This document summarizes a presentation on good urbanism and fronting the public right of way. It includes: 1) An overview of the presentation given by Dr. Suja Lowenthal on the City of Long Beach's process to create a downtown plan through extensive community visioning and input. This resulted in design principles and an increased focus on walkability. 2) A description of the Long Beach visioning process led by Michael Bohn, which included community workshops and comparative city studies to create a vision statement and preliminary design concepts. 3) The presentation was part of a larger event on good urbanism and fronting the public right of way, with the third presenter being Stephanie Reich from

1. Good Urbanism:
Fronting the Public Right of Way
Presenters:
Dr. Suja Lowenthal, Vice Mayor, City of Long Beach
Michael Bohn, Principal, Studio One Eleven
Stephanie Reich, Senior Urban Designer, City of Glendale
Thursday, Sept. 13 Breakout Period 7, Plan + Connect

2. Good Urbanism:
Fronting the Public Right of Way
Dr. Suja Lowenthal, Vice Mayor
City of Long Beach

3. Dr. Suja Lowenthal
Councilmember
City of Long Beach
Downtown
Long Beach:
Pro Walk Pro Bike
Pro Place
A “Good urbanism
multi-modal
community
and our Downtown
Plan”

5. Downtown’s Planning District - 30
• Process lacked predictability
• Too many amendments
• Expensive delays discouraged
quality developers
• Low standards for design, building
materials & street level activity

6. Downtown Visioning
A highly social “visioning process” that began in 2006
with the volunteer efforts of a Visioning Committee
and input received through public workshops.
This initial process resulted in a message that
combined words and imagery to convey what the
future might look like. This visioning provided a
necessary foundation for the Downtown Plan

7. Downtown Visioning Statement and Principles
Long Beach is a waterfront metropolis with a feel for the past and anticipation for
the future. We are a model of international living and distinguish ourselves through
a unique vision: progressive, diverse, cultured. Fueled by a vibrant city center, Long
Beach is a place where residents are proud to live, work, and play.
We promote development of a distinctive downtown skyline, providing a vibrant,
compact city core attracting cosmopolitan and creative people.
We encourage an infrastructure to accommodate a future that is less dependent
on fossil fuels and more focused on walking, bicycling, and public transportation.
We endorse bold architecture, planning, and construction that utilize green
building technology and incorporate sustainable energy. We demand quality in
building practices in order to ultimately create historical masterpieces.
We value our buildings of historic merit and seek to preserve or restore them
through adaptive reuse.
We include the best aspects of an innovative global city: dynamic architecture,
light filled public spaces, active recreation, celebration of our unique culture and
respect for the natural environment.

8. 4th and Linden

9. Gallery 421

10. The Promenade

11. Bikestation & Transit Mall

12. Separated Bikeways
After
Before

13. Separated Bikeways
After After
Before
Before

14. Parklets

15. Downtown Plan
Increased standards
Streamlined approval process
Incentives for quality developments
“Fueled by a vibrant city center, Long Beach is a
place where residents are proud to live, work, and
play.”

16. CITY OF LONG BEACH
Dr. Suja Lowenthal, Councilmember

17. Good Urbanism:
Fronting the Public Right of Way
Michael Bohn, AIA, Principal
Studio One Eleven

18. Long Beach Visioning Process
November 20, 2006 – Kick Off
 Introductions and expectations
December 4, 2006 – Orientation
 Review of existing plans
 Boundary definition

19. Long Beach Visioning Process
January 19, 2007 – All-Day Retreat
 Discussion of big ideas
 Comparison to other cities
 Key issues and goals for downtown noted:
o Identity, linkages, density, land use, etc.

20. Downtown Comparative Studies

21. Existing Building Studies

22. Proposed Building Studies

23. Long Beach Visioning Process
February 5, 2007 – Ideas Testing
 Ideas from retreat tested in preliminary
diagrams
 Vision Statement subcommittee formed,
meets independently

24. Long Beach Visioning Process
March 5, 2007 – Draft Vision Statement
 Draft vision statement discussed
 3D model showing potential height
scenario discussed
“Long Beach is a waterfront metropolis with a feel for the
past and an eye for the future. We are a model of
international living: progressive, innovative, diverse,
cultured, and proud of its heritage. Fueled by a vibrant
city center, Long Beach is a place where residents are
proud to live, work, and play. We embark on a brave
mission to distinguish ourselves by creating a unique
vision that leads us forward….”

25. Long Beach Visioning
Process
March 19, 2007 - Moving Forward
 Discuss and finalize vision
statement
 Discuss presentation of ideas to
community

26. Principle Guidelines

27. Long Beach Visioning Process
Meetings
 April 16, 2007 – prepare for
next meeting and community
workshop, assign roles

28. Areas of Increased Intensity

29. Neighborhood and Open Space Analysis

30. Community Workshop

31. City of Long Beach Downtown Plan

33. Good Urbanism:
Fronting the Public Right of Way
Stephanie Reich, Senior Urban Designer
City of Glendale

34. Good Urbanism:
Fronting the Public Right of Way
Questions?