With the recession behind us (or is it just lurking behind a corner in some haunted house?), the momentum to make Downtown an attractor of innovative business and young talent is back. That’s why we’re excited to hold Evolution of Downtown: The Rise of East Village and Makers Quarter at the Westin San Diego on Nov. 13 at 8am.

IDEA Partners co-founder David Malmuth, who will speak at our event, tells us that it’s critical for Downtown stakeholders to foster job growth. As people work there, they’ll want to live there, and they’ll want urban amenities: “Create clean, high-paying jobs, and all of the other pieces of growth will fall into place.” One reason he and his partner Pete Garcia created the IDEA District is to be a catalyst for such growth, he says. The goal of the IDEA District is 15,000 or more new jobs in the next 10 years.

The IDEA 1 development, a JV between IDEA Partners and Lowe Enterprises, is close to finalizing financial backing, David says. It will feature a combination of creative office space and nearly 300 residential units designed to appeal to those who want to participate in the District’s growing innovation ecosystem. For plenty more projects, David will be joined by a dozen speakers at our Evolution of Downtown: The Rise of East Village and Makers Quarter Nov. 13 at 8am. Grab your ticket now!