Large redesign aims to make Old Town Victorville more walkable, business-friendly
The City of Victorville has approved a major redesign of its Old Town main corridor that will reduce 7th Street from a four-lane vehicle thoroughfare to a two-lane street and expand pedestrian space. The plan, announced by city officials this week, pairs physical street changes with incentives intended to attract new businesses to a district long challenged by vacant storefronts.
Under the proposal, sidewalks along 7th Street will be widened, landscaping will be added, and the city is considering a roundabout at the intersection of 7th and Forest Avenue to further slow motor-vehicle traffic. Officials also plan to triple the current level of street lighting and install security cameras and a surround-sound music system similar to those used in outdoor retail centers.
"The four-lane road promotes speeds that are not conducive to a pedestrian-friendly environment," Deputy City Manager Scott Webb said on the city's "What's the Tea VV" podcast.
The effort is framed as a combined safety and economic strategy: narrowing vehicle lanes, expanding walkways and increasing city presence are intended to make Old Town safer and more attractive to shoppers and small-business owners. The city is coupling the physical changes with financial inducements, including the waiver of certain development impact fees for projects within the Old Town area.
What the redesign will include
- Road diet: 7th Street reduced from four lanes to two lanes
- Pedestrian upgrades: Wider sidewalks and added landscaping
- Traffic calming: Potential roundabout at 7th and Forest Avenue
- Safety and ambience: Three times the lighting, security cameras and a surround-sound music system
- Incentives: Waived development impact fees to encourage new businesses
Victorville officials say the changes build on recent passive safety investments in Old Town, including the new Wellness Center and the repurposing of the Goodwill School into the Victorville Animal Adoption Center — moves that increase city presence in the neighborhood. The city has also stepped up cleanups, boosting the number of quarterly riverbed cleanups by 7th Street.
Local consequences and expectations
For residents and business owners, the street redesign promises several immediate effects. Pedestrians will see more room to walk, sit and access storefronts; storefront visibility may improve with added landscaping and lighting; and slower vehicle speeds should reduce crash risk and make crosswalks more usable. City leaders also hope that a more inviting streetscape will reduce vacancy rates by making it easier for new retailers, restaurants and service providers to consider Old Town locations.
However, the shift from four lanes to two could generate short-term traffic adjustments. Motorists who currently use 7th Street as a through route may alter their paths, potentially increasing volumes on parallel streets until traffic patterns settle. The proposed roundabout at 7th and Forest Avenue is intended to manage speeds and flow but would require design reviews and community input before final approval.
Officials emphasized the project’s economic component: by removing or reducing development impact fees in Old Town, the city is trying to lower startup costs for entrepreneurs and developers. Those waivers are designed to pair with visible street-level improvements so that an initial investment yields returns in customer foot traffic and a safer environment.
Next steps and timeline
City staff have approved initial plans and discussed features publicly through the city’s podcast and meetings. The details forwarded by Deputy City Manager Scott Webb suggest the project is moving from design into the permitting stage, though the city has not announced a construction start date. Future steps will include detailed engineering, community outreach, traffic studies to assess displaced vehicle volumes, and budget approvals for construction and the proposed lighting and audio infrastructure.
| Feature | Expected change |
|---|---|
| Vehicle lanes | Four lanes → Two lanes |
| Lighting | 3× current level |
| Security | New cameras planned |
| Fees | Some development impact fees waived for Old Town projects |
Residents can expect more specifics as the city advances design and scheduling. City leaders say the project reflects a longer-running focus on safety, cleanliness and economic revival in Old Town — a concentrated push to rework a historic district that has struggled to replace empty storefronts. If implemented as planned, the changes to 7th Street will be the most visible sign yet of that strategy.
