INFORMATION #1 06-16-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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BIG BOX STORES: San Diego has one really interesting type of "big box" chain store, which has proven to be very popular. They have a grocery chain called RALPH'S which is a big box store, but doesn't require a large flashy sign (or a huge flag pole) to attract customers. In fact it's sign is a small oval sign set off to the side of the building. It's main attraction is the fact that its parking is either above the building or under the building, with wide moving sidewalks to transport customers to and from the parking area. wi thout the large barren parking lot, the building can be attractively landscaped and doesn' t create qui te the eye sore that the usual big box store seems to create. REDEVELOPMENT: San Diego utilizes TIF financing wherever possible, but for their older communities they've found that landscaping and adding public benches is an inexpensive way to revitalize an area and create the sense of community caring and concern that may serve to deter vandalism and loitering. ECONOMIC HOUSING: San Diego has moved away from creating buildings that house only indigent public. They issue vouchers to qualifying people, to be used toward payment of their rent. Thus creating mixed income housing rather than pockets of indigent people. Pockets of indigent people can lead to loitering, which can lead to security and vandalism problems. URBAN SECURITY: Many communities in suburban San Diego have become "gated communities". A gated community is a group of homes who entirely enclose their homes and yards within a tall fence with a controlled access gate. Usually these gates are operated by a rotating guard service. VIEWSCAPES: One important planning issue Diego area planning commissions, is "viewscapes" . In ci ties like La Jolla, allowed to be taller than a set height, citizens do not suffer a loss of view. faced by the San the concept of buildings are not so the surrounding SAFE PLACE DESIGN The main theme of this session was the use of a CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) plan. CPTED is a program dedicated to finding design solutions for crime problems. wi th CPTED, the emphasis is on the pedestrian. The first step in a CPTED plan is to evaluate what we know about crime and criminals. CRIMINALS * Try to minimize effort and risk, while maximizing reward. * Tend to commit crimes in places they know well. CRIME * Opportunities are a function of their daily activities and routines (there are more home robberies around a neighborhood store) .