San Francisco Bay Area Vision Project

The FOCUS Speaker Series offers jurisdictions with designated Priority Development Areas (PDAs) the opportunity to learn more about specific issues concerning the creation of complete communities near transit in urbanized areas. Staff will strive to have a monthly speaker. The first three speakers were made possible through a partnership with the Local Government Commission. These events are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact JoAnna Bullock at JoAnnaB@abag.ca.gov or 510-464-7968.

Upcoming Event:

PDA Housing Element Workshop
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
9:00 am to 11:30 am
MetroCenter Auditorium
101 8th Street, Oakland
Please RSVP to JoAnna Bullock at JoAnnaB@abag.ca.gov or 510-464-7968.

Over the next year or so, all local jurisdictions in the Bay Area will be updating the housing elements of their general plans. Housing elements accomodate the housing demand identified in the most recent Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).

Join us to discuss how your housing element update provides a significant opportunity to reinforce and stregthen your PDA(s).

Conference Archives:

June 2008: "Urban Landscapes," Walter Hood

Walter Hood is Professor and former Chair of the Landscape Architecture Department at the University of California, Berkeley, and principal of Hood Design in Oakland, CA. Mr. Hood was a fellow at the American Academy in Rome in Landscape Architecture, 1997. He has exhibited and lectured on his professional projects and theoretical works nationally and abroad. His firm designed the gardens and landscape for the New De Young Museum, San Francisco with Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron and his work was recently featured in the exhibition and publication, "Open" New Designs For Public Spaces, Van Allen Institute, NY, Metropolis Magazine, the New York Times, and Dwell Magazine. Mr. Hood published his monographs: Urban Diaries and Blues & Jazz Landscape Improvisations and is currently researching and writing a book entitled Urban Landscapes; American Landscape Typologies.

May 2008: "A Conversation with PDA Jurisdictions: Developing a Regional Capital Incentives Program," Ted Droettboom, Regional Planning Program Director for the Joint Policy Committee

Summary of Participant Comments

Ted Droettboom, Regional Planning Program Director for the Joint Policy Committee of ABAG, MTC, BAAQMD, and BCDC, led a conversation with staff from PDA jurisdictions around developing a regional capital incentives program that will direct funds to Priority Development Areas. At least twice a year, the monthly FOCUS PDA Speaker Series will be put on hold to convene a meeting with PDA jurisdictions for a dialogue around relevant opportunities for realizing their community visions. These meetings are an excellent time for peer-to-peer exchange and for learning about regional and local hot topics.

April 2008: "Development Without Displacement: What Can We Do?," Victor Rubin, Vice President for Research at PolicyLink

Victor Rubin, Vice President for Research at PolicyLink, leads knowledge-building, evaluation, and qualitative and quantitative analysis activities to build a strong research base for equitable development strategy, community capacity building, and policy advocacy. Mr. Rubin previously directed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of University Partnerships, where he administered grants to institutions of higher education for community engagement and support of students in community development fields. He also served for 13 years as director of Research and Community Programs of the University-Oakland Metropolitan Forum.

February 2008: "Sustainable Development: The 21st Century Model," Curt Johansen, Executive Vice President, Triad Communities, L.P.
Please note that this is a large file (24MB) and may take several minutes to download

Curt Johansen has worked to create high quality communities for over 25 years. Projects that have prospered from his vision include Kingsmill in Williamsburg, Virginia; the Vintage Club in Indian Wells, CA; and Hiddenbrooke in the SF Bay Area. He has been responsible for all California development for Triad Communities since 1997. Mr. Johansen has pioneered Triad’s commitment to sustainable development. He is frequently an invited speaker on Triad Communities’ vision of sustainable development concepts and innovative practices in the industry.

January 2008: "Innovative Parking Strategies," Dan Zack, Downtown Development Coordinator, City of Redwood City
Please note that this is a large file (14MB) and may take several minutes to download

Dan Zack is the Downtown Development Coordinator for the City of Redwood City. He has been with the City since the summer of 2003, and before that he worked in Fresno, California in both regional transportation planning and local land use planning. In Redwood City Dan serves as the City's liaison with the Downtown business community and manages various Downtown projects for the City's Redevelopment Agency. Dan and his team have led Redwood City to being the first city in the country to adopt the innovative market-rate pricing system advocated by UCLA professor Donald Shoup.

December 2007: "Designing Mixed-Income Communities: Keeping Units Affordable, Dealing with Density," Michael Pyatok

Michael Pyatock is founder of Pyatok Architects, Inc. and professor of architectural design and the Director of the Center for Affordable Homes and the Family at Arizona State University.

November 2007: "Building the Sustainability Talk: Transforming Policies Into Real Projects," William Fleissig, Communitas Development Inc.

Will Fleissig is a developer who has devoted his career to creating vibrant, mixed-use communities. He has directed the planning and development of over a dozen catalytic projects in diverse American cities, among them Boulder, Denver, San Francisco, San Jose, and Boston. Mr. Fleissig is recognized nationally in the art of negotiating development strategies that translate broad community interests - residents, landowners, investors, advocacy groups, and elected officials - into profitable and memorable urban places.

October 2007: "Urban Density: Getting the Public Onboard," Gordon Price
Please note that this is a large file (94MB) and may take several minutes to download

Gordon Price is an accomplished urban development expert. Former City Councillor in Vancouver, B.C and board member of the Greater Vancouver Regional District and the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority, he is currently the Director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University and a regular lecturer on transportation and land use for the City of Portland, Oregon and Portland State University. He is also a board member of the Sightline Institute and the International Centre for Sustainable Cities. Mr. Price speaks internationally and has written several extensive essays on Vancouver and transportation issues which earned him the 2003 Plan Canada Award. Mr. Price publishes an electronic magazine on urban issues, with a focus on Vancouver, called "Price Tags."

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HOME ABOUT THE BAY AREA FOCUS INITIATIVES Overview Priority Development Areas Priority Conservation Areas Financial Incentives Technical Assistance Best Practices FOCUS Speaker Series Working Group Building partnerships Staff Contacts	FOCUS Speaker Series The FOCUS Speaker Series offers jurisdictions with designated Priority Development Areas (PDAs) the opportunity to learn more about specific issues concerning the creation of complete communities near transit in urbanized areas. Staff will strive to have a monthly speaker. The first three speakers were made possible through a partnership with the Local Government Commission. These events are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact JoAnna Bullock at JoAnnaB@abag.ca.gov or 510-464-7968. Upcoming Event: PDA Housing Element Workshop Tuesday, July 22, 2008 9:00 am to 11:30 am MetroCenter Auditorium 101 8th Street, Oakland Please RSVP to JoAnna Bullock at JoAnnaB@abag.ca.gov or 510-464-7968. Over the next year or so, all local jurisdictions in the Bay Area will be updating the housing elements of their general plans. Housing elements accomodate the housing demand identified in the most recent Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). Join us to discuss how your housing element update provides a significant opportunity to reinforce and stregthen your PDA(s). Conference Archives: June 2008: "Urban Landscapes," Walter Hood Walter Hood is Professor and former Chair of the Landscape Architecture Department at the University of California, Berkeley, and principal of Hood Design in Oakland, CA. Mr. Hood was a fellow at the American Academy in Rome in Landscape Architecture, 1997. He has exhibited and lectured on his professional projects and theoretical works nationally and abroad. His firm designed the gardens and landscape for the New De Young Museum, San Francisco with Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron and his work was recently featured in the exhibition and publication, "Open" New Designs For Public Spaces, Van Allen Institute, NY, Metropolis Magazine, the New York Times, and Dwell Magazine. Mr. Hood published his monographs: Urban Diaries and Blues & Jazz Landscape Improvisations and is currently researching and writing a book entitled Urban Landscapes; American Landscape Typologies. May 2008: "A Conversation with PDA Jurisdictions: Developing a Regional Capital Incentives Program," Ted Droettboom, Regional Planning Program Director for the Joint Policy Committee Summary of Participant Comments Ted Droettboom, Regional Planning Program Director for the Joint Policy Committee of ABAG, MTC, BAAQMD, and BCDC, led a conversation with staff from PDA jurisdictions around developing a regional capital incentives program that will direct funds to Priority Development Areas. At least twice a year, the monthly FOCUS PDA Speaker Series will be put on hold to convene a meeting with PDA jurisdictions for a dialogue around relevant opportunities for realizing their community visions. These meetings are an excellent time for peer-to-peer exchange and for learning about regional and local hot topics. April 2008: "Development Without Displacement: What Can We Do?," Victor Rubin, Vice President for Research at PolicyLink Victor Rubin, Vice President for Research at PolicyLink, leads knowledge-building, evaluation, and qualitative and quantitative analysis activities to build a strong research base for equitable development strategy, community capacity building, and policy advocacy. Mr. Rubin previously directed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of University Partnerships, where he administered grants to institutions of higher education for community engagement and support of students in community development fields. He also served for 13 years as director of Research and Community Programs of the University-Oakland Metropolitan Forum. February 2008: "Sustainable Development: The 21st Century Model," Curt Johansen, Executive Vice President, Triad Communities, L.P. *Please note that this is a large file (24MB) and may take several minutes to download* Curt Johansen has worked to create high quality communities for over 25 years. Projects that have prospered from his vision include Kingsmill in Williamsburg, Virginia; the Vintage Club in Indian Wells, CA; and Hiddenbrooke in the SF Bay Area. He has been responsible for all California development for Triad Communities since 1997. Mr. Johansen has pioneered Triad’s commitment to sustainable development. He is frequently an invited speaker on Triad Communities’ vision of sustainable development concepts and innovative practices in the industry. January 2008: "Innovative Parking Strategies," Dan Zack, Downtown Development Coordinator, City of Redwood City *Please note that this is a large file (14MB) and may take several minutes to download* Dan Zack is the Downtown Development Coordinator for the City of Redwood City. He has been with the City since the summer of 2003, and before that he worked in Fresno, California in both regional transportation planning and local land use planning. In Redwood City Dan serves as the City's liaison with the Downtown business community and manages various Downtown projects for the City's Redevelopment Agency. Dan and his team have led Redwood City to being the first city in the country to adopt the innovative market-rate pricing system advocated by UCLA professor Donald Shoup. December 2007: "Designing Mixed-Income Communities: Keeping Units Affordable, Dealing with Density," Michael Pyatok Michael Pyatock is founder of Pyatok Architects, Inc. and professor of architectural design and the Director of the Center for Affordable Homes and the Family at Arizona State University. November 2007: "Building the Sustainability Talk: Transforming Policies Into Real Projects," William Fleissig, Communitas Development Inc. Will Fleissig is a developer who has devoted his career to creating vibrant, mixed-use communities. He has directed the planning and development of over a dozen catalytic projects in diverse American cities, among them Boulder, Denver, San Francisco, San Jose, and Boston. Mr. Fleissig is recognized nationally in the art of negotiating development strategies that translate broad community interests - residents, landowners, investors, advocacy groups, and elected officials - into profitable and memorable urban places. October 2007: "Urban Density: Getting the Public Onboard," Gordon Price *Please note that this is a large file (94MB) and may take several minutes to download* Gordon Price is an accomplished urban development expert. Former City Councillor in Vancouver, B.C and board member of the Greater Vancouver Regional District and the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority, he is currently the Director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University and a regular lecturer on transportation and land use for the City of Portland, Oregon and Portland State University. He is also a board member of the Sightline Institute and the International Centre for Sustainable Cities. Mr. Price speaks internationally and has written several extensive essays on Vancouver and transportation issues which earned him the 2003 Plan Canada Award. Mr. Price publishes an electronic magazine on urban issues, with a focus on Vancouver, called "Price Tags."