Campuses

Arlington District: A Revitalization Plan

Poughkeepsie, NY (1999-2000)


Client: Vassar College



Project for Public Spaces conducted a study of the Arlington Business District in the Town of Poughkeepsie at the request of Vassar College and the Arlington Steering Committee. Arlington is a mixed-use business and residential community that has the potential to become a vibrant town center, an asset for Vassar College, and a special community place. The process included interviews, surveys, a parking study, town meetings, a traffic analysis of Raymond Avenue, an economic analysis, and numerous presentations to the Steering Committee and other area stakeholders.

Recommendations included traffic calming of Raymond Avenue, a state arterial that for years has cut off one side of the community from another; widening sidewalks; developing unsightly lots with uses that help create a town center; shared parking areas to reduce the space devoted to asphalt lots; a better retail mix, including specialty shopping, to help create a destination shopping district; new public spaces, including a town square, passive park, and a network of lively secondary spaces; a farmers market; new gateways to Vassar College and the Arlington district; streetscape improvements, such as more seating, flowers and trees, more attractive storefronts and signs, and historic street lamps; and the creation of a new business improvement district.

To date, the BID has been formed and is managing storefront upgrades and providing leadership to implement other aspects of the vision plan; the farmers market has become one of the town's most popular new destinations; Vassar has redeveloped key properties for community and student uses that bring activity to previously underused spaces; New York State DOT will begin construction on Raymond Avenue in the spring of 2006.