Revitalization of South Elden Street Area in Herndon Planned

by Fatimah Waseem June 26, 2018 at 1:30 pm 15 Comments

Town of Herndon officials are seeking the public feedback as the town works to revitalize the South Elden Street area, a corridor that runs along Elden Street from Worldgate Drive to Sterling Road.

Officials plan to present what they described as a “moderate scale” redevelopment plan for the area at a meeting today (June 26) at 7 p.m. in the Town of Herndon Council Chambers (765 Lynn Street).

Ideas on how to revitalize the corridor are requested, including whether or not older properties in the area should be redeveloped and the desired mix of retail, residential, office and other uses.

Last year, the town jumpstarted an initiative to create a plan for the commercial corridor between Herndon Parkway and Sterling Road. In 2015, an amendment to the town’s comprehensive plan called for making improvements to South Elden Street. Possible changes include creating a shared use path for bicycles and pedestrians, dedicated turn lanes, a raised median, updated pedestrian signals and the placement of overhead wires underground.

If funding sources are received, the town could begin designing the project in 2024. A conceptual plan of improvements and the preliminary application for improvements has not been made public yet.

A public hearing is set before the Planning Commission on July 2 and August 6.

Photo via Town of Herndon

Umust B Kidding

I’m sorry. Is this “HerndonNow”?
- JournalismNow
  
  Yes, because reston articles bring about too many a strong sentiment
- Richard
  
  Speaking of Herndon, a big chunk of the building above Sully’s broke off last week. The whole block is roped off and the businesses shuttered until, I suppose, repairs are made and inspected. Fortunate that nobody was killed.
Ted Gebis

Herndon could start by getting rid of that eyesore shopping center where the Tortilla Factory used to exist.
- 30yearsinreston
  
  The hair salon and grocery store are vibrant
  Try them sometime
- Wilma Stone
  
  That is in the ten year plan. It will be some shops and residential
30yearsinreston

Their plans will have a greater chance of sucess because they don’t have Hudgins ‘leadership’
They lucked out by not having FC involved
Greg

There’s too much retail on Elden Street. Too many ugly, sprawling, poorly maintained
and landscaped strip centers with many empty storefronts, junky shops, and poorly maintained parking lots. None of it is coordinated with a look that if fitting with Herndon’s heritage. It’s 60’s and 70’s at its worst. (Not Brutalist, but darn close).

Develop an attractive, useful sign ordinance (see Williamsburg for guidance).

Bury the wires and smooth your bumpy streets.

Manholes are supposed to be level with the street; not several inches below grade.

Get rid of the fake bricks in the roads.

Stick with one style of streetlight and one kind of lightbulb. Get rid of the old street lights, especially cobra-head fixtures, when installing acorn fixtures.

No landscaped medians unless they are meticulously tended to and have attractive, seasonal plantings.
- 30yearsinreston
  
  Herndon have done a great job with landscaping on Worldgate Drive and Alabama Drive
  Its not the usual cheap annuals that are Reston trademark, but a mixture of seasonal flowering trees like cherries and crape myrtles
  They have effective steetlights whereas the DRB continue stupid arguments like the color of the light and the aesthetics of fittngs
  
  I prefer the strips to 24 story ‘iconic’ towers with overpriced chain venues and bike lanes
Chuck Morningwood

Turn it into a 20 screen DRIVE IN cineplex.
Lake Anne Resident

Let Aslin build! Best beer in the area hands down.
- Wilma Stone
  
  Agreed! Aren’t they moving in on Elden Street by Jimmys?
The Original Drive By Critic

Make room for a new HOOTERS somewhere on Elden Street!
(Because it sure looks as though Reston isn’t interested)
- Wilma Stone
  
  Um no
Off_He_Goes

They could start with better sequencing of the traffic signals on Elden in that area. The lights seem to be lazily set to the same timing 24/7 regardless of the traffic volume.

Subscribe to our mailing list