Steve Langworthy Presents Dublin's Bridge Street Corridor

The City of Dublin Director of Land Use and Long Range Planning Steve Langworthy presented the club with an overview of the Bridge Street Corridor –Dublin’s key signature project and a City Council goal. And one that is also getting nationwide attention.

Langworthy said he had just returned from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) conference in Boston. The country’s planning industry is buzzing about the Bridge Street Corridor vision plan – and is excited to see it evolve.

Langworthy credited City Council for being forward thinking. He emphasized the main thrust of the Bridge Street Corridor is job creation and economic vitality. 

“The Bridge Street Corridor is only six percent of Dublin – but it is the cultural heart of Dublin,” note Langworthy. “The aim is to create the vitality of Easton – but not recreate Easton.”

“We know both the Baby Boomers and Gen Y want the same things,” said Langworthy. “They want walkable communities with easy access to parks and amenities. This will look and feel different than most of Dublin – but it will still maintain the high quality development standards that are the hallmark of Dublin.”

Langworthy said the mixed use development requires a building code and zoning which is currently under draft review by Council and the various City commissions. This new code and zoning will allow developers who meet the criteria to get quick approvals or “speed to build”.

The goal is to expand the range of housing choices in the region.

Langworthy showed several slides of the vision – and the illustrative plan.

“We want to have the kind of community where people stay and their kids come back to Dublin to live and work,” added Langworthy. We want the community to have an experience with the river by accessing pedestrian bridges that connect the east side of the river the west side. Rivers divide communities. But if you connect people - you connect the community.”