Alamo Region Livability Summit Local Plans: The Decade of Downtown Ben Brewer Wednesday, August 21, 2013 San Anto Cultural Arts “La Paleta” 1

Urban Sprawl Our City’s commitment to the Urban Core Strategic Framework Plan for the Center City Centro Partnership’s Work 2

The Cost of Urban Sprawl 3 Kneebone, E. (2013). Job Sprawl Stalls: The Great Recession and Metropolitan Employment Location. Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings, 1, Job Sprawl- A Symptom of urban sprawl and car-dependent communities Rapid Decentralization- between 2000 and 2010:

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Why does it matter? This is not sustainable. In regards to livability, the decentralized location of employment and people is linked to higher costs to cities in the areas of: – Transportation – Infrastructure – Energy Consumption 5 Kneebone, E. (2009). Job Sprawl Revisted: The Changing Geography of Metropolitan Employment. Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings, 1, 1-23.

Implications for Planning in Downtown San Antonio Comprehensive development plans that link jobs, housing, and transportation to encourage denser forms of development are critical to creating accessibility and connection and allowing for more sustainable and inclusive growth. 6 Kneebone, E. (2013). Job Sprawl Stalls: The Great Recession and Metropolitan Employment Location. Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings, 1, 1-23.

Commitment to the Urban Core Mayor Julian Castro declared the Decade of Downtown, launching SA2020 process in Vision: In 2020, Downtown is the heart of San Antonio and is everyone’s neighborhood. Downtown Development Key Indicators: 1)Housing Units Downtown 2)Downtown Employment Centro Partnership San Antonio was created in 2011 to champion the SA2020 vision for Downtown. 7

Centro Partnership’s First Major Effort 8

The plan establishes goals, targets, and strategies to achieve the SA2020 vision and asserts that “Center City should be characterized by attractive housing alternatives, welcoming parks, walkable streets, mass transit, enticing retail, enhanced cultural institutions, and accessible parking.” 9 Strategic Framework Plan

Key Recommendations: Invest in Housing 10

Key Recommendations Continued: Create a welcoming and comfortable public realm that includes: – Sidewalks that are safe, clean, and well designed – Complete streets that accommodate pedestrians, vehicles, transit, and bicycles – Clear street hierarchy that is attractive and accessible for vehicles, pedestrians, and supports development – Open spaces that are activated and programmed – High standard of maintenance 11

Action Plan: Prioritize near- term capital investment needs to catalyze growth in primary growth areas. 12

Centro Partnership’s efforts: The Northwest Quadrant and the Medical District 13

Thank you. San Antonio Adaptive Trikes 14