PMC was selected by the City of Compton to prepare a Specific Plan document for the North Downtown area, an aging district of commercial, light industrial, and residential uses adjacent to a regional light rail transit station. PMC worked closely with the Community Redevelopment Agency, stakeholders, and local citizens to ensure that the plan is a collaborative effort that reflects the needs and desires of the community.

The Specific Plan proposed transit-oriented mixed-use development using the existing light rail station as a hub of activity providing access to shopping, entertainment venues, and the City of Compton civic center. Additionally, the plan proposed the reinstatement of the historic street grid, the removal of incompatible light industrial uses (primarily auto-oriented) , and the easing of parking requirements in the downtown area to encourage pedestrian activity, stimulate commercial development, and increase livability. Tangible products included a land use and design plan that integrates Downtown Code hybrid zoning provisions and provides design guidelines and standards to ensure the plan’s proper execution. Accompanying this design plan is a Vision Poster visually depicting district improvements and concepts solely for the purpose of showing rather than just telling the envisioned future of North Downtown Compton. The plan also included realistic right-of way improvements that incorporate provisions to address the relationship and integration of the public and private realms and an implementation/action plan that included the cost of planned infrastructure and development, as well as a recommended phasing schedule for area improvements.