Howard Blackson - Placemakers, LLC In the 20th century, we have spent a lot of money and resources to build cultural wastelands that adversely affects our quality-of-life. With the demise of redevelopment in California, in conjunction with the demonization of Smart Growth, the future relevancy of these places rests upon our ability repurpose these miles and miles of regrettable and devalued strip centers, office parks, and housing tracks. Unfortunately, most citizens oppose any new development due to its potential conflict with their existing community character. Applying an urban design technique that purposely codes for a specific community character, this presentation will outline 21st century urban design tools to build towards walkable, mixed-use neighborhood centers. With 20 plus years of professional urban design experience, Howard is the Director of Planning for PlaceMakers, LLC, a new economy company of seven (7) principals located across the United States and Canada. Howard has designed and managed a variety of projects both internationally and in the United States having worked in Asia, Europe and North America. He holds a Master degree in Urban Design from the University of Westminster, London, and a Bachelor degree in Geography from the University of Texas at Austin. Howard is an Accredited Member of the Congress for the New Urbanism and is a member of the U.S. General Services Administration Design Excellence Peer Review Committee. He is an adjunct lecturer at San Diego’s NewSchool of Architecture and Design and on the faculty of University of California San Diego Urban Studies Program.

1. Vetting Sustainability
Environmental – Late 20th Century
Economic – Early 21st Century (Today)
Equity (Social) – Mid 21st Century?

2. “Americans can drive from one
ocean to the other, stopping every
day for the same hamburger and
every evening at the same hotel, as
traveling in a straight line is no longer
much different than traveling in a
circle.”
- Dan Gilbert

12. “In America, Quantity is Quality.”
-Aldo Rossi

40. Place Affects Travel Demand
(Data from Re-Connecting America)

41. How Land Use Affects Travel Demand
(Data from Re-Connecting America)

42. 5 Recommendations for San Diego to Build
Sustainable Communities

43. 1. Predictable Place-Making Tools

44. 2. Neighborhoods in Community Plans
Place Types
Intersection Types
Street Types
Source: Seth Harry.

45. 3. Infrastructure Standards
4.2 Urban Infrastructure Standards

46. 4.2 Infrastructure Standards

49. 4. Build Towards a City of Villages

53. 5. Municipal Economic Development
• Time
– 21st Century
• Urban/Great Recession
– Housing Supply Issues
• Attainable/Quality of Life
– Public Process Issues
• Infrastructure Deficits
• Community Character
– Maintain Quality of Life
– Plans
• Predictability
• Standards/Coordination

54. 5. Municipal Economic Development
• Money • Time
– Fed/State Grants/Loans – 21st Century Context
– Local Taxes • Urban/Great Recession
• Self-Taxing Districts – Housing Supply Issues
• City Wide Taxes • Attainable/Quality of Life
– Short-Term: – Public Process Issues
DIF/Abatements
– Long-Term: • Infrastructure Deficits
Sales Tax Increment/Budgets • Community Character
– Land – Maintain Quality of Life
• Fed/State/Local Inventory – Plans
• Public/Private/Institutional • Predictability
Partnerships • Standards/Coordination