On May 16th and 17th, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) San Diego-Tijuana undertook an exciting Technical Assistance Project (TAP) on Third Avenue in Chula Vista. Our two-day work session included a tour of Downtown Chula Vista and Third Avenue (courtesy of the Downtown Chula Vista Association), interviews with more than a dozen stakeholders, and hours of hard work brainstorming ways to draw more people to this charming cultural hub.

We are thrilled to share some of our volunteers’ personal experiences and insights. These testimonials highlight the impactful work carried out during this project, offering a glimpse into the transformative potential of community-focused urban planning.

Kimberly McNeil, KCouture: “Serving on the ULI SD Technical Assistance Panel project with the Downtown Chula Vista Association was a deeply rewarding experience. Collaborating with some amazing local ULI San Diego professionals, we explored ways to enhance Third Avenue, aiming to foster a livable, vibrant, and inclusive downtown. Reflecting on how far Third Avenue has come in the last 10 years, I am honored to be a small piece of the next resurgence of downtown. As a Chula Vista resident, I was thrilled to see 18 of us come together to serve our community, providing valuable insights to help downtown Chula Vista plan for the future and thrive. This initiative highlighted the power of community collaboration and the potential for positive transformation in my beloved city.”

Mike Singleton, Retired KTUA Planner: “Having experience in Chula Vista as a planner and a landscape architectural consultant, I was able to see and understand more of the Chula Vista downtown community through the lenses of other professionals that were at the TAP meetings. As I have learned over the many years of my career, projects are multi-layered and need many different perspectives to solve problems. I always have believed that all of our simple problems in society have been solved long ago and we are left with the complex ones. This is why it takes many perspectives and solutions that solve several problems at once are the best to develop.”

Peter Dennehy, John Burns Research and Consulting: “Participating in the ULI San Diego-Tijuana TAP for the Downtown Chula Vista Association was a real pleasure. First, the progress and planning that have been ongoing in the past decade are impressive. The City of Chula Vista and the Downtown Association have much to work with, including completed infrastructure, lighting, and signage improvements, starting a weekly farmer’s market, and having a community of involved, unique small businesses with local ties. Now, with the Bayfront Gaylord project nearing completion, Downtown will come into its own as a nearby place to shop, dine, and seek local entertainment. It was fun seeing the study area, eating in the local restaurants, and working with the group over two days to come up with ideas to continue to develop and revitalize the area to maximize its potential in the South Bay and San Diego region.”

Kyle Ryan, Malick Urban Infill: “Volunteering on a ULI TAP was a fun and rewarding experience. We studied the economic, housing, and land use concerns of the 3rd Avenue Corridor and presented our findings to the Chula Vista Downtown Association. We heard from stakeholders like business owners, city officials, housing developers, and even Mayor McCann. As a San Diego infill housing developer, my focus was on how additional housing would benefit the corridor and what strategies could spur development. It was evident there were numerous opportunities to encourage housing, with varying degrees of policy changes. I’m excited to see 3rd Ave continue to thrive and hope our recommendations lead to some pro-housing policies for the neighborhood.”