New developments don’t exist in isolation — they can have a big impact on a neighborhood. That’s why the Citizens’ Stadium Advisory Group decided early on to take a holistic approach once we selected Mission Valley as the preferred site for a new Chargers stadium. Less than three months ago, Mayor Kevin Faulconer asked us to do two things: […]
‘Complete community’ offered as replacement for ‘smart growth’ Roger Showley • UT Urban planners and developers, always on the hunt for a new catchphrase, admitted Wednesday that they have largely failed to tell the public what’s ahead as San Diego enters an increasingly urbanized future. “It was instructive to me about how we are […]
By Katherine Poythress The event planners for Silo, the art-splashed icon of the burgeoning Makers Quarter district in San Diego’s East Village, launched a series of co-working days this week. Makers Quarter, Moniker Group and the Downtown San Diego Partnership are hosting Bring Your Own Work Day every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. […]
When real estate developers get rowdy at professional association get-togethers—this is hypothetical, of course—who herds the cats? Often, it’s the association staff, like ULI San Diego/Tijuana executive director Mary Lydon. While earning her degree in nutritional sciences at Wisconsin-Madison, Mary had no idea her training would come in handy in her present job. Given ULI’s […]
New Urban Land Institute chairman offers neutral debate forum Roger Showley • UT Arterro, a La Costa project by Davidson Communities, is one of the newest housing developments to open in the county this year. Housing, which zoomed up 18.4 percent in price last year, faces “uncertain” prospects this year, according to Tim Sullivan, […]
Roger Showley • U-T Does San Diego deserve the moniker “Fat Diego”? The comments from a panel of experts sure point that way. We drive too much, walk too little, crave too much junk food. And our neighborhoods make us do it. A developer, research director and walkability advocate laid out how far San Diego […]
Be Bold: Align with the Future By: Mary Lydon and Tony Pauker If you read the local papers or listen to broadcast news, you know that it seems as if we are collectively holding our breath, just waiting for things to get back to the way they were. But “the way things were” is […]
Recession provides silver lining for civic vision By: Mary Lydon and Tony Pauker One of the unintended consequences of the recession is that great minds have time to ponder deeper thoughts. Innovative minds seem to be off in many directions these days planning strategies to help us get out of our plight. How to do […]
Great schools as an economic development tool By: Mary Lydon and Tony Pauker One of the greatest single influences on land use is public elementary and middle schools. Communities that have great public schools have great investments in real estate. High performing schools attract families to buy or rent homes. Those residents support local retail. […]
Turning the Gulf Oil Spill into Lemonade By: Mary Lydon and Tony Pauker The tragic deep water Horizon oil disaster in the gulf is an immediate call to action that requires us to focus our energies nationally and locally. Nationally we need to develop independent deep water drilling regulation policies and proven emergency procedures in […]