...IF they continue to support more developments like Poinsettia Commons, a $55 million mixed-use, transit-oriented urban-style community that was unanimously approved by the Carlsbad City Council.  For a perspective of Carlsbad’s current creative class status, check out the comments to this entry.

Located right next to a train station leading directly to downtown San Diego, this innovative vision by forward-thinking developer Urban West Strategies is a model for mixed-use development and placemaking.  Check out the aerial rendering here - notice that only one street allows cars - the rest are paseos (pedestrian-only streets) with most of the parking underground… and yes, the architecture is refreshingly contemporary, something the East Coast can learn a bit from.

Development basics:

- 78 residential units are proposed: 51 live-works (2-story lofts over commercial, 1900-2500 in total), 15 market-rate condos, 15 townhouses (1200 s.f.), 12 affordable apartments.  The live-works are unattainably priced at $ half a million, but include ground floor retail space.
- 18,300 s.f. of commercial/retail plus 3300 s.f. daycare center
- 13 buildings on 4.2 acres with 151 underground parking spaces, 107 on the surface
- Groundbreaking in January of 2007, completion summer 2008