Diego Velasco is Principal and Founder of Citythinkers, an integrated and multi-disciplinary planning, urban design and research firm based in San Diego, California. Diego is a native San Diegan who has been practicing design and planning in the San Diego region for more than 25 years. Over this timespan, Diego has worked closely with multiple communities in San Diego, from Golden Hill, to Southeastern, Encanto, Mission Valley, Clairemont, and now Hillcrest, University and National City. His work spans all scales and contexts, from urban, infill projects in Downtown San Diego to campus planning at the University of San Diego, Specific Plans in Otay Mesa, San Marcos, National City and El Cajon and Master Plan and Design Guidelines for private sector and public sector clients alike. As a practicing architectural designer, a Certified Planner, and an instructor, Diego advances our region’s conversation about urban design through work that is grounded in the community. Current and recent work includes the University of San Diego Master Plan, an LGBTQ+ Cultural District Plan for Hillcrest, Coastal Resiliency Master Planning, and Urban Design assignments for several community plans and specific plans in the region.
Diego is involved in his community on several levels. He is the American Planning Association San Diego Section Director, on the Management Committee of ULI San Diego/ Tijuana, a past mentor in the ULI - Young Leaders Partnership Forum, and a member of Lambda Alpha International. He was the 2014 President of C-3 (Citizens Coordinate for Century Three), was an elected member of the Centre City Advisory Committee from 2009 to 2010, and a frequent speaker at national, state, and local APA and ULI events. His volunteer work with these organizations connects the planning profession to the interests and concerns of communities across our region.
Diego’s practice is also informed by his teaching experience. He is Lecturer 1 at UC San Diego, where he teaches housing policy, city planning, and urban design courses focused on critical planning areas in the City of San Diego.
University of Washington (2006) // Master of Urban Planning // Urban Design Certificate
Masters Thesis (2006) Shaping the Public Realm: An Analysis of Form-Based Codes in Hercules and Petaluma, California
University of California, Berkeley (1999) // Bachelor of Arts Degree, High Honors Architecture Major, City Planning Minor
American Institute of Certified Planners // Certified Planner
University of California, San Diego // Lecturer (2019 - present)
University of San Diego // Adjunct Faculty (2013 - 2021)
Urban Land Institute // Member, Management Committee, Partnership Forum Mentor (2014 - present)
Lambda Alpha International // Member (2017 - present)
Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 // Board Member (2013-2019), President (2014)
Centre City Advisory Committee // Elected Member (2009)
American Institute of Certified Planners // Certified Planner (2012 - present)
American Planning Association // San Diego Section Director, Member (2012 - present)
“Visualizing Density.” Presentation to the American Planning Association, California Chapter Annual Conference. September 2020.
Work in the Public Realm.” Lecture to San Diego State University, CP 710. San Diego, CA. February 2019.
“Development Process, Design and Creating Great Places.” Moderator for Discussion Panel on Urban Development in Tijuana and San Diego. 2nd Annual Cali-Baja Real Estate Investment Symposium. Tijuana, B.C. November 2017.
“Density and Building Types.” Presentation to UC-San Diego, USP 177. San Diego, CA. November 2017.
“Design and Construction.” Presentation to Housing Policy Leadership Academy. San Diego, CA. November 2017.
“Design and Density.” Presentation to American Planning Association, San Diego Chapter. San Diego, CA. September 2017.
“Taking T.O.D. to the Next Level.” Presentation to American Institute of Architects, San Diego Chapter. San Diego, CA. August 2017.
“Visual Communication in Planning and Architecture.” Lecture to UC-San Diego, USP 172. San Diego, CA. April 2017.
ULI San Diego-Tijuana Technical Assistance Panel, “Identifying Financially Feasible Community Oriented Development Opportunities At Mid-City Transit Hubs.” San Diego, CA. April 2016.
“Affordable Housing Design.” Lecture to UC-San Diego, USP 137. San Diego, CA. February 2016.
“Pop-Up Outreach.” Presentation to Civic Innovation Lab - Here and Now Innovation Roundtable. San Diego, CA. April 2014.
“Innovative Community Engagement Tools.” Presentation at American Planning Association National Conference. Atlanta, GA. April 2014.
ULI San Diego-Tijuana Technical Assistance Panel, Baja California Center (BCC) Rosarito Convention Center Development. Rosarito, B.C. March 2014.