San Leandro as whole. Conditions and Context The "Conditions and Context" map illustrates important physical features within the Strategy Area. The Area is bounded generally by the Downtown Plaza, Pelton Center, and Hays Street on the east, by the Union Pacific rail- road line on the west, by San Leandro Creek on the north, and by Williams Street on the south; the total Strategy Area is approximately 125 acres in size. It includes the San Leandro BART and AC Transit bus transfer station, his- toricbuildings along West Estudillo Street, Saint Leander church and school, and a traditional cottage neighborhood intermixed with apartment and con- dominium projects. The map's arcs indicate 1/4 mile and %z mile radii (5 and 10 minute walking distances, respectively) from the BART transit center and from Downtown. Shaded parcels-on the map are sites vacant at the time the map was pre- pared. Anumber of these have since been developed or approved for devel- opment: - The City corporation yard at the intersection of Davis Street and San Leandro Boulevard has been approved for 200,000 square feet of office space. - Properties to north and south of the intersection of San Leandro Boule- vard and Thornton Avenue have been developed with 16 townhouses and approved for 12 more. - The Cherrywood development, located along Alvarado Street just to the north of San Leandro Creek, has been approved for 350 small-lot single family homes. -8-