Services and Economic Development Corporation (EDC), shares more about the progress. “We hired a consultant to help us generate that master plan about four and a half years ago,” he says. It’s probably like a 10-to-15-year plan, and slowly, we’ve made some strides over time.” These strides are visible through new businesses that have breathed life into the area.“There was an old Air Force bar right on the railroad tracks, right across the street from the base, that the EDC helped revitalize into a very successful microbrewery,” Cassata notes. This microbrewery, aptly named Gather Brewery, has become a gathering spot for locals, drawing crowds during lunch, evenings, and weekends—when the area previously saw little activity. A new food truck park near Pat Booker Road has also revitalized the area, attracting visitors and boosting community spirit. Cassata notes its success in drawing people to that part of town. However, the Aviation District’s vision goes beyond new businesses—it’s about creating “life at night.” Turner explains the focus on offering evening options like wine bars, dance classes, and cafés, nurturing a more vibrant, walkable community. The EDC is actively acquiring properties to develop a “mixed-use New Urbanist environment,” mimicking a traditional downtown. INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE As Universal City positions itself for future growth, the focus on critical infrastructure is more important than ever. Randy Luensmann, the Public Works Director, outlines the ambitious plans already underway, starting with street improvements. “The council has approved about $30 million worth of street improvements and have authorized the first phase of it, about $6 million,” he shares. These upgrades are concentrated primarily in residential areas, targeting the everyday streets where residents live and work. In addition to street improvements, Luensmann highlights ongoing efforts to bolster other critical systems. “I do a lot of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects with residential and our lowresidential areas,” he notes.These grants are essential to infrastructure upgrades in the city’s underserved 4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 10
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