The Leucadia 101 Streetscape is Changing

It's true...literally. The Leucadia 101 streetscape, as they call it, IS changing.

So what DOES this mean? 

Leucadia is a funky, eclectic beach town (the northern-most community in Encinitas, just south of Carlsbad) with a strong surfing history and feel.

Terrific beaches, a lack of glitzy retailers and boutiques, and an amazing array of housing from apartments to trailer parks to multimillion dollar beachfront homes combine to create an environment reminiscent of years ago but tiptoeing into the future. Folks like it that way.

Indeed, bumper stickers that shout "Keep Leucadia Funky" are commonplace. 

READ MORE: Leucadia - Surfers' Beach Community 

Leucadia is also home to some of my favorite haunts - Le Papagayo for terrific food and music, and the Builder's Candy Store, to name a few.

Some of that Leucadia streetscape is about to change. In a major way. And not without some bumps along the way.  As one would expect there have been lots of controversy over the planned improvements, what they should be, whether they are needed, have the appropriate studies been done, etc.

The landscape, including the main thoroughfare...the historic 101 Coast Highway...will be undergoing major changes over the new few years.

And thus, the Leucadia 101 Streetscape, the name coined for the massive undertaking for remodeling the stretch of road through Leucadia (the coolest part of Encinitas, IMO).

Here's a briefing on what will be happening:

• 2 northbound lanes of the Coast Highway will become 1
• 5 round-a-bouts (rotaries, for you New Englanders)
• Adding 900 trees for a total of 1,111 with 8% removed
• Additional parking (both diagonal and parallel)
• A Northbound bike lane and a walking trail

There will be multiple phases as these changes are implemented - I envision some major traffic issues, but that's my traffic pessimism talking perhaps. And the fact that is it changing significantly has me a little worried. Seems this can help many of the restaurants and retailers, and the landowners. That's good. I'm taking a wait-and-see approach.

Visit the Encinitas website for more information and to sign up for email alerts when the page is updated. 

FAQs are at the bottom of the main page of the Leucadia 101 Streetscape site.

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All content copyright © 2010 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits