Scott Lewis’ Voice of San Diego article “The Extent to Which We Rely on Cars will Drive 2020” poses the question of whether it’s feasible to live without a car in San Diego. We latched onto this sentence: “But housing and cars are linked.”

We agree wholeheartedly with Scott’s sentiment and believe the logic extends past housing and cars – that is, Land Use and Transit are linked.

Currently, taxpayers are investing over $2 billion in the mid-coast trolley extension, but building a great transit system is only half the battle. To maximize our return on that investment, we need to build neighborhoods with transit as the focal point. At Riverwalk, that is exactly what we are doing. The Riverwalk neighborhood spills out from a new trolley station that will be constructed as part of a main street with shops and gathering places.

The trolley station we have planned is going to be different than what San Diegans are used to. It will be convenient. It will be attractive. It will be activated. We see an opportunity for the station to be a central gathering spot at Riverwalk. We envision a scene as charming as downtown Kensington, but where you don’t have to circle the block looking for parking for 30 minutes.

At Riverwalk we’re unapologetically trying to minimize the time our residents spend in their cars. We see driving as a necessary evil, a means to an end, an ‘in-between.’  Have you ever heard a single person tell you their happiest moment was, “This one time driving on the I-5”? No, of course not. So why do it more than you have to?

Some people will never take transit, no matter how convenient, but everyone loves a walk in the park, right? What if that was your commute to work? Grab a coffee or (literally) run an errand, no car required. Doesn’t that seem peaceful compared to what we have to deal with today? That’s the Riverwalk vision.

In his article, Scott asks, “Will we create a region where it’s possible to live without a car?” Riverwalk will show San Diego that this lifestyle is not only possible, it’s preferable. That’s the way change happens.