DOWNEY - Officials from the city of Downey traveled to Palm Desert on May 5 to accept the Compass Blueprint Award at the Southern California Association of Government's (SCAG) Regional Conference and General Assembly.Downey received the award for its Downtown Downey Specific Plan completed last year. ""We could not be any more proud to have been selected for this award, as this new Downtown Downey Specific Plan will revitalize our city's downtown area and encourage economic growth," said Mayor Luis Marquez, who was not in attendance at the event. Given annually, SCAG's Compass Blueprint Awards promote the principles of mobility, livability, prosperity and sustainability. Downey's award for livability was based on the Downtown Downey Specific Plan's opportunities to revitalize downtown by providing a mix of uses, promoting "peoplescaled" walkable communities and supporting stable neighborhoods. Said Councilman David Gafin, Downey's own SCAG representative: "We have a bright future ahead for our downtown area and I feel honored that our city was recognized for its hard work in planning for this new project." Councilman Mario Guerra, who was present to accept the award, along with Gafin, community development director Brian Saeki and senior planner David Blumenthal, said the Downtown Downey Specific Plan is a product of hard work from numerous people. "I am so proud of the work done by our Downtown Subcommittee, City Council and fine staff and to say that it is now an "award-winning plan" as judged by the experts in these fields," he said. For more information on the Downtown Downey Specific Plan, go online to downeyca.org/gov/cd

********** Published: May 12, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 4