Plans to revitalize La Vista

LaVista now has real plans for revitalizing a mile-long stretch of 84th Street, but it does not involve filling empty spaces with new anchor stores.

Say goodbye to big box retail. Say hello to more trees, walkways, gardens and park space.

If all goes as planned, a new LaVista town center could sprout from the ruins of what now is a depressed retail corridor between Harrison Street and Giles Road.

As one of the state's youngest cities, LaVista blossomed by way of cheap housing developments that began sprouting in cornfields in the late 1950s. But nearly 50 years after it was incorporated, the community of 19,000 people still lacks a city core.

There is no downtown business district. No public plaza or city center.

After months of research, LaVista's team of urban consultants have unveiled two similar design plans to turn the busy four-lane stretch of 84th Street into a viable year-round destination.

Envision an entertainment district with an intimate area for small outdoor concerts and music events, anchored by a half dozen restaurants with outdoor patios.

A new neighborhood district could feature a signature eight-story mixed-use building. Small shops might fill the lower levels, while apartments or condominiums could occupy the upper levels.

Wayne Boldt, a 38-year resident of LaVista, said the idea of creating a town center sounds appealing. He especially likes the idea of adding upscale restaurants to the area.

“There needs to be something done with all the empty buildings up there,” Boldt, 62, said. “If they do it in a good manner, I would be supportive of it.”

Remaking 84th Street won't be a walk in the park. The daunting task involves redeveloping dozens of in-fill properties and working through a number of commercial property owners and companies to achieve the ambitious goal.

It also appears unlikely that LaVista can narrow or realign the four-lane stretch of 84th Street that carries about 20,000 vehicles per day. That means any redevelopment plans would have to pop up along both east and west sides of traffic.

LaVista also must find willing development partners. The city could help fund infrastructure while private developers handle commercial construction. Several existing retail buildings could be demolished under the latest architectural designs.

“It is a work in progress, and we are going to work hard to implement it,” said assistant city administrator Rita Ramirez. “It's not like the city will take this plan and build all the buildings and do all this stuff. We are going to need to attract developers.”

LaVista already has agreed to spend about $200,000 for the work of EDAW Inc., the Colorado firm overseeing the 84th Street Redevelopment Vision Plan.

Boldt, a homeowner for 26 years in the Crestview area near 76th Street, said he thinks LaVista needs to keep some retail anchors along 84th Street, though the city's consultant team strongly urges otherwise.

Today, most of LaVista's retail has moved west near the Cabela's outdoors store in the Southport West development.

“There really is no market for another Wal-Mart,” consultant Christopher Brewer told a meeting crowd last week. “It is a tough time to be in retail. The good news is that we have time to plan. Eighty-fourth Street is still very much relevant.”

Today, about 40 percent of the nearly 800,000 square feet of retail space along LaVista's 84th Street sits vacant, he said. Former anchor tenants including Wal-Mart, Baker's Supermarket and Steve & Barry's at Brentwood Square all disappeared, and their spots have not been filled with new tenants.

“I do believe it's getting to be a ghost town in areas, and I don't like that no revenue is being generated for the city,” said Kelly Sell, a City Council member.

The two architectural design concepts use the LaVista Public Golf Course along 84th Street as the focal point for revitalization.

LaVista officials and residents will have to decide whether to get rid of the golf course and create an impressive stretch of public green space. The other choice is to reconfigure part of the course with adjacent Central Park to accomplish the revitalization of 84th Street.

“It feels to us that this golf course is a great asset to the community,” said consultant Kurt Friesen. “It's a wonderful amenity. We believe the future of LaVista begins here.”

One design plan calls for a new bridge along 84th Street marking the entrance into LaVista from the north while a trail system could go underneath the bridge.

The new plans called for building a city aquatic center on the east side of 84th Street. The city's existing municipal pool now is on the west side of the street.

LaVista's most likely new commercial tenants include medical offices, a grocery store, a fitness center or a pharmacy, the consultants said.

Over the next few months, LaVista will continue to solicit feedback from residents and property owners on how they want 84th Street to look. The City Council is expected to make a decision on a final design plan early next spring.

LaVista City Council President Anthony Gowan said he liked the idea of themed districts and compared the two proposed concepts to Omaha's Aksarben Village development project.

“I like the big bold stuff,” he said, “especially incorporating the green space into a viable downtown atmosphere.”

Contact the writer:

444-1056, john.ferak@owh.com

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