Aligning Creative Vision and Community, Redevelopment, and the Future of Local Advocacy Organizations — Branding Professional, Simon Andrews

The Finest City

This episode features Simon Andrews, neighborhood branding professional and former C-3 board member. Simon shares his personal journey from Detroit to San Diego in the 1960s and discusses his career helping to shape the identity of neighborhoods through signage and design. Simon also offers his insight into downtown redevelopment and its impact, the rise of sustainable community planning since the early 2000s, and his involvement over many years with civic groups such as C-3. He and Jennifer also talk about how community planning groups can help empower local voices and reincorporate the creative class into our development and design.

Timestamps:

[2:20] How Simon made his way to San Diego.

[7:29] Back in the pandemic, people found creative ways to connect and support each other even from a distance, including chalk art and teddy bears in windows.

[8:18] Downtown San Diego redevelopment, anchored by Horton Plaza, Convention Center, and the ballpark.

[9:09] Redevelopment’s impact on affordable housing and community identity.

[10:52] Addressing some of the social tensions around redevelopment.

[12:00] The need for a dynamic balance between power, money, and community well-being.

[14:42] The growing trend of building sustainable communities.

[18:38] San Diego’s unique way of building up communities, compared to other municipalities.

[22:48] Creating a neighborhood identity through signage and design.

[24:16] Building consensus between community members and stakeholders.

[26:57] The iconic branding of El Cajon Blvd.

[33:21] Community activism and involvement in San Diego.

[35:22] How Simon discovered C-3 and the benefits he has gained from being involved.

[40:31] How C-3 can help us reincorporate the creative class back into our work and design plans.

[42:17] How community planning groups have evolved, and how C-3 can help these groups meet the challenges of the modern era.

[49:09] Using the Axios model as inspiration for future writing pieces.

About C-3

Even before the California Coastal Commission or Environmental Protection Agency existed, Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 (C-3) was the environmental conscience of San Diego. Since that time, in part due to C-3’s leadership in education, advocacy, and empowerment, a plethora of organizations have developed throughout San Diego County. These organizations specifically focus on promoting progressive values in architecture, urban design, land-use governance, natural resource management, sustainable economic development, climate change resilience, and social justice. As the field of allies has grown, C-3’s role has evolved to provide a platform that promotes creating civic community.

Opportunities for Advocacy and Engagement:

C3sandiego.org

Simon Andrews LinkedIn

Quotes:

• “Some people are critical of redevelopment as a process, but for downtown San Diego at the time, it seemed to be really beneficial to clear the way for redevelopment to happen.” — Simon [9:05]

• “A lot of people would like to see a balance between wealth and their well-being; that level of physical well-being with dignity for individuals as well as the communities.” — Simon [13:54]

• “Between marketing tricks and leadership, things get adopted. It makes life fun.” — Simon [33:30]

• “If this were a pitch for joining C-3 or especially the board, I would say don’t hesitate. There’s so much to be learned, and it’s so valuable. Every single person that I interacted with on those boards, it’s a really great gift.” — Simon [37:48]

• “The visual element works well with the planning element together. They work together.” — Simon [40:38]

• “It's a good thing for the city to have community planning groups, but they should have better backup and better resources available. They could make the community of San Diego that much stronger.” — Simon [44:16]

• “I certainly hope that C-3 continues and endures because there is no other organization quite like it.” — Simon [52:06]