Residents Learn About - and Weigh In On - The Future of Ward Plaza
Published on June 02, 2024
If you live in the City’s Fourth Ward, you might have received a unique invitation in mid-April from the City to attend a Community Meeting at…of all places… Ward Plaza.
Ward Plaza? The largely abandoned (except for Family Dollar) shopping center at the corner of Valley and Weems Avenues?
In fact, the City is embarking on an ambitious effort to reimagine and redevelop four areas of Winchester. This includes the area surrounding Ward Plaza now known as “Cedar Valley.” (In a renaming exercise early this year, residents chose “Cedar Valley” over a host of other suggestions.)
The effort to redevelop targeted areas of the City is called the “Neighborhood Design District” process (affectionately shortened to “NDD”). According to redevelopment expert Alan Simpson, “The NDD process will transform the parts of Winchester that have been identified in the City’s updated Comprehensive Plan as prime targets for revitalization. The process will replace parking lots and dilapidated buildings with new housing, retail, and green spaces for residents.”
Two NDD processes are currently ongoing: Cedar Valley (which includes the Ward Plaza redevelopment), and Cider Hill, the effort to redevelop the neighborhood adjacent to Fairmont Avenue on the City’s north side.
Two additional NDD processes—the redevelopments of Berryville Avenue and Federal Mogul site near Pleasant Valley Boulevard— will be implemented next year.
Importantly, the vision for the future of Ward Plaza, the Cedar Valley neighborhood, and the other Design Districts should incorporate residents’ ideas, priorities, and concerns. For that reason, each NDD is guided by a committee comprised of community members and representatives of our City Council, Planning Commission, Economic Development Authority, and the City’s planning team.
The City is also committed to holding regular community meetings to keep residents informed on the progress of the initiative and incorporate their ideas…which brings us back to the invitation to attend a meeting at Ward Plaza!
On April 17, nearly 100 community members stopped by Ward Plaza to learn about—and weigh in on—the plan to revitalize the shopping center and Cedar Valley neighborhood. The City will continue to keep residents informed on the Cedar Valley through periodic email and newsletter updates, as well as future meetings. Residents can also check the NDD page on the City’s website for updates.