The Downtown West Corridor in Lakeland, Florida, is undergoing significant growth and development under the five-year Downtown West Action Plan, which aims to expand housing, revitalize infrastructure, and stimulate economic growth in the community. VHB, in partnership with Carter & Associates, The Preston Partnership, and Contin LLC, is supporting the action plan goals through the development of the Lake Wire mixed-use community, the first new multifamily development of its kind in downtown Lakeland. The project, funded as a Designated Opportunity Zone Investment, is being developed in two phases and will include 630 multifamily apartments, two retail buildings, 30,000 square feet of retail space, and hardscape/landscape amenities over a 25-acre site. Designed to emphasize walkability and easy access to downtown amenities, Lake Wire will connect downtown Lakeland with the newly opened Bonnet Springs Park.
The multidisciplinary team is handling architectural design, civil design, planning, permitting, and coordination with the City of Lakeland, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and the City’s Architectural Review Committee. VHB worked with the City and FDOT to create an interior street network including on-street parking and trees for greenspace and shading purposes, while also elevating active transportation for bicycles and pedestrians.
Landscape and hardscape design that elevated placemaking was a major focus of the project, and VHB created a distinctive, appealing aesthetic for the community while optimizing usability and safety. As a showcase project for Lakeland, amenities and aesthetics were critical design components that were key to making certain that the new development blends luxury with affordability.
The project, which began in early 2023, is expected to open its first phase in 2024.
