Uptown Whittier Specific Plan

Location: Whittier, CA. 13 Miles Southeast of Los Angeles.

Uptown is the historic retail core of the city of Whittier, located in Los Angeles County about 12 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The Specific Plan intends to transform the 200-acre, 33-block Uptown area into the jewel of Whittier through a number of urban design and planning strategies. First, the Plan preserves and draws inspiration from the area's many historic buildings by respecting their unique character in terms of architectural styles, building heights and setbacks, and overall urban fabric. Second, the Plan acknowledges the existing grid of streets, blocks, and alleys as a compact and walkable urban form by suggesting a series of micro-surgical infill projects that enhance the area's pedestrian-oriented nature. Third, the Plan establishes visual and physical connections with surrounding assets such as Whittier College, Whittier High School, and Whittier Boulevard through tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly streets with wide sidewalks, mid-block signaled pedestrian crossings, roundabout at key 'gateway' intersections, and land uses such as campus retail which generate activity. Fourth, national brand retail stores are fostered along the major retail streets, Greenleaf and Philadelphia, along with the strengthening existing local retail by improving lighting, store windows and displays, frequent cleaning of sidewalks, and above all, a comprehensive park-once strategy that generates revenues for the maintenance of Uptown while generating additional revenues. These strategies result in a distinct and vibrant town center.

Transect Zone(s): T3 sub-urban.
Status: Proposed
Project or Plan's Scale: District
Features: Bus transit, Civic buildings & parks, Live/work, Mixed uses.
Land area (in acres): 250
Total built area (in sq. ft.):
Total project cost (in local currency):
Retail area (in sq. ft.): 250000
Office area (in sq. ft.): 170000
Industrial area (in sq. ft.):
Number of hotel units:
Number of residential units (include live/work): 1200
Parks & green space (in acres):
Residential types: Mid-rise/loft, Low-rise flats, Townhouse/rowhouse/maisonette, Semi-detached, Small lot detached, Live/work.
Project team designers: Elizabeth Moule, Stefanos Polyzoides, Aseem Inam
Project team developers: City of Whittier, CA

Previous site status:

Starting/Ending date of construction/implementation: -