runway district is a city-led vision for the airport land: homes, neighborhood parks, civic spaces, and a lasting public asset—kept in public hands and shaped by the people who live here.
an independent community concept · not a city plan · subject to voter approval and public study
the city’s current airport-conversion process is centered on a metropolitan park, with nature, play, culture, and everyday amenities. runway district asks residents to consider another mix that adds housing and a long-term public revenue stream.
the city’s draft illustrative master plan develops a park-focused future for the site, building on community input and council direction.
a city-owned, city-led residential district with parks throughout—designed to serve residents and sustain public services over time.
the city’s planning materials describe the conversion project as approximately 192 acres. runway district’s working model uses approximately 193 acres; the boundary and developable area need to be reconciled in formal planning.
the point is not to sell the land or hand the future to a private owner. the city remains the landowner and long-term steward. residents help set the rules, shape the design, and see how the project performs.
the city keeps the land and the long-term value it creates. development decisions and leases remain visible to the public.
a walkable district with homes, multiple neighborhood parks, civic uses, and a modest main street—not a single destination park alone.
voters decide whether this kind of development is allowed. a public process sets affordability, design, mobility, and environmental standards.
the working concept is for the city to finance and lead the project, with public bonds funding construction up front. as homes are completed and occupied, rents and other district revenues begin to flow back to the public project.
the district is meant to remain a public asset. bond payments are repayment of public borrowing, not a distribution of profits to private landowners.
residents should be able to see the full ledger: what it costs, when revenue arrives, how debt is repaid, and what remains for public use.
this is a concept-level financing case, not an underwritten bond plan. the city would need to publish an independent model with construction costs, contingencies, lease-up timing, operating costs, debt service, and reserves.
voters approve the allowable uses and public rules.
cost, design, environmental review, and bond terms are open to scrutiny.
homes and public spaces open in a sequence that residents can track.
lease income repays public investment and supports the district over time.
a serious alternative should invite tough questions and publish the answers before anyone asks for a vote.
it offers a different overall mix for residents to evaluate. parks remain a central part of runway district; the proposal adds housing and a public revenue model. the city’s current park-focused plan remains the active city direction.
the concept keeps the land publicly owned and city-led. residents would need a clear role in shaping the ballot measure, standards, oversight, and public reporting.
measure lc allows parks, public open spaces, public recreational facilities, and maintenance or replacement of existing cultural, arts, and education uses. other new development on permanently closed airport land requires voter approval of limits on uses and development. the exact ballot path and legal requirements need review by the city attorney and election officials.
no. they are early concept estimates. the next responsible step is an independent, public feasibility study that tests costs, rent assumptions, vacancies, operating expenses, debt service, reserves, and downside scenarios.
no. it means the land stays public, residents have a real voice in the rules and oversight, and project revenue is used for public obligations and services—not distributed as private profit.
download the presentation, design addendum, council letter, and financial model. each is available as a PDF and in its editable format.
runway district presentation · version 4
one ZIP with the four PDFs and four editable files.
hear when the proposal develops and when there are opportunities to weigh in.