City Manager Appointee Jeff Boynton told us the city is well on its way to improving the Imperial Highway corridor in La Mirada, “This is the first store to incorporate the Imperial Highway Corridor Specific Plan. The elements (of the new building) all follow the design guidelines.”

“Over time, the entire corridor will have this modern, Mediterranean look to it.”

Boynton said the individual property owners along the rest of the corridor are major players and the overall goal is for them to invest in their property and the city’s vision.

“In this particular case (Crossroads), we had a motivated property owner who wanted to redevelop this site and the timing was good. At the same time, we were adopting this new plan, so it all fit together.”

The city adopted the Imperial Highway Corridor Specific Plan in late 2011, setting architectural and development standards for the 2.7-mile stretch of road.

It establishes three distinct planning areas, centered on three key intersections: Imperial Highway and Valley View Avenue: Imperial Highway and La Mirada Boulevard; and Imperial Highway and Santa Gertrudes Avenue.