June 21st, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Colin Parent, Executive Director and General Counsel
858-442-7374 | [email protected]
Three Smart Growth Projects Entitled after Receiving Circulate San Diego Mobility Certifications
SAN DIEGO – Three sustainable growth development projects were recently approved by local jurisdictions after receiving Circulate San Diego’s Mobility Certification. The three sustainable and transit-oriented projects include Terrace Lofts in Vista, The Ivy in Escondido, and Promenade at Otay Ranch Town Center in Chula Vista.
Promenade by developer Baldwin and Sons is located within a 10-minute walk of the Otay Ranch Bus Rapid Transit Park and Ride station and is served by two bus routes directly adjacent to the project. The neighborhood is also within a five-minute walk of Otay Ranch Town Center, a premier outdoor shopping center with dining and entertainment. The development includes street-facing facades and “Texas wrap” style buildings with residential units surrounding an above-grade parking structure, which are pedestrian-friendly design features. The project will include 15,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space, a two-acre public park with attractions, two Marriott hotels, and 900 new multifamily units in mixed-use format. Promenade at Otay Ranch Town Center will create a variety of new housing opportunities in a successful transit-oriented development.
Terrace Lofts by developer Tideline Partners is located a half-mile from the Vista Transit Center and will bring 42 artist lofts and multi-family apartments to the heart of Vista. Terrace Lofts is within walking distance of Vista Village, with a range of restaurants, shopping, entertainment and other amenities available to residents. The project will have protected bicycle parking adjacent to the building entrance and powered storage to charge electric bikes and scooters. Terrace Lofts’ garage provides a shared workshop that will allow residents to have a work space not otherwise available in apartment living. This workshop space could be used to repair bicycles or for other maker projects.
The Ivy by Touchstone Communities will bring affordable and market rate homes to North County in in Escondido’s downtown. Bike lanes will be installed directly adjacent to The Ivy and residents will have access to North County Transit District bus routes 351, 352, 357, and 388, which connect to the Escondido Transit Center and other key destinations in Escondido. The project itself will build 127 new homes, maximizing the density allowed through a Density Bonus and Density Transfer Program, including 11 Very Low-Income units. The Ivy’s density and design are in line with proposed future redevelopment projects and will be appropriate in scale with the surrounding community pattern.
Smart growth projects that apply for the Circulate Mobility Certification are reviewed by an independent team of volunteer land use and urban design experts. Projects are graded on an objective set of criteria including proximity to transit, accessibility for walking and bicycling, and other smart growth characteristics. Certified projects can use the Circulate Mobility Certification seal, and receive testimony and support from Circulate San Diego staff.
Colin Parent, Executive Director and General Counsel at Circulate San Diego said “these projects that received the Circulate Mobility Certification demonstrate that smart growth projects are for every part of the region, not just central San Diego.”
“We are excited to help Vista achieve its vision of a walkable, vibrant and culturally rich downtown,” said Lev Gershman, Managing Partner of Tideline Partners. “Receiving the Circulate Mobility Certification supports our efforts to build unique, attractive, and sustainable housing in San Diego County.”
“The Ivy is a redevelopment project that makes great use of the land and will provide housing options for a diversity of income levels. Given the current housing crisis, we know it’s crucial to identify infill opportunities that are ideal candidates for high density, mixed-use development. In North San Diego County, the neighborhood of Downtown Escondido provides a unique environment where people can walk to transit, locally owned restaurants, bars, shops, and numerous entertainment options," said Addison Garza, Executive Vice President at Touchstone Communities. “The Ivy capitalizes on those great assets, and we're fortunate to have earned the Circulate Mobility Certification attesting to the benefits of our project.”
“Promenade is a sustainable, transit-oriented suburban development that will bring much needed housing to Chula Vista’s growing population,” said Nick Lee, Senior Vice President of Baldwin and Sons, “Circulate Mobility Certification acknowledges our smart growth vision to create a mixed-use development near high performing transit.”
About the Circulate Mobility Certification
The Circulate Mobility Certification provides certification for transit-oriented, smart growth projects in the San Diego region. The Circulate Mobility Certification Committee members consist of local experts in smart growth planning and sustainable transit oriented development disciplines, including planners, developers, urban designers, and transportation engineers. By recognizing and supporting projects which meet the Circulate Mobility Certification criteria, we can help to create complete communities, one project at a time. For more information, go to http://www.circulatesd.org/certified.
About Circulate San Diego
Circulate San Diego is a regional non-profit organization dedicated to advancing mobility and making the region a better place to move, work, learn, and play. Our work focuses on creating great mobility choices, more walkable and bikeable neighborhoods, and land uses that promote sustainable growth. For more information, go to www.circulatesd.org.
