SOUTH COOPER STREET
CORRIDOR STRATEGY
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION

April 13, 2021
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Project Purpose
Purpose:
• Examine existing conditions to understand
opportunities and needs along the Corridor
• Create a robust community vision
• Develop an implementation strategy
Key emphasis areas:
• Improve transportation and mobility
• Enhance economic development
opportunities
• Increase quality of life
• Position Cooper Street to help connect the
broader Arlington community
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Process and Community Engagement
Advisory Committee of 23 stakeholders
3 Public Meetings
3 Online Surveys
Robust Project Website

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Corridor Vision and Objectives

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Cooper Street delivers innovation in education, research,
healthcare, housing, and economic development that provides
opportunities to enhance the local community. The corridor
provides vibrant and walkable commerce and experiences. Cooper
Street is a major thoroughfare that is safe for pedestrians and
efficiently moves vehicles using smart technology.

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South Cooper Street is a community connector within the City of
Arlington where people can think, work, and play. The corridor is
regionally significant with strong economic anchors in the
University of Texas at Arlington and the Parks Mall and is a small
business generator. Cooper Street is an active, attractive, and safe
environment for all.

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01


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“

Zone 1 embraces the University of Texas at Arlington’s expanding
educational prominence and creates a collaborative spirit of
social, cultural, and economic opportunity anchored in a walkable
and vibrant district that provides diverse housing options.

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03

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Reimagining
Matlock:

Explore additional
housing options:

Enhance
pedestrian safety
and comfort:

Establish a
Community-Led
Public Arts
Program to
beautify the zone:


Redesign the
Matlock
intersection for
safety, efficiency,
and to better
position the area
for commercial
development

Explore strategies
to allow for a range
of housing types
that align with
market and
community
housing demands

Improve streetlevel safety at
specific locations
to create a safer
pedestrian
environment

Create partnerships
with local schools,
businesses, UTA,
and art
organizations to
establish

community-led
placemaking
strategies
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07

“

“

Zone 2 imagines the future of work and creates spaces that foster
collaboration and cultivate new innovative business ventures, all
while celebrating creative cultural expression of the local
community and supporting adjacent educational, medical, and
economic anchors.

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06

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Explore a "Business
Innovation District"
strategy:

Explore additional
housing options:


Establish a wellconnected street
grid:

Improve access to
work for day
laborers in the
corridor:

Encourage medical
uses and partner
with UTA to
incorporate
research and
development
activities for the
area between
Cooper Street,
Arkansas Lane, and
Medlin Road

Explore strategies
to allow for a range
of housing types
that align with
market and
community housing
demands

Promote a finergrained, pedestrian

friendly, wellconnected street
grid in the area as
redevelopment
occurs

Develop a Day
Laborer program to
provide formal
mechanisms for
individuals to find
work

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“

“

Zone 3 reinforces South Cooper Street as a major commercial
destination that offers a unique leisure, dining, entertainment,
and retail experience.

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Reinforce the Parks
Mall as a regional
destination:

Improve pedestrian
connectivity
between area
developments and
storefronts:

Improve
pedestrian safety
around the IH-20
and S Cooper
Street interchange:

Develop a strategy
for taking
advantage of the
potential increase
in e-commerce
related uses :

Consider policies
that allow the Parks
Mall to adapt and
improve over time
despite shifting
retail trends and

tenant transition

Support additional
pedestrian
connections
between shops,
businesses, and
amenities
throughout the zone

Work with TxDOT
to ensure safe and
effective
pedestrian facilities
across IH-20

Take proactive
steps to prepare
the area for digital
transformation in
retail

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13

14

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Encourage green
infrastructure
development to
decrease
impervious cover:

Seek drainage
improvements for
Johnson Creek:

Serve the Corridor
area with
increased
connections to
hike and bike
facilities:

Establish Cooper
Street as Arlington’s
innovative mobility
corridor:

Develop design,
aesthetic, and
visual

enhancements for
the Corridor:

Consider zoning
and fee incentives
for developers who
pursue building
density, green
spaces, pervious
surfaces, and offsite water retention

Improve
stormwater
management and
ensure new
development has
minimal impact on
downstream areas

Implement
projects from the
2011 Hike & Bike
Trail System Master
Plan that fall within
the study area

Improve mobility for
residents, businesses,
and shoppers by
optimizing traffic

movement and
introducing emerging
traffic and mobility
solutions

Develop a cohesive
and comprehensive
set of design
standards for both
the public and
private realm for
each zone within
the corridor

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Signature Short-Term and Long-Term Actions

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Reimagining Matlock
Short-Term Actions
Conduct traffic impact study
Conduct a study to determine if a new TIRZ district in
Zone 1 and/or Zone 2 is recommended and feasible,
and if so, what the proposed boundaries might be

Long-Term Actions

Remove segment of Matlock between Cooper
and Pioneer
Redevelop NE and NW corners of Cooper and
Pioneer
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Community-Led Public Arts Program
Short-Term Actions
Encourage collaboration between local schools,
businesses, UTA, and arts organizations
Once established, arts program group to
explore funding opportunities

12


Business Innovation District Strategy
Short-Term Actions

Enhance code compliance to connect property
owners with existing resources
Conduct a study to determine if a new TIRZ
district in Zone 1 and/or Zone 2 is recommended
and feasible, and if so, what the proposed
boundaries might be

Long-Term Actions

Facilitate development consistent with the

Zone 2 vision in this targeted opportunity area
Evaluate need for environmental remediation,
then identify funding as necessary
Design for a pedestrian-scale street grid

13


Access to Work for Day Laborers
Short-Term Actions
Work with nonprofit to create virtual
job board

Long-Term Actions
Consider creating a nonprofit-run
Day Labor Center

14


Reinforce the Parks Mall as Destination
Short-Term Actions
Consider establishing a zoning overlay
district for the Mall area to encourage
uses that support the
commercial/retail goals of the zone

Long-Term Actions
Improve pedestrian connectivity
between area destinations


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Aesthetic and Design Enhancements
Short-Term Actions
Develop a branding and identity strategy for
the corridor and each zone
Facilitate faỗade and other aesthetic
improvements to shopping center at SE corner
of Cooper and Pioneer through a public-private
partnership

Long-Term Actions
Develop design standards for the public realm
Develop design standards for the private realm
to apply to wholesale redevelopment projects

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Implementation

53 Specific Action Steps for Implementing the Vision

Timeline:
• Short-Term (1-5 years):
22 actions
• Medium-Term (6-10 years): 19 actions
• Long-Term (10+ years):

12 actions
Project Partners Identified: City Departments, TxDOT,
UTA, AISD, Developers, Businesses, Landowners
Cost Estimates Provided:
• No new cost to the City:
• One-time costs:
• Annual costs:

30 actions
21 actions
02 actions
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Next Steps
April 27

City Council Public Hearing

May 4

City Council Adoption Vote

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DISCUSSION

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