For some time you’ve likely been hearing about Warm Springs/South Fremont as a significant regional opportunity for employment-focused, transit-oriented development. (If you haven’t, you should catch up; if you have, then keep reading!) Recently, our close look at the Brookings Institute research on Innovation Districts revealed that Warm Springs clearly fits the bill for an Innovative District and has the potential to be a cutting-edge, national example of how diverse users mix and mingle, resulting in the elusive concept of innovation.

Peel back the layers of any Innovation District, and you realize that it doesn’t just occur on its own. It takes a literal plan — a creative, thoughtful document that serves as the roadmap and policy guide for how the area grows and evolves over time. And last night, the Fremont City Council approved the Warm Springs/South Fremont Community Plan, marking a significant milestone for this development.

As I presented the plan, I made sure to highlight its particularly unique attributes, including its transit focus, unique land use flexibility, vision for an exciting and dynamic public realm, and incorporation of sustainable design. I hope you take a few minutes to check out an abbreviated version of the presentation below, which includes just some of my favorite components.