Page 63 - Michigan City, IN US Highway 421 Corridor Plan

3.4 Redevelopment Case Studies: Highway 7 Corridor Study

3.4 Redevelopment Case Studies:

Advantages of Mixed-Use Development Highway 7 Corridor Study

From a development perspective, a mixed-use development alternative has four Overview: Commercial Corridor in
significant strategic advantages over the single-use development:
Decline 1,2,3,4,5 focused on safety, transportation, business climate, and
appearance. The study also stressed the importance of safety

Blue Springs, Missouri (population 52,000) is one of the improvements for non-motorized methods of transportation
fastest growing communities in the Kansas City Metropolitan and were incorporated into the City’s 2003 Comprehensive
area. Highway 7 is the principal north-south highway corridor Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is currently being updated but
supporting traffic through Blue Springs and connecting will continue to stress the importance of revitalizing the 7
residences and businesses to Interstate 70. This highway Hwy corridor as it is a regional spine for Blue Springs and the
corridor once had thriving commercial districts but faced Kansas City Metropolitan Area.
some challenges. Problems include high accident rates, In addition to performing the Corridor Study, the City of Blue
poor visual appearance, lack of sufficient safety features Springs was also awarded technical assistance through
resulting in a dangerous environment for pedestrians and Livability Solutions to re-imagine two of their roadways
motorists, in addition to retail properties relocating elsewhere with the most potential for change, State Route 7 and U.S.
in Blue Springs and economic vitality of commercial buildings Route 40. Through this assistance a Designing Walkable
deteriorated as they aged. Urban Thoroughfares Practitioners Training workshop was

Highway 7 is an important corridor to Blue Springs because organized for planners, engineers, and community leaders. Corridor Segment 1a
of its location and the amount of traffic it carries. The highway The workshop focused on context-sensitive and multi-modal Pink Hill Road to Duncan Road
handles between 27,000 and 34,000 vehicles each day street design specifically for the intersection of routes 7 and SCALE 1” = 200’
depending upon the intersection location. As Blue Springs 40 in order to help Blue Springs promote walking and biking,
and the development along Highway 7 continue to grow, transform the highways into ‘destination corridors’.
improvements must be made to enhance roadway conditions, Multiple projects with in the Highway 7 corridor have
making it capable of supporting additional traffic and received incentive assistance through either Tax
improving the overall visual character of the corridor. The City Increment Financing or Chapter 353 redevelopment
of Blue Springs envisions the Highway 7 Corridor becoming a assistance. The market brought the other projects forward
beautiful, safe, and convenient roadway serving the economic based upon sound redevelopment fundamentals, high traffic
and transportation needs of all residents in the city. counts, good visibility and ample parking.
Gateway
In 2001, Blue Springs completed the Highway 7 Corridor Monument Cross Access Residential
Study which indicated several recommendations for the
corridor to remain regionally viable. The study area included
7.3 miles of Highway 7. The guiding principles of the plan
LOS “F”
Cross Access Cross Access
1 “Highway 7 Corridor Plan”. IRR Corporate and Public Finance, LLC (http:// 20’ Min. Setback
www.bluespringsedc.com/growth-areas/7-highway/)
2 “Highway 7 Corridor Study”. City of Blue Springs (http://mo-bluesprings.
civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/Home/View/346)
3 “7 Highway”. Blue Springs Economic Development Council (http://www.
bluespringsedc.com/growth-areas/7-highway/) Park Road
4 June 13, 2012. “Designing Urban Thoroughfares Practitioners Training Pink Hill Road Hunter Drive Roanoke Road
Workshop Summary”. Livability Solutions and CNU (http://www.cnu.org/sites/
www.cnu.org/files/bluespringsworkshopsummary.final_.pdf/)
5 “Summary of 7 Highway Sidewalk Project”. Mid-America Regional Council
(http://www.marc2.org/tr-call/projectdetails.aspx?PID=469) Source: Highway 7 Corridor Study
Highway 7 Corridor Study - City of Blue Springs, Missouri 4-5
3-13

Adopted: August 16, 20165 Envision 421 Gateway District 3.0