Growing in is more challenging and rewarding than growing out. Inward growth is reinvesting in our communities. It is more cost efficient use of public resources and requires greater involvement of our citizenry in planning growth. Sound logical? It is! However, reality is that over time we have instituted growth policies and incentives that make growing out preferable. Changing these policies will occur as more communities discover how unaffordable outward growth has become in a competitive global economy. Strategies for growing in are more complex. Deciding where to start? And who will start? And how to sustain / leverage positive momentum often stifle best intentions. Positioning older neighborhoods to compete for broad market appeal against outward growth is an overwhelming idea. Attracting wealth into neighborhoods of poverty and charm is necessary but seems unlikely.

Success requires organizing groups to implement, preparing comprehensive plans of manageable areas and winning public support. Non-profit implementing groups representing neighborhood or community economic development interests can be effective at guiding both public and private investment. Comprehensive plans that combine both economic development and physical improvement tactics build value by providing a sustainable vision. Connecting several of these specific planning areas or districts begins to redefine the future of inner neighborhoods in our communities. Public support for these initiatives requires adoption of plans and directing public investments to support plan implementation.

San Diego is embracing this notion by a "City of Villages" vision for the future. Plans for five pilot areas were approved by the city council on February 10, 2004 to demonstrate how San Diego should grow over the next twenty years. The following is from a Union Tribune article:

Mayor Dick Murphy said the projects "will be role models for the rest of the city" in revitalizing older communities, providing affordable housing and reducing traffic congestion. The pilot villages combine housing and centers of employment and recreation with access to mass transit. They are meant to demonstrate how older urban neighborhoods could be redeveloped as alternatives to sprawl ? Selected villages are in Normal Heights, San Ysidro, southeastern San Diego, North Park and near San Diego State University.

Learn more about the pilot project.

Our current work includes comprehensive planning of connected inner city specific area plans in Shreveport for InterTech Science Park (800 acres) and Shreveport?s Historic Music Village (300 acres). Both plans were honored with the Louisiana APA Best Plan award in 2002 and 2003 respectively. Both of these plans combine economic development and physical planning that are resulting in implementation projects.