What's New

AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Homes for all San Diegans:
The State of the Housing Affordability in the Region
SANDAG Report (pdf),
June 2006
For many residents in San Diego and throughout California, the price of housing has reached a breaking point. Though shelter is a basic need, renting or buying a home becomes more difficult every day.

Condominium conversions:
Problem or solution?
By D. Scott Peters, The Daily Transcript
Article, June 9, 2006
According to MarketPointe Realty Advisors, a San Diego-based real estate research firm, a study conducted in 2005 found the average price of a newly constructed detached home in San Diego County was $781,000. The average newly constructed attached condominium averaged $490,000. Result: an affordable housing nightmare for the residents of San Diego. The only encouraging news: The average price for a converted condominium was over $100,000 less than a newly built one.

URBAN CANYONS
The Creation of a San Diego Regional Canyonlands Park
SDCS White Paper (pdf) , March 15, 2006
We search for meaning to our lives. Is there meaning to a city? Our city has great climate and beauty, in spite of low annual rainfall. The natural infrastructure of our place--the fundamental beauty--if not the uniqueness that makes San Diego special, are the canyons that connect all neighborhoods. We have significant quantity of these wonderful natural places; the question is, do we love them enough, do we appreciate them enough to sustain their presence?

TRANSPORTATION / INFRASTRUCTURE
Independent Transit Planning Review Services
SANDAG Draft Final Report (pdf)
(This file is 28 mb; it will take several minutes to download)
May 2006
Final report is expected for release around mid-July.

In November 2004, 67% of San Diego County voters approved a 40-year extension of TransNet, the region-wide half center sales tax dedicated to transportation.

Passage of the TransNet extension included a committment by the SANDAG Board of Directors to conduct an Independent Transit Planning Review of the public transit system proposed in the SANDAG Regional Comprehensive Plan.

Roundtable embraces smart growth concepts, discusses roadblocks
By ERIK PISOR, The Daily Transcript
Article, June 13, 2006
Now that the population in San Diego County has reached more than 3 million, estimates are that the region is 80,000 to 100,000 housing units short of demand, which has prompted those within the building and infrastructure industries to suggest smart growth development as a solution.

GANGS
It Takes a Village or a Gang of Kids
Article, Sanford Goodkin, July 30, 2005,
Voice of San Diego
A generation of kids in San Diego is endangered. What can we do? On July 22, an extended lunch gathered kids ages 8 to 17, parents, faith-based leaders and representatives of the District Attorney's and City's Attorney's office along with business leaders and high-ranking police officials.