Corridors Overview

Common Characteristics of a Corridor:

  • It has almost exclusively car-oriented commercial uses.
  • People refer to it as “the strip.”
  • Uses are separated by parking lots and driveways.
  • There are very few connections from the corridor to the surrounding neighborhoods.
  • It is not a walkable place.

A commercial corridor is a road that is lined with auto-oriented commercial uses. While there may be other kinds of activities within the surrounding area, the commercial corridor is almost entirely single use. With a few exceptions in small areas, the environment is built around the automobile–so much so that auto access is excessive in scale and creates a hostile environment for pedestrians.

The predominance of franchise businesses and highway signage creates a “strip” appearance that lacks any sense of place or local character.

Excessively liberal zoning results in inefficient use of the land for huge expanses of parking. Over time a process in which successive generations of competing businesses cannibalize one another leads to disinvestment or abandonment.

Corridors Development Approaches

  • Through progressive redevelopment, buildings are sited uniformly along the corridor.

  • Connections are made between parcels to minimize traffic on the commercial arterial.

  • New through connections are made between the corridor and the surrounding neighborhoods.

  • Urban forestry (street trees, new pocket parks, etc.) are used to create a continuous greensward, protecting natural systems and enabling a network of pedestrian connections between the corridor and the surrounding areas.

  • Parking areas are reduced in scale either by redesigning them more efficiently or by allowing shared parking.

  • Zoning allows a diverse mix of uses.

  • The auto-corridor is re-conceived as a shared pedestrian-oriented public space. While even a well-designed commercial corridor will not be a true main street, a pedestrian environment is created. There are uniform streetscape standards for lighting, paving and landscaping; there is a complete network of sidewalks.

  • Along important roads, there are uniform setback standards.

  • Parking is on the sides or behind buildings.

Preferred Best Practices for Corridors

Additional Corridor Design Guidelines

  • RPA

Detail Plan: Preferred Corridor Development

  • Through progressive redevelopment, buildings are sited uniformly along the corridor.

  • Connections are made between parcels to minimize traffic on the commercial arterial.

  • New through connections are made between the corridor and the surrounding neighborhoods.

  • Urban forestry (street trees, new pocket parks) are used to create a continuous greensward, protecting natural systems and enabling a network of pedestrian connections between the corridor and the surrounding areas.

  • Parking areas are reduced in scale either by redesigning them more efficiently or by allowing shared parking.

  • Zoning allows a diverse mix of uses.

  • The auto-corridor is reconceived as a shared pedestrian-oriented public space. While even a well-designed commercial corridor will not be a true “main street,” a pedestrian environment is created. There are uniform streetscape standards for lighting, paving and landscaping; there is a complete network of sidewalks.

  • Along important roads, there are uniform setback standards.

  • Parking is on the sides of or behind buildings.

Related Case Studies