SAN DIEGO | Boom Rundown, Vol. 2

[Derek]

Here's that Hazard Center stuff:

http://thenewhazardcenter.com/

[Lipani]

I don't actually call it the MLK I just remembered that the few white people I know here (Mount Hope) call it that lol.

We should confirm this with our local expert, Fox 5 San Diego Traffic and Weather-babe Chrissy Russo. :boogy:

http://media.trb.com/media/photo/2010-09/56212607.jpg
http://www.fox5sandiego.com/entertainment/chrissyrussopictures/kswb-photogallery-12839,0,2771277.photogallery

[HurricaneHugo]

I'll take the bullet for the team and make a personal visit to her house to ask her this very important question.

You guys will owe me cuz I gotta spend a lot of time and gas money to do this plus nagging from my girlfriend but I care that much about you guys!

[SDfan]

Transportation Article:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/02/san-diegos-transportation-future/

[kpexpress]

Transportation Article:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/02/san-diegos-transportation-future/

Why is this city full of transit haters? How do we help change that attitude?

Why is everyone hating on CCDC and Downtown Redevelopment lately too? Do the suburban citizens not see the benefit of having a strong dense downtown area as an economic engine to the region?

[HurricaneHugo]

god i want to slap those people

[laguna]

'Why is this city full of transit haters? How do we help change that attitude?'

Is it really that difficult to mount a reasoned case based on cost/benefit?

I know, emotional responses feel better and are easier than cold facts and figures.

Keep scratching each others nuts and complaining, thats what you students are here for anyway.

[HurricaneHugo]

You can't make every freeway 20 lanes wide to support the transportation needs of a growing region.

[kpexpress]

You can't make every freeway 20 lanes wide to support the transportation needs of a growing region.

Freeway's congested. Solution: add more lanes to allow more congestion. And the spiral continues at the cost of human scale, walkability, health, resources and the environment.

[HurricaneHugo]

I also forgot that roads and highways pay for themselves.

[SD_Phil]

Kinda OT but whatthehell, slow news day:

District 9 Fed Court ruled the Mt. Soledad cross unconstitutional today:
link (http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/04/california.cross/index.html?hpt=Sbin)

[HurricaneHugo]

Kinda OT but whatthehell, slow news day:

District 9 Fed Court ruled the Mt. Soledad cross unconstitutional today:
link (http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/04/california.cross/index.html?hpt=Sbin)

Anything about SD is on topic. :tup:

Although I believe in the separation of church and state that cross has been there for what, fifty years?

Let it stand.

But if they do take it down...

Replace it with a great statue to commerate the soldiers. :)

[SDfan]

^^^

I agree. I mean I'm all for keeping the cross, but if they do get rid of it, they should put something less dinky.

Giant statue of Cabrillo, hint hint, wink wink...

[mello]

I've taken my first walks and drives through uptown and downtown after being gone for a while. I was born and raised in Encinitas and spent a couple of years in Bay Park and Hillcrest/Univ. Heights each.

North Park is looking pretty good along Univ. East of 30th I see some nice changes there since I left. 30th south of Univ. has improved as well but 30th N. of Univ. is looking pretty shabby and I will say a bit worse then it did previously.

Hillcrest along University E. of the 163 has some nice new additions and looked ok. I definitely like the new infill project on Washington street in Mission Hills. And the big condo project on Pennsylvania and 5th looks really nice as well. Right in the heart of Hillcrest is pretty much the same except for a Pink Berry lol.

South Park is definitely looking better with the couple of new additions on 30th by the Whistle Stop bar, that I hope to see that area keep expanding.

Now on to Downtown: I was just there on Tuesday in the late afternoon early evening roughly 3:45 to 5:30 and walked around the East Village and part of the Gaslamp. The EV has filled in with more 4 to 6 floor projects and seems to be very built up, but it was dead! There are thousands of units over there and very little street life. Now I know this was probably due to the time of day and the fact that there are many vacancies in those new "luxury rentals" etc.

I am also aware that most people that live downtown do not work downtown. Sad to see that most of the street level retail in buildings such as the Mark are still empty. Indigo Hotel and the new condo tower on Market do look nice. The Marriott Residence Inn on 5th/6th looks decent but that half block still dedicated to parking across the street is a real eye sore. The Hilton hotel does look better then I thought from the Gaslamp and EV perspective. It is a bit wide but in the late afternoon light it looks elegant and the materials seem to be of good quality.

Overall downtown SD at this time on a Tuesday really did lack life and seemed a bit lack luster. Some new bars, restaurants, and creative businesses have gone in just E. of the Gaslamp and a couple in the EV. It almost seems like you can "feel" the bad economy. People seemed to lack energy and just the vibe was a bit downtrodden. This is probably because I have just come from living in a close in Brooklyn hood for the past 2 years.

Anyhow, just wanted to give you all my perceptions on how SD looks after a hiatus. :cheers:

[brantw]

Overall downtown SD at this time on a Tuesday really did lack life and seemed a bit lack luster. Some new bars, restaurants, and creative businesses have gone in just E. of the Gaslamp and a couple in the EV. It almost seems like you can "feel" the bad economy. People seemed to lack energy and just the vibe was a bit downtrodden.


I know what you mean.

[staplesla]

Critics say they have reached agreement with port officials on proceeding with the long-delayed $28 million North Embarcadero beautification effort.

The agreement, between the Navy Broadway Complex Coalition and the San Diego Unified Port District, was reached Wednesday after intervention by San Diego Councilman Kevin Faulconer, who chairs the North Embarcadero joint-powers authority that is leading the effort.

According to coalition members, the agreement calls for removing improvements to Broadway Pier from the first phase and including them in the next phase of the plan for the rest of the area, generally north of Seaport Village, south of Laurel Street and west of Pacific Highway.

The port board is scheduled to hold a hearing at 2 p.m. Tuesday at port headquarters, 3165 Pacific Highway in downtown San Diego, leading to approval of a coastal development permit.

That permit calls for tripling the waterfront promenade between Navy Pier and B Street Pier to about 105 feet, building two pavilions for food service and ticketing and a restroom and installing extensive landscaping. Broadway west of Pacific Highway also would be beautified.

The port is borrowing funds from the Centre City Development Corp., the city's downtown redevelopment arm, to complete the first phase of what has been planned for more than a dozen years.

Also envisioned in the first phase is a 150-food-wide public open space carved out of the Lane Field hotel development site, located at the northeast corner of Harbor Drive and Broadway.

"People have always called us obstructionists," said coalition co-chairman Ian Trowbridge. "We want to get it going."

He said his group pressed for deletion of the Broadway Pier portion of Phase 1 so it could pursue maximum public access to the pier now that a new cruise ship terminal has been completed there. The coalition sued the port over the terminal and has been trying to get the pier's use for cruise ships limited to certain days of the year. Trowbridge said he also hopes the port studies the use of the 10th Avenue Marine Terminal for cruise ships -- a shift that could open up the North Embarcadero to year-round public access.

The details were revealed at a meeting of the Union-Tribune editorial board Thursday. Besides Trowbridge, the meeting included Jerry Trammer, who represents the developers of the Lane Field hotels, and Stacey Pennington, an urban planner handling public outreach on the hotel; she is the daughter of one of the developers, Rob Lankford.

Even though Trowbridge said the agreement means construction could start by year's end, there are many hurdles ahead:

* The permit could be appealed to the California Coastal Commission and not be heard until June.
* Funds for the project could disappear if the state moves to take local redevelopment funds, as it has done in recent years, to plug its $28 billion budget deficit.
* And the agreement itself could come undone, just as earlier agreements and compromises collapsed when the actual details were put into writing.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/06/critics-port-back-together-embarcadero/

[HurricaneHugo]

I already got tired of the stupid NE plan.

Any city in the USA would have built it five years ago.

[SDfan]

We need more articles like this or else downtown development is done...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/06/downtown-whats-future/

[SDfan]

I already got tired of the stupid NE plan.

Any city in the USA would have built it five years ago.

Agreed. And its going to look like crap anyways, so I don't know what all the fuss is about...

[Derek]

What do you guys think of this guy?


http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/06/young-talks-new-city-hall-chargers-stadium/

[HurricaneHugo]

Like the guy already.

Seriously though how do you run for city council lol.

I made a comment on it and yahoo left my real name grrrr.

[tdavis]

So City Councilman Carl DeMaio has filed to run for mayor.

http://twitdoc.com/docview?doc=46478915&key=key-16e2fmsgiymt5cvp8dai&usr=dillonliam&lcl=dillonliam/cm7aivp8/501I_CarlDeMaio_10511.pdf&hits=47&qs=x9gx26

[HurricaneHugo]

Good or bad?

[Derek]

I HATE that guy. He's a prick.

[tdavis]

Derek, do you know Carl? I know him personally and he's a very nice guy.

As a Democratic, I don't agree with all of his viewpoints, but to say that you "HATE" someone, that's pretty harsh.

[Derek]

Yeah I've met him before, I guess he just rubs me the wrong way...

[Lipani]

DeMaio may be a nice guy (I've never met him), but he has no vision for the city at all. He is on the news more than the mayor and only discusses budget cuts/pension reform 95% of the time. Look no further than his blog (http://cleanupcityhall.com/). Besides the two topics mentioned previously, it's mostly empty rhetoric without any ideas on making our city better.

[SDCAL]

I have to agree with Derek and Lipani, Carl DeMaio would be an extremely poor choice for Mayor, especially for anyone who favors continued development downtown.

He has been the most vocal opponent of the library and city hall (luckily the library broke ground anyway).

I am not saying I am for mass development without planning or responsibility, but I am also not for simply stalling on things for decades either.

DeMaio's entire argument against a new city hall is based primarily on economics, of which there is documentation to show a new city hall building would actually save money.

The main issue with a new city hall is whether you look at the short-term or long-term.

Short-term, yes it will cost the city money.

But long-term reports show it will save the city money after a decade.

I realize a decade is a long time in our lives, but in terms of a city it is not that long.

DeMaio and his ilk prefer to simply use the hysteria of an economic downturn to score political points, and to put-off a needed project so the next generation can worry about it.

The facts are that the city has very low rents downtown on office space, and these leases will be expiring I believe in 2014-2016, at which time they will go up dramatically.

DeMaio appeals to the loon posters in the Union Tribune who seriously want our city hall to be housed in portable trailers on the outskirts of town. I am not exaggerating, there are really people in this town who advocate for that, and they are DeMaio supporters.

I have many other reasons to not support DeMaio, including things I know about his character and ego (I have not met the man but do know people who know him personally) but since this is a development thread I will leave it with his positions on downtown development - - which can basically be summed up as be against everything.

I know Mayor Sanders has been criticized a great deal, but I actually think he has been a decent mayor considering the mess he inherited when he came in.

He did play a key role getting the library off the ground, and he has also helped the pension crisis as much as one person can without a tax increase.

I think mayor Sanders should be given more credit than he has for being a decent mayor (of course his view on the airport - putting billions into Lindbergh - is asinine, but other than that he has been pretty reasonable).

DeMaio would be a complete and utter disaster in my opinion.:slob: :slob:

[brantw]

The civic dream of transforming San Diego’s Embarcadero into one of the nation’s great public places has suffered more stops than starts over the past 20 years. But a new agreement between previously warring parties could be the breakthrough that will finally get the project under way this fall.

Under the deal, described in a meeting with the Union-Tribune editorial board last week, developers of the long-stalled hotel project proposed for the site of the former Lane Field have agreed to revise plans in order to make two acres of the property available for a grand public plaza at the foot of Broadway. The developers also agreed to remain neutral in organized labor’s expected future effort to unionize the hotel’s workers.

A key port district commissioner agreed to push for removal of the proposed Broadway Pier improvements from the first phase of the Embarcadero project, satisfying the main group of activists who have sued the port in a battle over use of the pier.

And in return for all of that, the activists, known as the Navy Broadway Complex Coalition, agreed to drop opposition to the rest of the project and to support it at Tuesday’s port commission meeting and at the City Council and state Coastal Commission.

“It’s about time the public got this development they’ve been expecting,” Ian Trowbridge, co-chair of the coalition, told the editorial board.

Indeed, it is.

At stake in all of this is the $28 million first phase of the $228 million North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, a proposed remake of Downtown San Diego’s bayside “front porch” with a public esplanade, parks, gardens, a bike path, public art and other amenities that would help turn the waterfront into a world-class public space for San Diegans and visitors alike.

As promising as the new agreement is, hurdles remain, perhaps most significant of which is new Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to tap redevelopment funds up and down the state to help balance the state budget. That creates a new sense of urgency related to the Embaracadero project’s $28 million financing, which is to come from the city’s downtown redevelopment corporation, half of it in the form of a loan to the port district.

Still, the agreement represents a major step toward making the plan not just a vision but a reality. Credit goes to Port Commissioner Scott Peters, former Commissioner Steve Cushman, Councilman Kevin Faulconer, the Lane Field developer, and the coalition activists, including Trowbridge and labor leader Lorena Gonzalez, all of whom played key roles in putting the deal together.

It is still too early to uncork the Champagne. But in the end, this deal could prove to be a model for how to get things done.

Read the full article at SignonSanDiego (http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/10/progress-on-the-waterfront/).

[SDfan]

I don't want to say the sky is falling, but...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/10/tuesday-provides-action-and-attention-city-megapro/

The sky is falling!

[SDfan]

Library Tower Extension:

http://www.ccdc.com/images/stories/downloads/meetings-and-events/event-calendar/2011/January_2011_REC_Item_6_Library_Tower.pdf

[eburress]

I don't want to say the sky is falling, but...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/10/tuesday-provides-action-and-attention-city-megapro/

The sky is falling!

Good God I hate this ridiculous state. They just keep effing themselves left and right and then wonder why they're effed. Brilliant.

[bushman61988]

Library Tower Extension:

http://www.ccdc.com/images/stories/downloads/meetings-and-events/event-calendar/2011/January_2011_REC_Item_6_Library_Tower.pdf

Been a while since I posted, but these renderings of the tower are awesome! I wish I could figure out how to post them on this forum...

Although I wish there was some nicer way to top it off (can we get a spire here San Diego?), it's WAY better than the roof of the Icon or Electra..

I think my favorite part is the round purple commercial structure that is almost spherical...it's a really unique shape and color... for once some originality in San Diego architecture!

[bmfarley]

Good God I hate this ridiculous state. They just keep effing themselves left and right and then wonder why they're effed. Brilliant.No one to blame, but ourselves. It is the California voters that passed proposition after proposition that added cost after cost to the budget. And, we fight tax increases to pay for it.

[brantw]

Library Tower

Here you go:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5348428896_3077c9f039_o.png
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5042/5348428860_0384d11c28_o.png
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5347817953_9d48671c24_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5088/5347817867_74676334f2_o.png

[Derek]

Ah, it's resurfaced. I wonder how long it'll be before it disappears again... :(

[eburress]

No one to blame, but ourselves. It is the California voters that passed proposition after proposition that added cost after cost to the budget. And, we fight tax increases to pay for it.

I'm not going to include myself with that bunch. I didn't vote for any of that BS. It's the same NIMBYs that piss on everything here that are to blame...they're the ones who voted for all that. I hate hate hate California!

[Lipani]

Holy crap! DeMaio is in favor of a project!

San Diego approves expansion of Horton Plaza park
San Diegans may have a new place to celebrate their city on New Year’s Eve 2013 — assuming construction stays on schedule of course.

The San Diego City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to demolish the former Robinson’s-May building in Westfield’s Horton Plaza mall and use the land to expand the historic park located in front of it.

...

Councilwoman Lorie Zapf called it an “innovative public-private partnership.” That sentiment was echoed by Councilman Carl DeMaio, who is known for his focus on city budget problems and criticism of what he considers wrongheaded spending.

“There is no doubt that downtown needs more park space and we need to have civic gathering spots to really enjoy our city,” he said. “I think this is a good project for those reasons. It really does help us to improve the economic viability of the Horton Plaza shopping mall.”
Rest of the UT article here (http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/11/san-diego-council-approves-expansion-horton-plaza-/).

[HurricaneHugo]

I'm guessing none of the other projects were approved?

[SDfan]

^^ Yeah, did they approve of the hilton expansion? Anyone know?

[SDfan]

Seaworld Roller Coaster:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/13/seaworld-expected-to-announce-10-million-ride-and/

[SDfan]

More bad news:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/13/san-diego-to-lose-yet-another-cruise-ship/

[eburress]

More bad news:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/13/san-diego-to-lose-yet-another-cruise-ship/

All you need to know:

"We [California] also have regulatory and environmental requirements that add significant costs to the cruise lines."


More taxes, more regulation, more environmental requirements -- let's see if we can't chase every possible source of income away! Yay California!! Politically speaking, who would you say is to blame for California's economic/business-related policies?

[SD_Phil]

^Odd...I read the article and that distinctly wasn't all I needed to know.

Here are some important bits:

"Our decision to deploy the Carnival Spirit to Australia was based on the weaker relative financial performance for our San Diego program at present," said Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen. "Only about 1.5 percent of Australians have ever taken a cruise, meaning that there is huge potential for growth."

The slumping economy and diminished interest in travel to Mexico because of continued violence there is clearly to blame for the plunge in San Diego's cruise business, which is expected to sink to its lowest level in a decade.

While an estimated 515,000 passengers boarded and disembarked from ships in San Diego in 2010, just half that many are expected to do so this year.

While Carnival indicated it will consider basing another ship in San Diego in the future based on market conditions and "our very strong relationship with the Port of San Diego," it would not be pinned down on when that could happen. Last spring, Carnival relocated San Diego's only year-round ship, the Elation, to Mobile, Ala.

and

Cruise lines, including Carnival, had complained about the Port's aging facility at B Street and its inability to accommodate a large number of passengers when multiple ships were in port.

Your rush to blame it on environmental regulation (especially in the face of the other more obvious and more directly cited causes in the article itself) is confusing. Confusing even more when you wonder why cruise ships are pulling out only recently despite the existence of these environmental regulations.

[eburress]

Your rush to blame it on environmental regulation (especially in the face of the other more obvious and more directly cited causes in the article itself) is confusing. Confusing even more when you wonder why cruise ships are pulling out only recently despite the existence of these environmental regulations.

The economic climate now making the cost of being in SD/environmental regulations too great to tolerate, whereas it was more tolerable when more people were traveling?

[mello]

I have to agree with eburress. The economic outlook for the San Diego region does not look good. Remember 8 years ago on this forum when there was all the hope about a possible office tower boom downtown?? Well that never happened, all we got were hotels and residential towers.

I would love to see the office vacancy rates for the SD county employment centers. SAIC is shipping their big dogs to Northern VA. and there is just no reason for companies to locate here bottom line. Biotech and clean tech I don't think are going to be a big enough player to provide decent paying middle class jobs for the masses here. Yes unemployment is lower here then other parts of CA. but the vast majority of the jobs here do not pay a living wage.

[SD_Phil]

^I'm extra confused now. Where did I say that the economic climate looked good?

Given what eburess just said I don't think we disagree. I originally interpreted him as saying that environmental regulations were substantially to blame for cruise ships leaving SD out. If he isn't saying that then there isn't a disagreement. The article, and I cited most of the more relevant portions, makes it clear that that isn't true. There are a multitude of reasons why this is happening, all of them relevantly economic and only one tangentially mentioned one had anything to do with environmental regulations.

I'm not sure what any of that has to do with commercial towers going up though. Yes it's another sign that the economic conditions aren't so great for many and that businesses, though doing fairly well, are still holding onto most of their assets instead of investing them. But aside from both being indicators of a sagging climate, how are cruise ships and office towers related?

[mello]

They aren't that was just a general rant on my part Phil. Sorry for the confusion. I agree with you that the environmental regs did not necessarily spell doom for the cruise industry in San Diego. Maybe e burress is just really frustrated in CA's overregulation in general especially compared to a business friendly state like Texas.

[Lipani]

L.A. is losing a number of cruise ships as well. Most of it has to do with the economy, particularly a significant drop in tourism to Mexico.

Hawaii's environmental regulations are much, much tougher (for obvious reasons). Norwegian ended up selling their ships rather than send them to a different port. Other cruise lines, though, stepped in to take over their market share. I doubt we'll see that here -- at least for a couple of years. But if tourism to Mexico increased, along with an improvement in the economy, we'd be one of the first ports to benefit.

[HurricaneHugo]

Anybody know if that Cougar Cruise is still running lol

[SD_Phil]

They aren't that was just a general rant on my part Phil. Sorry for the confusion. I agree with you that the environmental regs did not necessarily spell doom for the cruise industry in San Diego. Maybe e burress is just really frustrated in CA's overregulation in general especially compared to a business friendly state like Texas.

No worries. I have a feeling this is going to get worse for a while more before it even begins to get better.

A lot of you might know that I work (for the time being) at UCSD. People there are all abuzz about Gov. Brown's $500 million dollar reduction in higher education funds for next year. UCSD's personal hit is in the neighborhood of $60 million. These are hard times and CA public universities (UC and CSU) and community colleges have had their budgets cut several years in a row now.

To me stuff like this is far worse than cruise ships. Cruise ships can always be enticed back relatively quickly but it takes a long time to built up an educated workforce.

[mello]

Phil: I have noticed tons of new construction on the UCSD campus and more across the 5 by the Scripps Medical facilities. Is it possible for you to put together a little compilation of what has been built in the last couple years and what is UC? I like those new dorms on the North end of campus and some of the new buildings more to the south on Torrey Pines Rd. are excellent too.

[HurricaneHugo]

I had plenty of pictures on my old phone but it went the way of the dodo.

Phil, where exactly do you work?

[HurricaneHugo]

Also last time posted random pictures of San Diego Mello said they weren't interesting. :(

[Urbanize_It]

CCDC has updated the Kettner and Ash Bosa project with a new picture. Anyone know what is going on with this project? What do you think of the new design?

http://www.ccdc.com/projects/major-downtown-projects/projects-landing-page/columbia/822-kettner-a-ash.html

[SDfan]

Its cute. I like the roof design. Very Miami.

[Lipani]

Transform? Meh. It'll put a band-aid on San Diego's airport problem for a few years, but definitely won't help the city in the long run.

$1 billion expansion will transform Lindbergh Field
By Robert J. Hawkins
Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 7:44 p.m.

For many travelers, the newest addition to San Diego International Airport has been about closed parking lots, rerouted roadways and the tearing down of bits and pieces of Terminal 2.

But that is going to change.

In the next few months, the $1 billion Green Build — a nod to its environmentally sensitive design — will take shape atop the site of a long-dormant municipal and military landfill. It will be a mirror image of the existing terminal, with 10 new gates and a signature common area for travelers. Construction is also poised to begin on an elevated roadway for departing passengers, with a sophisticated curbside check-in.

On the western side of the terminal, the 784 support piles have been driven into the ground and the 1.5 million-square-foot concrete apron is being poured over the top of them. In February, the prefabricated steel will start to arrive from Arizona. In mere months, the skeletal structure will be in place.

The project is being financed by airport user fees and revenue bonds, revenue from concessions and Federal Aviation Administration grants.
San Diego Union-Tribune (http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/18/1-billion-expansion-will-transform-airport/)

http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/01/18/airport1_1_t593.jpg?

http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/01/18/airport3_t593.jpg?

[HurricaneHugo]

CCDC has updated the Kettner and Ash Bosa project with a new picture. Anyone know what is going on with this project? What do you think of the new design?

http://www.ccdc.com/projects/major-downtown-projects/projects-landing-page/columbia/822-kettner-a-ash.html

Too bulky but I'll take it.

[kpexpress]

CCDC has updated the Kettner and Ash Bosa project with a new picture. Anyone know what is going on with this project? What do you think of the new design?

http://www.ccdc.com/projects/major-downtown-projects/projects-landing-page/columbia/822-kettner-a-ash.html

I can see the bulky comment, but the top is light and elegant - not very fitting with the bulky base. Seems a bit disconnected (top to the bottom), could use some further development to better incorporate the two. Make the base leaner and blend the top better with the base. I like the eyebrow aesthetic though.

[OneMetropolis]

http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/01/20/Sunset_Cove_Exterior_t593.jpg?f53c1bb70f629018cec0bd6246c82dae770b93ac



http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/01/20/Sunset_Cove_t593.jpg?f53c1bb70f629018cec0bd6246c82dae770b93ac


http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/01/20/USO-building_t593.jpg?f53c1bb70f629018cec0bd6246c82dae770b93ac

http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/01/20/Arrivals_Curb1_t593.JPG?f53c1bb70f629018cec0bd6246c82dae770b93ac


http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/01/20/overview_t593.jpg?f53c1bb70f629018cec0bd6246c82dae770b93ac

[SDfan]

Interesting...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/20/airport-compatibility-study-seeks-publics-opinions/

[kpexpress]

If bonds to fund convention center were passed by a public vote, but the public, then why should the redevelopment agency pay for them?

[Derek]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/21/proposal-ending-redevelopment-state-hits-16-cities/

[staplesla]

It's taken 103 years, but the long-held idea of a waterfront park is about to get rolling this week with action expected by the Board of Supervisors.

The board is scheduled to vote:

* $2.6 million to demolish the 1958 J. W. Askew Building on the north side of the County Administration Center
* $1.2 million to complete the design for a 12-acre park that will replace the building and extend to the north and south parking lots of what many believe is the most beautiful public building in the county.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/21/county-ready-start-44-million-waterfront-park/

http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/01/24/Park_plan_1_t593.JPG?f53c1bb70f629018cec0bd6246c82dae770b93ac
http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/01/21/CAC_Waterfront_Park_Fountain_Rendering.1.2011_t593.JPG?f53c1bb70f629018cec0bd6246c82dae770b93ac

[Lipani]

Maybe in another 103 years the Chargers will finally have a new stadium after Robot Donna Frye is deactivated via term limits. :ahhh:

All kidding aside, it's about damn time. Now if they only did something about Lane Field...

[patriotizzy]

Maybe in another 103 years the Chargers will finally have a new stadium after Robot Donna Frye is deactivated via term limits. :ahhh:

All kidding aside, it's about damn time. Now if they only did something about Lane Field...

The rendering of the park looks awesome. I hope this happens soon.

[Derek]

Thought you guys might like. :tup:


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5392679824_eba61e58c5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56735080@N06/5392679824/)
IMG_1094 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56735080@N06/5392679824/) by derekabrahamadour (http://www.flickr.com/people/56735080@N06/), on Flickr

[brantw]

Does anybody know why they have never turned that fountain back on? I always thought it was a pretty cool little addition to that area.

[Urbanize_It]

Great pic! Thanks for sharing Derek!

[HurricaneHugo]

Have you guys seen this alternative plan for the Chargers stadium?

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_fHftxFXFhyMGJmMWY2NjAtZmJlZi00ZTVkLWIzZjktZjJiZjczZjZkZWY2&hl=en

[laguna]

Does anybody know why they have never turned that fountain back on? I always thought it was a pretty cool little addition to that area.

Several lawsuits were filed (student loans have to be repaid, you know) and the city shut it down rather than face future litigation.

The next time you pass the law school being built around the corner, think about how all those new lawyers are going to earn a living. It is rather frightening.

[kpexpress]

heard Thomas Jefferson School of Law took over master lease for Entrada for law school student housing.

[SDfan]

^^Whats Entrada?

And there is an article in the UT about walmart wanting to build a dozen new stores in the city... uh...

[brantw]

Several lawsuits were filed (student loans have to be repaid, you know) and the city shut it down rather than face future litigation.

The next time you pass the law school being built around the corner, think about how all those new lawyers are going to earn a living. It is rather frightening.

I can remember one time I saw a guy's dog get loose in the fountain before the gates were up. The dog ended up having to take care of it's business in the middle of the fountain. It ended up turning into a disaster. :yuck:

[Lipani]

Raise your hand if you're shocked.

New Lawsuit Challenges Navy Broadway Project

Friday, January 28, 2011

Local environmentalists have filed a new lawsuit against the U.S. Navy, calling for further environmental review before commercial development proceeds on the long-discussed Navy Broadway Complex in downtown San Diego.

The suit was filed Jan. 25 in U.S. District Court by Navy Broadway Complex Coalition, represented by local attorney Cory Briggs, which has also challenged development of the adjacent Embarcadero waterfront district in downtown San Diego.

It is the second suit regarding a mixed-use development on a 12-acre site at the foot of Broadway, currently owned by the Navy. The Navy accepted a plan for the project known as Manchester Pacific Gateway in 2006 from local developer Douglas Manchester.

The project has been stalled primarily by financing issues related to the economy. With a cost estimated between $800 million and $1 billion, it would include a new Navy headquarters building, commercial offices, 1,500 hotel rooms, retail space and underground parking.

As the result of a prior suit filed by the coalition in 2006, the Navy conducted an updated environmental assessment that determined no adverse impact would result from the project.

The new suit asks the court to overturn that finding and force the Navy to conduct another environmental study, on the grounds that much has changed since the developer’s initial plans were accepted.

That includes other new and proposed development coming to the downtown area, and increased requirements for homeland security. The lawsuit seeks a review of impacts including increased traffic and congestion, air and water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and heightened demand for public safety services.

— Lou Hirsh
http://www.sdbj.com/news/2011/jan/28/new-lawsuit-challenges-navy-broadway-project/

[brantw]

The Farmers Insurance Zeppelin above the Omni and Petco Park.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/5396502619_6e0e5d8a5e_b.jpg

[eburress]

Raise your hand if you're shocked.


http://www.sdbj.com/news/2011/jan/28/new-lawsuit-challenges-navy-broadway-project/

I hate this place.



Edit --> Yes, let's conduct more environmental assessments. Please. Doing so will change nothing, but it will stifle progress and waste tons and tons of money...so yeah, bring it on. There are places where this %$#@ doesn't happen. Places where things actually happen. Places where things get done. I hate this place.

[Derek]

I hate this place.



Edit --> Yes, let's conduct more environmental assessments. Please. Doing so will change nothing, but it will stifle progress and waste tons and tons of money...so yeah, bring it on. There are places where this %$#@ doesn't happen. Places where things actually happen. Places where things get done. I hate this place.

Those guys just need to get a life.

[mello]

So what is the status of the Manchester Broadway project? Even if there were no lawsuits is he ready to move on it? Is there demand for more hotel rooms and condos right now? How many rooms are they planning at Lane Field next door? Its about 6 to 8 hundred right...

The only reason I could see someone trying to block this project is if they live in condos east of there and their view would be obstructed by it lol. Can't the judges see through all these stupid lawsuits in California as obstructionism and do something about it. Our system really is broken when these idiots can impede progress that will benefit the urban core and waterfront of a large region. Those old crappy Navy office buildings are an embarrassing to our city being right there on the embarcadero.

[Lipani]

^ They want the entire lot to be open space. The UT ended up running a more informational article than the Business Journal.

The environmentalists who successfully got the San Diego Unified Port District this month to add more open space in the first phase of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, are returning to their first priority -- defeating the redevelopment of the Navy Broadway Complex at the foot of Broadway, adjacent to the Embarcadero boundaries.

The Navy Broadway Complex Coalition filed a new lawsuit Tuesday against the Navy calling for a new environmental review of the $1 billion plan it accepted from developer Douglas F. Manchester five years ago. Coalition members have talked of turning the 12.1-acre site into something akin to Chicago’s much-admired Millennium Park.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/27/environmentalists-renew-fight-against-navy-broadwa/

It should be noted that Ian Trowbridge has run for the city council numerous times, losing every race. He's tried to stop almost every major development downtown. Basically, the guy's vision is to turn every empty lot into a park.

As for the status of the Navy Broadway development, this was also in the article from the UT:

Perry Dealy, who put together the Manchester deal but now acts as an unpaid advocate, said the project can move forward once the legal challenges have been resolved.

"We're very excited that the overall economics are making a change for the better," Dealy said.

He cited optimistic views expressed at a national hotel conference in San Diego earlier this week that more hotel development will occur in 2011.

"These eight blocks are very well positioned as probably the best undeveloped waterfront property in the U.S. We're very positive about being able to pull together a development timeline as the year progresses, as soon as the legal issues are resolved, and be able to move forward with the project.

http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/01/27/navy_broadway_complex_rendering_2006_t593.jpg?f53c1bb70f629018cec0bd6246c82dae770b93ac
A 2006 rendering of the Manchester Pacific Gateway project shows how the hotels, offices and retail spaces would be fitted into the eight square blocks now occupied by Navy buildings.

[patriotizzy]

http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/01/27/navy_broadway_complex_rendering_2006_t593.jpg?f53c1bb70f629018cec0bd6246c82dae770b93ac
A 2006 rendering of the Manchester Pacific Gateway project shows how the hotels, offices and retail spaces would be fitted into the eight square blocks now occupied by Navy buildings.

If that doesn't get built, it will be a sad day for San Diego, and the state of CA. :(

[HurricaneHugo]

Those buildings should be taller and thinner IMO

[OneMetropolis]

Those buildings should be taller and thinner IMO


Well I feel that the mid size developements compliments and gives off a more tranquil allure to the water front area.

[brantw]

http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/01/27/navy_broadway_complex_rendering_2006_t593.jpg?f53c1bb70f629018cec0bd6246c82dae770b93ac


That looks like it would be the densest group of buildings ever built in San Diego.... which makes it seem unlikely it would ever happen.

[staplesla]

Four appeals have been filed against the $28 million first phase of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, the California Coastal Commission staff reported Wednesday.

Spokeswoman Diana Lilly said the appeals came from two members of the public, Scott Andrews and Katheryn Rhodes, and two commissioners, Vice Chairwoman and Oceanside City Councilwoman Esther Sanchez and Mary K. Schallenberger of Clements in the San Joaquin Valley.

San Diego Unified Port spokesman Ron Powell said appeals were expected but the port hopes the commission will rule in favor of the project.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/02/north-embarcadero-appeals-filed-coastal-commission/

[brantw]

Anybody know how far behind they are on the bridge? The grand opening was supposed to be in January. Here are some pics from today:

You can see the bayside half of the bridge doesn't have the protective net or restraint installed yet.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/5411776543_6aea0e75b1_z.jpg

They're obviously still working on the landscaping and laying the concrete.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/5411776389_11300035f8_z.jpg

I am guessing grass is going to go in here.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/5411776295_c78cffe24d_b.jpg

Some more of the walkway/sidewalk going in.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/5411776159_93cd366c4a_z.jpg

Bonus picture - This is what the wind did to a wall of that totally useless lot next to One America Plaza where once upon a time had a planned Two America Plaza.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5411775741_0aa28c150f_z.jpg

[HurricaneHugo]

What projects are going up at 16th and Broadway and 15th and Imperial/Commercial?

[Lipani]

^ I think the City College is adding a building at 16th and Broadway. They're also developing another one on Park (and E/F?). Imperial/Commercial sounds like Father Joe's.

[LaPLayaHeritage]

Four appeals have been filed against the $28 million first phase of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, the California Coastal Commission staff reported Wednesday.

Spokeswoman Diana Lilly said the appeals came from two members of the public, Scott Andrews and Katheryn Rhodes, and two commissioners, Vice Chairwoman and Oceanside City Councilwoman Esther Sanchez and Mary K. Schallenberger of Clements in the San Joaquin Valley.

San Diego Unified Port spokesman Ron Powell said appeals were expected but the port hopes the commission will rule in favor of the project.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/02/north-embarcadero-appeals-filed-coastal-commission/

Www.tinyurl.com/20110111a

After 5 years the Port is still missing 1,542 parking spaces and the required fault investigation. The seismic issues could be taken care of in one 8 hour day.

[kpexpress]

Project proposal for across the street from the Q in LIttle Italy. What do you guys think?

http://www.ccdc.com/images/stories/Item_4_-_Broadstone_Little_Italy_Staff_Rpt.pdf

[bmfarley]

Project proposal for across the street from the Q in LIttle Italy. What do you guys think?

http://www.ccdc.com/images/stories/Item_4_-_Broadstone_Little_Italy_Staff_Rpt.pdf

I think it looks fantastic, aethetically. Initial observatiosn and thoughts:

- Origionally, I believe something much larger was planned here. As I recall, it would have resembled the current development to the immediate south.

- I thought CCDC had a development criteria that required three (3) levels of underground development (for parking) before the first above grade floor could be permitted. The intent, as I recall, was to influence developers to consider projects that penned out financially better, which meant taller buildings and more denssity.

- Any thought on High Speed Rail coming down the Trolley and freight corridor? Would HSR impact this development. It might be aerial at this location??? Or, below grade.

[HurricaneHugo]

Not tall enough.

[mello]

Its decent 7 out of 10. I really like the super modern looking development that just finished about a year ago better then this. I would like to see some more Australian looking kind of architecture here in SD.

Have you guys seen some of the stuff that has been built in Melbourne, Gold Coast, and Brisbane lately? Really glassy, big balconies and just more imaginative then this faux Mediterranean stuff we seem to always have built here in San Diego. Lets push the envelope a bit on our 5 floor condo/apartment buildings.

[HurricaneHugo]

I don't care about the architecture I just want it tall enough to scrape the bottom of airliners!

[SD_Phil]

For the area I think it would fit in perfectly. I hope there's absolutely zero stucco on it though. It's a bit sterile (to me) architecturally but I'm happy with the density (again for the area) and I like that the massing is broken up so that it doesn't look like a giant block.

[SDfan]

Eh. Its alright.

[tommaso]

Its decent 7 out of 10. I really like the super modern looking development that just finished about a year ago better then this. I would like to see some more Australian looking kind of architecture here in SD.

Have you guys seen some of the stuff that has been built in Melbourne, Gold Coast, and Brisbane lately? Really glassy, big balconies and just more imaginative then this faux Mediterranean stuff we seem to always have built here in San Diego. Lets push the envelope a bit on our 5 floor condo/apartment buildings.

If you don't like faux Mediterranean, then you're going to have to leave southern California because that's the majority of disrespectful architecture that's built here. Italians and Spaniards would be ashamed to call most of our buildings here in Southern California home. And somehow, we are supposed to be emulating their architecture. Well, I can't stand our crap here and it is unbelievably distasteful. Rome, Barcelona and Marseille wouldn't allow 99% of our architects to work in their cities. That's fact.

[tommaso]

http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/01/27/navy_broadway_complex_rendering_2006_t593.jpg?f53c1bb70f629018cec0bd6246c82dae770b93ac

These buildings do look very stumpy, but you must take what you can get in San Diego. The city isn't built up enough to the point where the citizens can force the city to build taller buildings even throughout its downtown. S.D. is far from reaching that point. I don't care how visionary the politicians are. It would take an incredible effort to get most central downtown plots of land to consistently build 20 to 40+ story towers.

I've seen the central parts of DTSD. It can get eerily quiet on most city blocks and there's no way around that problem. It would take another 2 real estate construction booms and another 20 to 40 towers in the central part of DTSD to get a real downtown medium/high energy bustling feel.

Even downtown S.F. often lacks that energy, and S.F. laws are to blame for that problem. It is incredibly difficult to develop high rises in S.F. and so you end up with a downtown and a city that lack the energy that only the addition of 50 to 100 20+ story residential towers in the central parts could create.

You want energy and activity, then you need hundreds and thousands of people stacked on top of one another in a concentrated area and there's no other way around that. S.D. has grown leaps and bounds in that area over the past 10 years. Now, it will be interesting to see if S.D. takes more steps to becoming a serious downtown in this decade leading up to 2020.

[mello]

^^^ I agree with you but I'm not sure why that rendering has been circulating on this page of the thread. That is an old rendering. I've seen a couple of others that are more recent that look nothing like that. That one is like a drawing not even computer generated. It is a rough sketch from a couple of years ago.

I've seen other ones with more tall thin towers.

And Tommaso you are right, I just came from living in Crown Heights Brooklyn for 2 years and the only way to get that lively energy is to have massive density for sq. mile after sq. mile. I've noticed that downtown SD is still very quiet for how "built up" it now seems. I'm guessing that many of the new condo towers and 5 to 7 floor buildings near Petco and just east of it are not at full vacancy.

Another huge problem is the empty retail spaces at the bottom of all the new residential buildings. I was walking by the park just outside of center field at Petco and my god all of the ground floor spaces in those new squat buildings are empty. Commercial real estate signs everywhere! It was like an empty Disney Land, all these nice shiny modern or reused old structures with empty bottoms and 2nd floors :( And many of these buildings have been finished for a couple of years.

[renato]

If you don't like faux Mediterranean, then you're going to have to leave southern California because that's the majority of disrespectful architecture that's built here. Italians and Spaniards would be ashamed to call most of our buildings here in Southern California home. And somehow, we are supposed to be emulating their architecture. Well, I can't stand our crap here and it is unbelievably distasteful. Rome, Barcelona and Marseille wouldn't allow 99% of our architects to work in their cities. That's fact.

U-uh?
Are you kidding me? :koko:
Have you ever lived in Italy?
Wel, I'm italian and I lived close to Rome, and your unbelievable statement makes me thinking that you've never been there, 'cause the current state of architecture in Rome and Italy is terrible :yuck:
I know that the grass is always greener on the other side, but I assure you that the urban standards of San Diego are BY FAR higher than any italian city.
Believe it or not, outside Rome's historical district (just the 4% of the entire municipality) this is what you find...

http://media.getrix.it/2/86/854468.jpg

http://www.pediconimagagnini.com/images/Edificio%20residenziale%20roma/2.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_r2C3TPymbfI/SwMNsHgZuCI/AAAAAAAAA54/h5X6AVkyxJU/s1600/via+tuscolanaImage00002.jpg

http://www.archabout.com/img/vigna_murata/Vigna_Murata4_z.jpg

http://software.immobilclick.it/foto/74819/215/2157/foto1_215720.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_V3HNMBpMmXI/TIC7tZRzpVI/AAAAAAAAAL0/UToVNRZJZ9A/s1600/kant1.jpg

or this...

http://maps.google.it/maps?hl=it&biw=1916&bih=884&q=google%20maps%20via%20tiburtina&wrapid=tlif129719168754011&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Believe it or not, these pics represent the 90% of Rome... I would trade this crap for the worst faux Mediterranean in San Diego.