SAN DIEGO | Boom Rundown, Vol. 2

[Prahaboheme]

Pendry looks like it will have great street level interaction and presence. I appreciate that they will breakup the block with the aesthetic of the historic district in mind. I really wish other parts of the city had more of a San Diego specific look and feel to them, particularly the newer developments in East Village and Banker's Hill.

[nezbn22]

I wish they had better renderings, but here's an update on the new Cohn restaurant on Harbor Island:

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/New-Floating-Restaurant-Harbor-Island-San-Diego-Cohn-Restaurant-278303731.html

Here's a better article with more info:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/08/cohn-harbor-island-restaurant-floating-patio/

[Leo the Dog]

More info/pics.

http://www.therobertgreencompany.com/projects/pendry-hotel-san-diego

[SDfan]

Good article.

The do's and don'ts of smart growth for San Diego
By KATHERINE CONNOR, The Daily Transcript
Thursday, October 9, 2014

http://www.sddt.com/RealEstate/article.cfm?SourceCode=20141009czm&_t=The+dos+and+donts+of+smart+growth+for+San+Diego#.VDdzMfldVmc

With the San Diego Planning Commission considering the mixed-use One Paseo project in Kearny Mesa, and Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2035, the city and businesses are dealing with smart growth and density issues.What is smart growth, what benefits does it bring to a community and what can — or should — San Diego do to get more of it?

“Density is just a math problem: the number of front doors we have per acre,” said Dave Gatzke, vice president of acquisitions for Community Housing works at a recent San Diego County Taxpayers Association discussion. He said that limits on density or implementing building-height ratios can have perverse unintended consequences.

...

“We can either, with limited land and restrictions on the growth, do things like build around trolley stations, look at our first-ring suburbs and improve them and densify them,” Bruvold said.“Or we can shove off our population growth requirements and housing needs, put them in southern Riverside County, where there’s plenty of land still and where you can continue to sprawl out.”

Assuming that building a double-decker Interstate 15 and increasing the number of commuters from Riverside to San Diego — which already stands at 40,000 daily — isn’t the vision people would choose for the region, that leaves smart growth as the more palatable option. It’s worth noting that most of the 1 million additional people expected to be living in the region in 2050 will be descendants of those already here, not an influx from outside the area.

The notion of building transportation hubs and then increasing community density with housing, retail and office space isn’t always accepted by people who would be most affected.“People support the notion of a city of villages in the aggregate, but then when it comes for any specific application of it, the response is ‘This won’t solve the whole problem,’” said Andrew Keatts, land use reporter at Voice of San Diego and a former Daily Transcript reporter, who moderated the discussion.

...

Matt Adams, vice president of the Building Industry Association of San Diego, said he thinks the solution to this communication and cost-benefit problem is to emphasize the benefits for communities.“We’ve got to stop talking about the numbers and start talking about the community and the benefits that come with densification,” Adams said. “Want to have a trail along the river? Want to be able to fish along the river? Want to change the decomposed granite field to field turf or something else? Then we have to embrace change, we have to embrace densification.”

Even if this were to happen, implementation can be easier said than done, in part because of the many community planning groups a developer would have to meet for approval. Gatzke said there were seven different groups involved in the new Metro Transit System bus route, adding that if this process continues without change, “we are dead in the water.”

Elyse Lowe, former executive deputy director of Circulate San Diego who has just been named deputy director for the City of San Diego’s Development Services Department, said the issue has been solved in other parts of the country by looking at planning from a higher level.“What’s happening successfully in other states is they’re doing the planning … at the corridor level,” Lowe said. “So where we have seven different community groups, other transit projects are going though just as many cities, so in order to solve that problem they do corridor planning groups.”

...

With the demise of state redevelopment funds, Gatzke said finding funding for the subsidized units has grown increasingly tough -- an 80 percent drop from three years ago -- although several panelists said that supply and demand would dictate that increasing supply would lead to more reasonable prices as demand wanes. “You either believe the whole equation or not — that supply and demand affects price,” Adams said. “And we’re seeing it right now: Strained supply, you have growing demand you have escalating prices. So if you believe that scenario, than you have to embrace the opposite of that. We have to start to meet the supply, and prices will adjust accordingly. That’s how the free market works.”

Continuing with the economic benefits of smart growth, Gatzke said density means taxpayers save money. “From the taxpayer’s perspective, this is exactly what we want,” he said. “The home I grew up in, there were potholes, sidewalks. … That was one house paying one property tax for 60 feet of street frontage the city needed to maintain. “We’re just finishing entitlements on an almost 200-apartment project in North Park with five feet of street frontage for every apartment. So even if those apartments are a third of the value of a single-family house, that’s still eight times more tax revenue out of this smart growth development. Taxpayers have to get behind this.”

[Leo the Dog]

The new Rapid bus line opened today. Route 215 from Santa Fe Depot to SDSU. I could see this possibly turning into a streetcar line in the future.

http://www.sdmts.com/marketing/images/215.gif

[SDfan]

I could see this possibly turning into a streetcar line in the future.

The plan is to actually make this into LRT in a couple decades.

[HurricaneHugo]

The plan is to actually make this into LRT in a couple decades.

Humans will be in Mars before we get that line. :(

[Leo the Dog]

Humans will be in Mars before we get that line. :(

Some of the rapid "stations" look pretty cool. There's one in the median of Park and University.

[Urbanize_It]

The new Rapid bus line opened today. Route 215 from Santa Fe Depot to SDSU. I could see this possibly turning into a streetcar line in the future.

http://www.sdmts.com/marketing/images/215.gif

I was in Rio De Janeiro a couple weeks ago where they have done a great job combining subway and BRT lines. Subway lines in the urban areas and BRT lines in the more suburban areas. They actually fit together and function very well as a team. I would support such an integrated system here in SD. That said, this line comes up a little short of true BRT. No prepaying options and only a small portion of the line is in a dedicated lane. Still, I can't wait to give it a try and see how she rolls!

[mello]

Good article in the UT about tech startups in Tijuana and the synergy going on between some companies here and there. Talk of a new tech hub forming here along the border, and it got me thinking about living in Tijuana becoming an option for more San Diegans who work Downtown or South especially those who don't have to commute five days a week.

Have you guys heard that the San Ysidro wait time has been super low the last few weeks due to new lanes finally opening? I have been periodically checking the times and it has been max 25 mins when I look. Any personal experience going down in the last month?

Here is the UT article: http://http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/11/tijuana-innovadora-tech-culinary-fashion-speakers/

And one from August 1st about the same things Al Jazeera -- Wow our little cross border region getting some attention -- http://http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/8/1/tech-companies-thrivinginsandiegotijuanaborderzone.html

Speaking of the Southern part of metro was in downtown Chula Vista on Saturday and new apartments are springing up there. It really is a nice location good weather (basically beach weather) and the 3rd Ave. strip has decent bones all it needs is some more young money and presto.

[SDCAL]

I was in Rio De Janeiro a couple weeks ago where they have done a great job combining subway and BRT lines. Subway lines in the urban areas and BRT lines in the more suburban areas. They actually fit together and function very well as a team. I would support such an integrated system here in SD. That said, this line comes up a little short of true BRT. No prepaying options and only a small portion of the line is in a dedicated lane. Still, I can't wait to give it a try and see how she rolls!

Plus, this isn't a suburban area. Park Boulevard running from downtown to uptown is one of the most vital urban arteries in the city - a light rail extension from the city college station up to Balboa Park/the Zoo then into Hillcrest/North Park should have been one of the first trolley lines put in. I don't look at this as BRT connecting our urban rail system, I look at it as a glaring example of poor planning on the part of the city and them trying to use "BRT" as a band-aid fix for a route that should have had light rail service built years ago .

[mello]

Was just in City Heights along El Cajon walking around a bit in the 50's streets before going to a friends on 62nd and Stanley near BLVD 63 which just opened and you are right SDCAL not suburban at all. This is the most dense part of SD and will only get more so. Tons of apartments on some of those blocks packed with large families or multiple families per unit, serious poverty as well so I'm sure the car ownership rate is low compared to other areas so they need access to quality transit.

[aerogt3]

Plus, this isn't a suburban area. Park Boulevard running from downtown to uptown is one of the most vital urban arteries in the city - a light rail extension from the city college station up to Balboa Park/the Zoo then into Hillcrest/North Park should have been one of the first trolley lines put in. I don't look at this as BRT connecting our urban rail system, I look at it as a glaring example of poor planning on the part of the city and them trying to use "BRT" as a band-aid fix for a route that should have had light rail service built years ago .

How much faster or better is LRT than BRT? Because it sure costs a lot more.

[dl3000]

Cost and throughput depend on the kind of BRT. Mid-city looks like much more of a band-aid than true BRT, which has a cost more comparable to LRT.

http://voiceofsandiego.org/2014/04/17/new-bus-line-distinction-under-rapid-fire/

[Urbanize_It]

Plus, this isn't a suburban area. Park Boulevard running from downtown to uptown is one of the most vital urban arteries in the city - a light rail extension from the city college station up to Balboa Park/the Zoo then into Hillcrest/North Park should have been one of the first trolley lines put in. I don't look at this as BRT connecting our urban rail system, I look at it as a glaring example of poor planning on the part of the city and them trying to use "BRT" as a band-aid fix for a route that should have had light rail service built years ago .

Absolutely SDCAL and Mello. I agree with you on both counts. The Mid-Cities neighborhoods combine to make up our densest and most urban area. I also agree that this should be the next area that the trolley is extended to (after the Mid-Coast). I was including the 215 route in the larger "BRT System" that is currently being built out. This system will largely service suburban areas using the 15 and 805. The reason why I agree with implementing a BRT line through the Mid-City area first is to build solid ridership that, I believe, will help build support for speeding up the LRT line. I also believe that the other BRT lines on the 15 and 805 should remain BRT well into the future so we can use transit funds to build out more urban LRT and streetcars downtown, uptown, mid-cities areas and to the beaches first.

[SDfan]

Renderings:

Broadstone Makers Quarter
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/SDfan12/Public/Broadstone.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/SDfan12/media/Public/Broadstone.jpg.html)

1435 Imperial Ave
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/SDfan12/Public/1453Imperial.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/SDfan12/media/Public/1453Imperial.jpg.html)

Alexan
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/SDfan12/Public/Alexan.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/SDfan12/media/Public/Alexan.jpg.html)

7th & A
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/SDfan12/Public/7thA.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/SDfan12/media/Public/7thA.jpg.html)

[Northparkwizard]

Nice update, adios Goodwill.

[SDfan]

The OB Rag has written an anti-development article on Mission Valley. Please comment against their efforts to raise opposition to needed housing and mixed-use developments. PLEASE!

http://obrag.org/?p=88272#comments

[SDfan]

One Paseo forwarded to the City Council:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/16/one-paseo-carmel-valley-smart-growth-planning/

[embora]

I agree with both you both. Just to add to it, though... the Rapid Bus is quicker to build until such time that LRT were to get designed and built. And I would also be supportive of LRT along the route.

I've had the opportunity to ride the Rapid Bus, from downtown to Park & University, and it was really very quick. One advantage that my particular trip had over the trolley was that the rapid bus didn't stop at any stop between my origin and my destination because no one wanted to get on or off.

....I also agree that this should be the next area that the trolley is extended to (after the Mid-Coast)....

[aerogt3]

The OB Rag has written an anti-development article on Mission Valley. Please comment against their efforts to raise opposition to needed housing and mixed-use developments. PLEASE!

http://obrag.org/?p=88272#comments

"I already have a home, we don't need to build any more of them." God, what a horrible mind set. :hell:

Such hipocrisy. The reason MV was developed in the first place was because people in existing areas preferred expansion to density.

[Leo the Dog]

"I already have a home, we don't need to build any more of them." God, what a horrible mind set. :hell:

Haha geez. That comment is so bad it's comical.

[spoonman]

The OB Rag has written an anti-development article on Mission Valley. Please comment against their efforts to raise opposition to needed housing and mixed-use developments. PLEASE!

http://obrag.org/?p=88272#comments

Wow! Wish the OB'ers were smart enough to realize that if they don't want density in their neighborhood, they shouldn't combat it in MV. Density will ultimately find the path of least resistance in this city.

[SDfan]

More apartments for College Area.

Rize Eagles LLC to Build Apartments in College Area

Rize Eagles LLC has purchased a 1.8-acre parcel of land at 6244 El Cajon Blvd. in the College area to build an apartment complex with up to 130 units. The land was purchased from the Carpenter Family Trust for $3.5 million. The site is currently occupied by the Campus Medical-Dental Center. Colliers International and Berkshire Hathaway were the brokers in the transaction.

http://www.sandiegometro.com/2014/10/daily-business-report-oct-17-2014-2/

[embora]

Regarding the Mid-Coast Trolley: I received the below email today mentioning that the project recently received its federal environmental approval:

The Mid-Coast Trolley project reached a significant milestone this week when the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) signed the Record of Decision for the federal environmental document on October 15. Called the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), the approval of this environmental review is an important step forward in the effort to extend Trolley service to the northern part of San Diego. The Final SEIS will be available on the project website in early November.

“This is great news for our region,” said Supervisor Ron Roberts, a member of the SANDAG Board and champion of the Mid-Coast Trolley. “Obtaining the Record of Decision from the FTA brings us closer to providing fast, reliable transit service to dozens of communities and regional assets like the VA Hospital and UC San Diego.”

The next step will be for the SANDAG Board of Directors to certify the state environmental review, called the Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR). This is anticipated to happen in November.

The Mid-Coast Trolley is one of the region’s highest priority transit projects and is included in the TransNet Early Action Program. As an extension of the Trolley’s Blue Line, when complete, it will provide a one-seat (no transfer) ride from the international border and communities south of Downtown San Diego all the way to University City. It is projected to increase daily transit ridership by 21,000 people.

Construction on the Mid-Coast Trolley is anticipated to start in late 2015, with service beginning in 2019. In May, the SANDAG Board of Directors selected Mid Coast Transit Constructors, a joint venture firm of Stacy & Witbeck, Inc., Skanska USA, and Herzog Contracting Corporation, to serve as the construction manager/general contractor for the project.

Visit sandag.org/midcoast for more information about the project. For information about contracting opportunities within the project for small businesses, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), and Underutilized Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (UDBEs), please visit sandag.org/contracts.

http://www.sandag.org/uploads/projectid/projectid_250_16886.jpg

[aerogt3]

Regarding the Mid-Coast Trolley: I received the below email today mentioning that the project recently received its federal environmental approval:

Why do transit projects have such extensive enrivonmental reviews to begin with? Aren't they an obvious enough environmental benefit?

BART to San Jose up in the bay area sat in EIR stages for years.

[Leo the Dog]

Why do transit projects have such extensive enrivonmental reviews to begin with? Aren't they an obvious enough environmental benefit?

BART to San Jose up in the bay area sat in EIR stages for years.

Well unless it disrupts a colony of fairy shrimp.

It's pretty ridiculous how long it takes to build anything. If we had all these regulations back in the day, there's no way the U.S. would've became a super power. Imagine if NY had a coastal commission in the 1800s that set a 30 ft height limit on Manhattan.

[nezbn22]

Another gaslamp/EV hotel coming:

http://www.sdbj.com/news/2014/oct/16/hilton-plans-new-canopy-hotel-downtown-san-diego/

This is the first I've heard of a hotel on that spot. Article doesn't give a timetable, so I would temper expectations for now...

[SDfan]

Wow! Love this!

Marco Gonzalez Calls ‘Bullshit’ on Dense Development Objectors

Marco Gonzalez is calling out his friends again.

One of the most high-profile environmental attorneys and activists in town — whose name broke out of his field last year when he was one of three major figures to call for Mayor Bob Filner’s resignation — fired a salvo against community opposition to new development projects.

Neighborhoods that line up against dense development projects are motivated by selfishness and closet racism, he said, at a panel discussion I hosted last week on dense housing as part of the San Diego Housing Federation’s annual conference.

“It’s an interesting backdrop to practice law after 17 years being the community activist guy,” he said, “when I have to turn to my former clients and activists and call bullshit. And yeah, we use those terms because, frankly, when you get out of the public sphere, and you listen to what these people are saying, what they’re saying is, ‘I got mine, I have no responsibility to provide for them.’ And when the lights are really low, and the groups are really small, it’s, ‘Don’t bring the brown people here, don’t let the poor people in, let’s build a big gate around our little castle, because it’s really nice and pretty and we don’t want them to mess it up.’ And that’s what I’m fighting.”

http://voiceofsandiego.org/2014/10/20/marco-gonzalez-calls-bullshit-on-dense-development-objectors/

[SDfan]

Thanks for the find, nez.

Here is the rendering and article:


Hilton Plans New Canopy Hotel in Downtown San Diego

Virginia-based Hilton Worldwide has a large new tower-style hotel planned for East Village, as part of a national rollout of a new upscale brand called Canopy by Hilton.

A Hilton Worldwide spokeswoman said the upscale hotel is planned for the northwest corner of 7th and Island avenues, adjacent to the Gaslamp Quarter. The company has not released details including development costs or the number of rooms, but a rendering provided by Hilton shows a multiple-story structure.

In a statement, Hilton Worldwide officials said the company has 11 signed letters of intent with various operators to open its new Canopy by Hilton format in the U.S. and London, with properties expected to begin opening in 2015 following new-construction and renovation projects.

The company described Canopy as an “accessible lifestyle” format geared to business and leisure travelers. The hotels will be designed to reflect the culture of their urban neighborhoods, with basic Wi-Fi and artisanal breakfasts included in the price of room stays, along with a local “welcome gift.” Some locations will have evening tastings of local beer, wine or spirits.

There are currently two other Hilton properties in the same downtown vicinity, under different ownership: the 1,190-room Hilton San Diego Bayfront off Harbor Drive, owned by Sunstone Hotel Investors and a unit of Hilton Worldwide; and the 283-room Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter on K Street, owned by LaSalle Hotel Properties.

Also, operators of the Hilton Bayfront have previously announced plans for a 500-room expansion, but that is contingent on the stalled expansion of the next-door San Diego Convention Center moving forward.

The planned new Hilton project is not far from Pendry San Diego, a $100 million, 317-room luxury hotel now under construction by The Robert Green Co. and Montage Hotels & Resorts. That project recently broke ground on a Gaslamp Quarter site bounded by Fifth, Sixth and Island Avenues and J Street.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/SDfan12/Public/HiltonCanopy.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/SDfan12/media/Public/HiltonCanopy.jpg.html)

http://www.sdbj.com/news/2014/oct/16/hilton-plans-new-canopy-hotel-downtown-san-diego/

[bushman61988]

Thanks for the find, nez.

Here is the rendering and article:

Wow, I really like this tower! It's also nice to see some architectural diversity in this area, which is kind of overwhelmed with balcony towers. Nice to see a glass facade.

[bushman61988]

Wow! Love this!

I was there for that panel discussion at the 23rd Annual San Diego Housing Federation Affordable Housing/Community Development Conference. The title of the session was "Beyond Density Bonus - A Dialogue About Affordable Housing, Infill, & Community Character", and I was absolutely blown away by Marco Gonzalez's honesty, straight-forwardness, insight, passion, and love for our region and it's future.

Developers probably dismiss him for being a hippie, liberal, anti-growth activist attorney who wants to stifle all development and sue everybody but he's not. Progressives and environmentalists might call him a traitor that has sold out to developers and wants to crowd the coast with high rises, but again, he's not.

He said it himself, that after all these years of fighting to preserve the backcountry, fighting for environmental causes (he's helped my community National City to phase out industrial, polluting business in our Westside near the trolleys in favor of mixed use, denser development), he's realized that many of these progressives who claim to be forward-thinking and fighting to reduce greenhouse gases, preserving our natural resources, and addressing Climate Change in other communities turn into completely selfish and hypocritical NIMBYs when a project is proposed in their neighborhoods.

He cited the conversations at the Bay Park community hearings when SANDAG and the City of San Diego proposed increasing height limits to 60 feet.

We need more people like Marco Gonzalez and we should all go beyond the safety of this blog and reach out to our communities... join planning commissions, planning groups, attend meetings, reach out to family and friends and casually talk about local issues going on. And not just speak out against a project, but talk about what we're for.

Anyway, that was my rant, I'm done now.

[aerogt3]

Well unless it disrupts a colony of fairy shrimp.

It's pretty ridiculous how long it takes to build anything. If we had all these regulations back in the day, there's no way the U.S. would've became a super power. Imagine if NY had a coastal commission in the 1800s that set a 30 ft height limit on Manhattan.

colony of fairy shrimp.... :haha:

Yes, environmental laws in the US (and CA) have gone beyond reason. $30 million to product 500 bird nests which are not even remotely threatened or endangered.... $30k per bird nest on an unendangered species, years of delays on transit project (meaning years of extra pollution from cars) - what exactly are all these environmental laws protecting?

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Spending-soars-higher-on-relocation-of-Bay-5786778.php

Progressives and environmentalists might call him a traitor that has sold out to developers and wants to crowd the coast with high rises, but again, he's not.

High rises along 1 mile of coastline are a lot better for the environment than luxury homes, parking, and roads taking up 10 miles of coastline. Environmentalism is often just a cover for NIMBYism. It's amazing how the coastal commission's goal of "protecting the coastline" actually means "destroy more of it than necessary with sprawl."

[tyleraf]

I like the new Hilton project. It will look great when 7th and market finally goes up as well.

[Leo the Dog]

I like the new Hilton project. It will look great when 7th and market finally goes up as well.

Yeah the Hilton looks good.

With the Pendry, I wonder if the DT hotels will be able to absorb all the extra hotel rooms in a healthy way. Seems like they're building now with the hope of the Convention Center expansion coming soon.

[SDfan]

Looks like Hillcrest will get some moderate vertical growth soon. Hillcrest Apartments got its construction loan approved, should be complete by 2016.

Loan secured to build Hillcrest apartment
Monday, October 20, 2014

A loan for $7.46 million in construction-permanent financing to build Hillcrest Apartments, a 36-unit, five-story apartment in the Hillcrest neighborhood, has been secured.
...
The apartment will occupy a 15,200-square-foot lot at 4021 Eighth Ave. Due for completion in early 2016, the property will include one- and two-bedroom floor plans averaging 877 square feet above grade-level parking.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/SDfan12/Public/Veritas-Urban-Hillcrest.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/SDfan12/media/Public/Veritas-Urban-Hillcrest.jpg.html)

[SDCAL]

colony of fairy shrimp.... :haha:

Yes, environmental laws in the US (and CA) have gone beyond reason. $30 million to product 500 bird nests which are not even remotely threatened or endangered.... $30k per bird nest on an unendangered species, years of delays on transit project (meaning years of extra pollution from cars) - what exactly are all these environmental laws protecting?

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Spending-soars-higher-on-relocation-of-Bay-5786778.php



High rises along 1 mile of coastline are a lot better for the environment than luxury homes, parking, and roads taking up 10 miles of coastline. Environmentalism is often just a cover for NIMBYism. It's amazing how the coastal commission's goal of "protecting the coastline" actually means "destroy more of it than necessary with sprawl."

I think there is a place for density and development as well as environmental concerns. Anyone who knows basic science knows that ecosystems are co-dependent and destruction of one seemingly irrelevant species can have impacts that can reverberate. You think development should just proceed without any environmental discussion at all?

[spoonman]

I think there is a place for density and development as well as environmental concerns. Anyone who knows basic science knows that ecosystems are co-dependent and destruction of one seemingly irrelevant species can have impacts that can reverberate. You think development should just proceed without any environmental discussion at all?

Can't speak for him, but I'm pretty sure he just means that sometimes our environmental policies have unintended consequences and as such can be counterproductive.

It would make sense to me that certain areas (and projects) have more need for environmental review than others. For example, doing a biological study in DTSD or most of the urban neighborhoods is a waste of time. Other areas like near the lagoons of North County, they are more necessary. Also, what is the project? Is it track homes, or a train line that will take cars off the road?

Clearly there is a more sensible way to protect the environment than pushing every project through onerous review that stalls often needed progress. :tup:

[mello]

Going to be a nice cluster of towers with Sempra, new Hilton, and hopefully a 500 foot (or very close) building at 7th and Market. Walked by Ash street Corridor today and god is that area depressing... How many more floors does 15th and Island have to go?

Any news on Library Tower site or ground breaking at Ballpark Village?

[Leo the Dog]

Going to be a nice cluster of towers with Sempra, new Hilton, and hopefully a 500 foot (or very close) building at 7th and Market. Walked by Ash street Corridor today and god is that area depressing... How many more floors does 15th and Island have to go?

Any news on Library Tower site or ground breaking at Ballpark Village?

It's amazing how fast Sempra has shot up!

15th and Island is so massive and alone (right now). its really transforming the EV before our eyes. :tup:

[mello]

It's amazing how fast Sempra has shot up!

15th and Island is so massive and alone (right now). its really transforming the EV before our eyes. :tup:

That is the thing I don't really like about 15th and Island is that its so off on its own looks a little lame from some angles. I think Ball Park Village will really help to balance it out and hopefully a tall building at the Library Tower site.

Oh also wanted to note that I saw construction equipment behind the Evolution/Extraordinary deserts on 6th Ave. What is going up there? Broadstone is looking pretty good and VUE is a giant hole so at least some activity is cranking up in Bankers Hill.

[Leo the Dog]

A while back, I was looking into old San Diego trolley lines and was shocked to see OB to PB via Mission Beach line. Turns out vehicles used to be able to drive from Mission Blvd to W. Point Loma blvd in OB.

Could you guys imagine if this link were to be restored?

I've been looking at old maps of SD. I didn't realize that the SD River used to empty out in the Big Bay, where the present day Marine Base and Airport are.

http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/data/13030/1z/ft0h4nb01z/figures/ft0h4nb01z_00124.jpg
http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/data/13030/1z/ft0h4nb01z/figures/ft0h4nb01z_00124.jpg

[HurricaneHugo]

15th & Island plus Sempra as seen from my hood (Sherman Heights)

It's amazing how fast Sempra shot up!

Does anybody know if it has topped out?

http://i.imgur.com/TgOdGTH.jpg

[mello]

South Mission and the North end of OB feel kind of cul de sacish and cut off from the rest of town because of the channel for Mission bay. That setup in the pic is so much better. It sucks that the only way to get between the two beach areas is by car, think about if you are in SM you have to cut back north then go east to go south ugh such a pain.

Pretty good article in the UT regarding the Sunroad Spectrum residential development. The head of Sunroad said he wishes they could have put more rentals in there citing demand being very high. Hopefully then can find some other sites in Kearny Mesa to redevelop and add more density. Sad how they theoretically could have packed another 1000 units in there because demand is strong.

Just checked satellite image and there are still 4 empty lots near Spectrum one is huge, so hopefully nice mixed use projects could go in there.

[aerogt3]

I think there is a place for density and development as well as environmental concerns. Anyone who knows basic science knows that ecosystems are co-dependent and destruction of one seemingly irrelevant species can have impacts that can reverberate. You think development should just proceed without any environmental discussion at all?

They are co-dependant to an extent, but environmental reviews in CA have become impractical. A mojave solar project drew opposition and reductions in power generation because of 25 tortoises that would need to be relocated. The EIR that determined that impact took..... 2.5 years. We have a system where every special interest gets to nominate a sacred cow species of endangered magic unicorn crickets, and in the end everything is bogged down or simply made illegal. We have these massive EIR's taking years to complete so that every micro-view environmental concern is addressed, but we lose the macro view - the big picture. By not moving 25 turtles, how much damage are we doing with the alternative? Since that impact occurs at a coal fired power plant in another state, most Californians don't care.

Obviously building a tower near the coast has more enrivonmental impact than leaving the space as a park. But in the big picture, isn't it better than building 50 single family homes elsewhere? Most of this environmental lip service is really about people protecting the area where they live rather than the environment as a whole. I think many "environmentalists" are NIMBYs and anti-density people hiding behind a more politically correct facade, and environmental reviews are their well disguised weapon. Transit projects sitting in 3-4 years of EIRs is just collateral damage.

[spoonman]

They are co-dependant to an extent, but environmental reviews in CA have become impractical. A mojave solar project drew opposition and reductions in power generation because of 25 tortoises that would need to be relocated. The EIR that determined that impact took..... 2.5 years. We have a system where every special interest gets to nominate a sacred cow species of endangered magic unicorn crickets, and in the end everything is bogged down or simply made illegal. We have these massive EIR's taking years to complete so that every micro-view environmental concern is addressed, but we lose the macro view - the big picture. By not moving 25 turtles, how much damage are we doing with the alternative? Since that impact occurs at a coal fired power plant in another state, most Californians don't care.

Obviously building a tower near the coast has more enrivonmental impact than leaving the space as a park. But in the big picture, isn't it better than building 50 single family homes elsewhere? Most of this environmental lip service is really about people protecting the area where they live rather than the environment as a whole. I think many "environmentalists" are NIMBYs and anti-density people hiding behind a more politically correct facade, and environmental reviews are their well disguised weapon. Transit projects sitting in 3-4 years of EIRs is just collateral damage.

Well said

[Leo the Dog]

There's a tower crane up north of Hawthorne and Pacific Hwy.

[nezbn22]

There's a tower crane up north of Hawthorne and Pacific Hwy.

That's another dual branded Hilton property going up. Here's a UT article from a while back with some details:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/aug/28/fat-city-hotels-property-sold-new-developer-takes-/

[Leo the Dog]

That's another dual branded Hilton property going up. Here's a UT article from a while back with some details:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/aug/28/fat-city-hotels-property-sold-new-developer-takes-/

Thanks! With so much activity around, I'm getting confused as to what's what. The tower crane is pretty short right now.

[spoonman]

Looks like the Montage Hotel at 5th and Island/J is finally fenced off. This is about as monumental as Lane Field. Thought this project would never get going after the eminent domain debacle.

[Prahaboheme]

Looks like the Montage Hotel at 5th and Island/J is finally fenced off. This is about as monumental as Lane Field. Thought this project would never get going after the eminent domain debacle.

I'm excited to see what restaurant offerings the Pendry will have at ground floor -- Montage Hotels are known for their impeccable service. This will be something a bit different for the Gaslamp.

[dtell04]

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/30/cortez-hill-residential-tower/

Here's a new article about the tower approved at 7th and A. As someone not from the banana republic of California, I have never seemed to be able to fully grasp why someone would have to pay an extra 2.6 million dollars in order to not have to build any affordable units. I really do wonder where that money goes.....

[spoonman]

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/30/cortez-hill-residential-tower/

Here's a new article about the tower approved at 7th and A. As someone not from the banana republic of California, I have never seemed to be able to fully grasp why someone would have to pay an extra 2.6 million dollars in order to not have to build any affordable units. I really do wonder where that money goes.....

Here's a pic. The design fits well for in between the Financial District and Cortez Hill. Will be great to see this go in alongside the new Hilton property on the same block.

http://media.utsandiego.com/img/photos/2014/10/27/Southwest_perspective_view_2_t730.jpg?b0f0cf804b45a2830ba759010b8a41b9b1684c1a

http://media.utsandiego.com/img/photos/2014/10/27/Aerial_View_1_t730.jpg?b0f0cf804b45a2830ba759010b8a41b9b1684c1a

[mello]

Serious question for you guys about how I or together we could do something big for SD. Chivas USA MLS team in LA is gone and the plan according to all articles is an investment group bought rights to a new franchise and wants to build a soccer facility near Hollywood Park or "Somewhere near LAX" not sure if its El Segundo on South side or Playa Vista on North.

We all know San Diego would be a great MLS town. Is there anyway to change this investment groups mind about putting a team here instead of being #2 in LA. All the comments I read on ESPN article about this say LA doesn't need a second team and to give another market a chance. Even people in LA say a second team is stupid its a Galaxy town.

So I'm thinking about informing Kevin Faulconer about this and having him reach out to the group. They are going to pay for the entire stadium only about 150 million to 200 million but they might want a deal on land. What do you guys think could Faulconer convince them to move here instead? Let me know what suggestions you guys have. :cheers:

[PadreHomer]

Serious question for you guys about how I or together we could do something big for SD. Chivas USA MLS team in LA is gone and the plan according to all articles is an investment group bought rights to a new franchise and wants to build a soccer facility near Hollywood Park or "Somewhere near LAX" not sure if its El Segundo on South side or Playa Vista on North.

We all know San Diego would be a great MLS town. Is there anyway to change this investment groups mind about putting a team here instead of being #2 in LA. All the comments I read on ESPN article about this say LA doesn't need a second team and to give another market a chance. Even people in LA say a second team is stupid its a Galaxy town.

So I'm thinking about informing Kevin Faulconer about this and having him reach out to the group. They are going to pay for the entire stadium only about 150 million to 200 million but they might want a deal on land. What do you guys think could Faulconer convince them to move here instead? Let me know what suggestions you guys have. :cheers:

I've always liked the idea of a soccer stadium on the site of old Balboa Stadium. I don't see why SDHS couldn't keep using it.

[embora]

... and I seem to remember something about San Diego leading the country in viewership of the World Cup.

[HurricaneHugo]

Move them to SD, and brand them as the Sockers!

[aerogt3]

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/30/cortez-hill-residential-tower/

Here's a new article about the tower approved at 7th and A. As someone not from the banana republic of California, I have never seemed to be able to fully grasp why someone would have to pay an extra 2.6 million dollars in order to not have to build any affordable units. I really do wonder where that money goes.....

Affordable housing in CA is a joke. Basically we put in tons of regulations that make housing really expensive (low density zoning, height restrictions, parking minimums, absurd environmental restrictions, etc.), then raise that cost even more with fees to gift below market housing to a very lucky few. For this particular project, each underground parking space is probably around $40k, and that 2.6 mil fee breaks down to probably $15-20k per unit. Obviously the wealthy won't feel that pinch, but these policies hurt a huge swath of the working class for the benefit of an incredibly small group of lottery winners.

And of course, rather than spend that money where they can help the most people, they put the units mixed in with other developments. Why build 60 affordable units in the outer east village/golden hill, when you can 20 units in towers in the marina?



So I'm thinking about informing Kevin Faulconer about this and having him reach out to the group. They are going to pay for the entire stadium only about 150 million to 200 million but they might want a deal on land. What do you guys think could Faulconer convince them to move here instead? Let me know what suggestions you guys have. :cheers:

Brilliant idea in, would be a perfect fit in SD, both for the city and the team. And how often are sports teams willing to pay for their own stadiums?!

[Streamliner]

We all know San Diego would be a great MLS town. Is there anyway to change this investment groups mind about putting a team here instead of being #2 in LA. All the comments I read on ESPN article about this say LA doesn't need a second team and to give another market a chance. Even people in LA say a second team is stupid its a Galaxy town.

Yes, San Diego would be a great city for soccer. Reminds me of this article from The Guardian about San Diego being a very soccer-friendly city:

The San Diego mystery: America’s soccer-crazy city seeks top-flight team
Adam Elder
12 August 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/12/san-diego-america-soccer-crazy-mls

New York City will soon have two MLS teams, to go with a proud history and many famous football bars. Los Angeles has a university, UCLA, that is an assembly line for national-team players, the highest number of Mexicans outside Mexico City and a dynastic club, the Galaxy. Fans in Seattle fill an NFL stadium, march to games and mimic the accoutrements of ultras culture from Europe and South America.

The heart of US football, however, beats just as strongly in a city that doesn’t have a top-flight team. Network execs know it: as a TV market, if San Diego isn’t No1 in the nation for the World Cup and other tournaments it’s No2 or 3. And for years, since long before the advent of the Premier League, San Diegans have been packing local pubs to watch English top-flight games.

Thanks to British expats who came seeking the sun, a healthy football-viewing culture is long established in southern California; places like the Shakespeare Pub & Grille have been broadcasting English top-flight matches since 1990. Now, in such bars, the British are outnumbered – if not quite overrun – by Americans supporting Premier League teams.

[embora]

Yesterday I saw some construction equipment, a construction trailer, and porta-potties at the Horton Plaza Park location in downtown. Perhaps they will continue work before too long.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQufrdlybs2Aw3PTwwM65PNIALdcLCMGcWXM-pKZlWkx3jTBspQMg

[HurricaneHugo]

Does anybody know what's going on with the freeway pad next to Camino del Rio North and Qualcomm Way?

Lots of construction recently.

I'm hoping for something as tall as the valley's rim but i'll settle for a chick-fil-a lol

[spoonman]

Does anybody know what's going on with the freeway pad next to Camino del Rio North and Qualcomm Way?

Lots of construction recently.

I'm hoping for something as tall as the valley's rim but i'll settle for a chick-fil-a lol

Not sure about that project. Would love to hear from someone that knows.

I did see that ground has actually been broken on the Pendry. Finally!

[spoonman]

Does anybody know what's going on with the freeway pad next to Camino del Rio North and Qualcomm Way?

Lots of construction recently.

I'm hoping for something as tall as the valley's rim but i'll settle for a chick-fil-a lol

This is your answer...

http://www.sandiego.gov/planning/community/profiles/missionvalley/pdf/minutes/14septmin.pdf

3. Qualcomm/Camino Del Rio N project
Marco Sessa, from Sudberry Properties introduced developers and architects for the development around Qualcomm Way and Camino Del Rio, called Discovery Place.
The project meets the existing zoning regulations so the project was not brought before the MVPG for approval.
The site will be composed of three businesses:
 A drive through Starbucks
 An ifly indoor skydiving business
 A 135 room Springhill suites hotel

I would expect a Springhill Suites to be somewhere between 4-6 floors.

[Puzzlecraft]

Took a walk on mostly 5th & 6th streets from my place on Kalmia up to University. Of note:

Still nothing going on at the Mandaran:
http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/SanDiego/mandaran_20141104.jpg

Hole at the Vue much bigger with barriers butted up against the neighbors:
http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/SanDiego/vue_20141104.jpg

Broadstone project continuing with a super ugly white, brown, and black bricklike facing installed then removed:
http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/SanDiego/broadstone_20141104.jpg

The refurb of the old Red Cross building well underway with some outer glass removed to form porches:
http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/SanDiego/Old_redcross_building_20141104.jpg

The ugliest building in Hillcrest: raw cinderblock:
http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/SanDiego/ugliest_building_20141104.jpg

When will this ever be torn down?
http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/SanDiego/pericanos_20141104.jpg

The roof at 3641-49 Sixth is inexplicably slanted to the north, unperfect for solar:
http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/SanDiego/3641-49_sixth_20141104.jpg

I passed a zillion nail / hair salons and made a collage of the 16 I found on my short route:
http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/SanDiego/hair_nails_collage_20141104.jpg

[Puzzlecraft]

Picture taken shortly before sunset... a major expansion of the city! This tower must be near topping out.
http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/SanDiego/15th_and_Island_20141104.jpg

Note the two men at the end of the concrete pump.
http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/SanDiego/15th_and_Island_20141104b.jpg

[Northparkwizard]

Nice shot, TJ looks wildly close from that zoomed-in perspective! I was doing some work from the library today and tried to count the floors, I counted 40. So 5 more to go?

[spoonman]

Right. About 5-6 floors plus the mechanical/crown which adds the equivalent of about 3 floors in height. Should be about 2/3 of the way to the crane arm when topped out (in my estimation)

[spoonman]

Article on a Marriott Courtyard (14 floors) under construction next to the Solamar on 6th Ave.

http://www.examiner.com/article/new-courtyard-by-marriott-going-up-gaslamp-6th-ave

[SDfan]

Article on a Marriott Courtyard (14 floors) under construction next to the Solamar on 6th Ave.

http://www.examiner.com/article/new-courtyard-by-marriott-going-up-gaslamp-6th-ave

Oh my God, not Mr.Googletranslate again...

Also, puzzle, thank you for the photo updates!

[aerogt3]

Oh my God, not Mr.Googletranslate again...

:haha::haha::haha:

[Leo the Dog]

Dear god...it's painful to read his articles.

[Prahaboheme]

The glass facade on Sempra Energy is going up and it really looks fantastic. I'll try to snap a couple shots when I'm in the neighborhood tomorrow.

Also, the Montage at 5th is now completely surrounded in the construction fence and demo is underway.

[nezbn22]

Finally have a hard deadline for the North Embarcadero project:

https://www.portofsandiego.org/north-embarcadero/3722-public-invited-to-celebrate-completion-of-north-embarcadero-improvement-plan-s-first-phase.html

[SDCAL]

The glass facade on Sempra Energy is going up and it really looks fantastic. I'll try to snap a couple shots when I'm in the neighborhood tomorrow.

Also, the Montage at 5th is now completely surrounded in the construction fence and demo is underway.

I really like what Sempra energy will do at the ground level with the expansive glass on the ground floors. Seeing it really contrasts with the residential construction that dominates in EV and makes me realize how lop-sided the "mixed-use" is in terms of very little office space. A building design that's not constrained by having to include a patio for every unit ;)

With that said, I am pretty disappointed with the height of the Sempra building. I'm not one of those people who thinks every parcel of land needs to erect the highest thing it can, but I do think a taller tower there would have added some better contrast. Sempra seems to be leveling out where a lot of the surrounding buildings have contributing even more to SD's "plateau" skyline.

[SDCAL]

Took a walk on mostly 5th & 6th streets from my place on Kalmia up to University.

I like the old red cross building's conversion to lofts. I was looking at their website the other day and the interiors look pretty cool. Great way to re-purpose an existing building.

I miss the old school mandarin house with its 70's decor and Americanized Chinese food.

:)

[SD_Phil]

I like the old red cross building's conversion to lofts. I was looking at their website the other day and the interiors look pretty cool. Great way to re-purpose an existing building.

I miss the old school mandarin house with its 70's decor and Americanized Chinese food.

:)

I used to live right by this, what has replaced it?

[Derek]

Sorry if I missed it somewhere, but is there anything planned for the parking lot at 5th and J? I can't believe it's still a freaking parking lot.

[nezbn22]

Sorry if I missed it somewhere, but is there anything planned for the parking lot at 5th and J? I can't believe it's still a freaking parking lot.

Just broke ground on this:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/07/pendry-hotel-montage-green-gaslamp/

[mello]

SDCAL: I think we are all a bit disappointed with the height of Sempra but 7th and Market directly behind it almost a sure bet to be taller than 400 feet and the new Hilton going in at 24 floors close by will give a good variety of height to that area. I was really hoping the Sempra building would be mixed use and add a hotel component on top to bring the height up significantly.

Do you guys think this Embarcadero Phase 1 is really a game changer? How much will it transform the waterfront? Maybe once Lane Fields park is complete it will all fit in much better.

Also what about an MLS Stadium at the MTS Busyard? Would you be willing to sacrifice downtown space for that? More home games and international friendly matches too. If not downtown where would be a good place for MLS Soccer Specific Stadium? Chula Vista Bayfront? Convince DOD to give up the 120 acre lot on the very NW Corner of Miramar road right before the 805?

[spoonman]

Agree with Mello. Wish Sempra was taller, but I there are so many other buildings going in that area, there will be some good varied heights and a TON of density. That area is already pretty solid, and now Pendry (12fl), Hilton(20+fl), Sempra (16fl), Coutryard (14fl) and 7th & market (40fl?) are all being added.

[spoonman]

Do you guys think this Embarcadero Phase 1 is really a game changer? How much will it transform the waterfront? Maybe once Lane Fields park is complete it will all fit in much better.



I think the embarcadero is a "nice to have" but Lane Field will be a game changer in a largely neglected area.

[spoonman]

This is your answer...

http://www.sandiego.gov/planning/community/profiles/missionvalley/pdf/minutes/14septmin.pdf

3. Qualcomm/Camino Del Rio N project
Marco Sessa, from Sudberry Properties introduced developers and architects for the development around Qualcomm Way and Camino Del Rio, called Discovery Place.
The project meets the existing zoning regulations so the project was not brought before the MVPG for approval.
The site will be composed of three businesses:
 A drive through Starbucks
 An ifly indoor skydiving business
 A 135 room Springhill suites hotel

I would expect a Springhill Suites to be somewhere between 4-6 floors.

Here is what the Indoor Skydiving Facility will look like in Mission Valley at Camino Del Rio/Qualcomm Way/8FWY. This will be next to a Springhill Suites that is also in development. The one pictured is actually in Dallas, but it will look the same.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/nov/06/ifly-skydive-indoor-attraction/

http://media.utsandiego.com/img/photos/2014/11/06/Groundbreaking_Posters_03_r620x349.jpg?75d51d0aea2efce5189afce216053cbc530c46a8

[mello]

Damn talk about a cluster of density, Mission Valley gettin Chunky! Costa Mesa and Century City better look out lol

[SDfan]

Damn talk about a cluster of density, Mission Valley gettin Chunky! Costa Mesa and Century City better look out lol

I would agree with you, but Century City has near 500ft buildings... :(

MV is closer to 150-200ft max.

[SDCAL]

I think the embarcadero is a "nice to have" but Lane Field will be a game changer in a largely neglected area.

I think NEVP 1 is a game changer in the sense that it's a crucial part of the framework needed to make Downtown truly expand to the Bay. I think it's more than just nice to have, even though right now it might not seem like much more. As lane field and others proceed and when NEVP 2 is complete I think it will make more sense in terms of unifying that whole stretch along the Bay.

[SDCAL]

I would agree with you, but Century City has near 500ft buildings... :(

MV is closer to 150-200ft max.

Even San Fernando Valley has a >500 ft building (Universal City Plaza 506 ft). It's sad that buildings in outlying areas of other cities can be built taller than buildings right in San Diego's downtown :yuck:

[SDfan]

SDCAL:
Do you guys think this Embarcadero Phase 1 is really a game changer? How much will it transform the waterfront? Maybe once Lane Fields park is complete it will all fit in much better.

It's a fancy pave-way with overpriced swan neck street lights, but I'll take it because it's a hell of a lot better than the crumbling sidewalks and parking lots surrounding it.

Also what about an MLS Stadium at the MTS Busyard? Would you be willing to sacrifice downtown space for that? More home games and international friendly matches too. If not downtown where would be a good place for MLS Soccer Specific Stadium? Chula Vista Bayfront? Convince DOD to give up the 120 acre lot on the very NW Corner of Miramar road right before the 805?

No. :haha: But thank you for asking! <3 you mello

I'd be fine with a soccer stadium in an already developed lower density location, perhaps in Miramar or Southeast San Diego. Actually, somewhere along the Orange line would be ideal. I just drove east on Market, and then east on Imperial and it's amazing how much of the city is underdeveloped out there. It's a whole other world, places with transit bisecting dilapidated neighborhoods just waiting for the right economic climate to grow.

[SDfan]

Even San Fernando Valley has a >500 ft building (Universal City Plaza 506 ft). It's sad that buildings in outlying areas of other cities can be built taller than buildings right in San Diego's downtown :yuck:

I would love (LOVE) if San Diego built a >500' building outside of downtown. I can just imagine Qualcomm saying fukc it, let's just go up here than out over there.

*delusional dreams*

[spoonman]

^ Good point

[SDfan]

I used to live right by this, what has replaced it?

Some more mid-rise residential from what I remember reading. I don't think there was a rendering out yet.

[Derek]

Just broke ground on this:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/07/pendry-hotel-montage-green-gaslamp/

Awesome! Thanks.

[SD_Phil]

Some more mid-rise residential from what I remember reading. I don't think there was a rendering out yet.

Thanks!

I have fond memories of very drunkenly ordering, walking to, and then gorging at food from that place. Good times.

[mello]

Regarding MV I was joking guys, an 80 Foot skydive center and suburban style hotel are nothing. Of course MV will never have a cluster like Century City. But with the big projects announced lately it will get very dense and the traffic could get so bad it will force people to use transit.

About the Soccer Specific Stadium wouldn't they need about 40 acres? I agree with you about Market and Imperial but I don't think there are any parcels that large. You need the Stadium and parking.

Just took a long walk downtown. That Courtyard Marriott is only about 45 feet wide! That is going to be interesting. The Lane Field park looks like it will be very long and narrow will they build the entire park with Phase 1 of Lane Field or wait till the other tower goes up. Electra has an art gallery at its base pretty classy.

BOSA please break ground on PAC Hwy we need something with curves on the water front I'm getting bored with the view along the water front row time for a new tower to come along.

[spoonman]

UTC would be a much better comparison to Century City as it is more clustered and has high rise residential. Of course as was pointed out CC has taller buildings, although we had seen proposals for buildings in UTC that are even taller than what is currently there.

In it's own right, Mission Valley is quite impressive with numerous buildings in the 5-20 story range. As was suggested, you could easily put Mission Valley up against Costa Mesa, and Mission Valley is continuing to double down on density. Recent developments, while not always transit oriented, continue to add to the density. Most of the valley is or will be multi-story with the exception of some retail, services, etc.

[nezbn22]

North Embarcadero Phase 1 isn't a game changer in and of itself, but it's a key domino that needed to be knocked down in order to get other, bigger dominos falling. No one wants to be the first to build in a rundown area for fear that others won't follow. But now that the County Waterfront Park is done and Phase 1 is finishing, the area looks a little less crappy and a lot more welcoming. I don't think they would've started Lane Field without those two public projects. And I'm convinced (without any real evidence) that Bosa is waiting to make sure there's real progress around him before he breaks ground on Parcel 9 (Broadway & Pacific Highway).

The real game changer is the Navy Broadway Complex. If/when that gets started is a whole different conversation, though...

[mello]

I would hardly call the area run down now, that isn't what BOSA is worried about. Even if he broke ground today wouldn't his building and Phase 2 of Embarcadero be finishing around the same time? You have Lane Field across the Street and like I said that will have a nice park in front of it. The Headquarters is a short walk from Parcel 9. Obviously the Navy land is a big eyesore but BOSA is waiting on something else not seeing how his surroundings shape out.

When you think about it, the NBC will block most of the South facing views of his Pac Hwy tower anyway so it would be a better selling point to go with sales now while all that land is wide open.

[nezbn22]

I would hardly call the area run down now, that isn't what BOSA is worried about. Even if he broke ground today wouldn't his building and Phase 2 of Embarcadero be finishing around the same time? You have Lane Field across the Street and like I said that will have a nice park in front of it. The Headquarters is a short walk from Parcel 9. Obviously the Navy land is a big eyesore but BOSA is waiting on something else not seeing how his surroundings shape out.

When you think about it, the NBC will block most of the South facing views of his Pac Hwy tower anyway so it would be a better selling point to go with sales now while all that land is wide open.

Trust me, a well-designed NBC is a much better selling point than the dilapidated warehouse-looking buildings that offer views for a limited period of time.

And with regard to Phase 2, I'd be SO excited if I thought that would be done in the next couple years. But frankly, I'd be surprised if they broke ground in the next couple years. It's taken them more than 2 years to finish Phase 1, and it's not exactly a monster project. Last I heard, Phase 2 hadn't been scheduled, and they weren't sure about the source for funding.

I live near all this, so I'm super excited about any news involving development on the western waterfront. But I'm trying to be realistic about the timing of it all. At some point, that area will be really freaking awesome. The NEVP will extend north past the Waterfront Park. Anthony's will be completely redone. Both Lane Field hotels will be up and running. They'll tranform Navy Pier into Veteran's Park and knock down that god-awful structure next to the Midway (and potentially add a god-awful sculpture, but I digress). The NBC will be built (Manchester will outlast and outspend his legal adversaries). And Bosa will put two towers SE of Broadway and Pacfic (one is planned and ready, but he also owns Office Depot which certainly isn't a long-term option). Oh, and they'll redo Seaport Village, too (current lease is up in 2018, and I bet they'll make some big changes then).

All that may take decades, though. And that's precisely why I have an irrational hatred for the California Coastal Commission.

[eburress]

SDCAL: I think we are all a bit disappointed with the height of Sempra but 7th and Market directly behind it almost a sure bet to be taller than 400 feet and the new Hilton going in at 24 floors close by will give a good variety of height to that area. I was really hoping the Sempra building would be mixed use and add a hotel component on top to bring the height up significantly.

Do you guys think this Embarcadero Phase 1 is really a game changer? How much will it transform the waterfront? Maybe once Lane Fields park is complete it will all fit in much better.

Also what about an MLS Stadium at the MTS Busyard? Would you be willing to sacrifice downtown space for that? More home games and international friendly matches too. If not downtown where would be a good place for MLS Soccer Specific Stadium? Chula Vista Bayfront? Convince DOD to give up the 120 acre lot on the very NW Corner of Miramar road right before the 805?

If not a new Chargers stadium, my vote in that spot would be an NBA/NHL-caliber arena to replace the extremely ghetto Sports Arena (or whatever Indian casino or Bail Bond store it's named after at the moment).

[staplesla]

I would hardly call the area run down now, that isn't what BOSA is worried about. Even if he broke ground today wouldn't his building and Phase 2 of Embarcadero be finishing around the same time? You have Lane Field across the Street and like I said that will have a nice park in front of it. The Headquarters is a short walk from Parcel 9. Obviously the Navy land is a big eyesore but BOSA is waiting on something else not seeing how his surroundings shape out.

When you think about it, the NBC will block most of the South facing views of his Pac Hwy tower anyway so it would be a better selling point to go with sales now while all that land is wide open.

I just called the Port office and inquired about Phase 2 of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan. The director stated it isn't scheduled, there is no funding, and it would probably be years before the bids were put out.

[mello]

If there is no timetable and funding for Embarcadero Phase II where do the people trying to block Navy Broadway Complex because they want to see those 14 acres turned in to a grand park think the money will come from?

Their argument is completely irrational and obstructionist because the plan they are proposing would not happen for another 30 years if ever Where on earth do they think the money will come from to turn that in to a Park? :shrug:

This is San Diego people at their worst, that area is no one's "Backyard" it is a blighted horrible eyesore on our waterfront and they are simply trying to stop thousands of jobs from moving forward and huge progress for absolutely no reason. What a disgrace.