As drug war escalated and financial recession continued, American tourism halted in Tijuana. But in that absence, locals began redefining the city for themselves. There has since been a celebrated renaissance in food, art and culture.
As the city slowly bounces back, an upcoming report by the Urban Land Institute of San Diego/Tijuana is recommending just what the city has done — rebuild and grow for locals, not tourists.
But as the U-T San Diego reports the study explores 42 acres that “straddle Avenida Constitución” — or the tourist district.
The report recommends starting with two sections as a starting point, with suggestions including a public plaza with a digital screen and a high-rise residential building.
The large landscape also presents challenges, via the U-T:
The experts found many challenges to developing the area: few open spaces, little landscaping, lack of parking, streets and infrastructure in disrepair, few cultural institutions to bring in residents and tourists, as well as difficulties with long-term planning under municipal administrations that only last three years.
The study is expected to be released early June.
