Good god those parcels are huge.

Thanks for the recommended reading!

Beautiful shot of downtown from Harbor Island by Scott Murphy:

http://i.imgur.com/pYqBx6U.jpg?1

Can't begin to express my frustration if 7th & Market gets shot down because Whole Foods isn't pro-labor.

http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topic...arket-project/

http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/...slguk4jwm.jpeg

They're moving along at park and c now.

That sounds about right for our CAN'T DO city. If the NIMBYs (not to mention city or state policies) don't get you, the unions will.

Why has this not been a problem in DT LA whom has built both a Ritz Carlton tower and a giant project with a whole foods?

You are asking the exact same question I had when I read the article. LA, and for that matter SF are more Union friendly than SD, but they get these projects with high-end big name corporate chains built. My guess is it's either because the projects like this in LA and SF aren't on city owned land (like 7th and Market is), or because LA and SF are top tier markets and these chains are willing to give more concessions to be there then they are in a second tier market like SD. I understand the city wants to keep downtown accessible to all and ensure good paying jobs come to downtown, but I think they need to look at the alternative. Keeping this a surface parking lot for another decade won't do squat to help anyone, and forcing the project to take on lower-end or less recognizable brands will not bring the overall economic benefit I think this project would. There needs to be compromise - and I think having the project agree to union construction and the low income requirement meets the needs even if the businesses won't have union jobs once they are open, so I hope they'll vote to approve it.

Sherri Lighter is the ULTIMATE NIMBY politician who backs virtually NIMBY everywhere no matter the logic. Todd Gloria is also against this project, but he at least has the redeeming value of being pro transit. Lighter is against everything all of the time. I believe she is termed out and a lame duck... can anyone confirm??

I just read the whole article I don't think this will get shut down just more union bluster and posturing. This is too important of a project to let slip away and everyone knows it. Plus go to the whole foods in Hillcrest there are very smart with it people who have been working there for 5, 8, 10 years! Plus they have tons of people working there compared to a chain like Vons or Ralphs the store is always packed with employees. I understand Vons etc stock at night so you don't really see those people when you shop there. My point is Whole foods must be a pretty decent place to work and I'm sure Ritz Carlton will pay non maids/dishwashers decent wages as well.

SDCAL: I think the big issue here is that it is city owned land if this was private I don't think is would be a problem.

A quick read with a hopeful take on the EV. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/...-for-downtown/

She should be out after 2016 according to ballotpedia. Elected in 2008 and there's a 2 term (8 year) limit

http://ballotpedia.org/Sherri_Lightner

Good article on the EV and anti stadium take Tyler. The author left out his thoughts on a convention center annex and how the MTS Busyard could possible be moved if it weren't for an arena or stadium being built on it. How are private developers going to come in and pay for removal, clean up, and relocation would it be a public/private partnership. Gary London had an idea of making it a new Eastern CBD in essence with 3.2 million sq. feet of office space. Another article in UT in last 2 days talking about a coming tech boom to SD so we shall see.

Couldn't agree more. If this gets voted down, it'll be the biggest case of missing the forest for the trees I've ever seen.

Port sounds motivated to get Seaport Village done:

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/...-seaport-plan/

7th and Market moving forward, too:

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/...n-whole-foods/

probably the wrong place to ask, but it looks like i'll be in san diego for christmas, can i ask you for architectural tour type recommendations? PM is fine, or a link to some SD-general forum perhaps? excited to finally spend some time down there (from SF).

Manchester Pacific Gateway wins final OK
San Diego Union-Tribune
Roger Showley
December 10, 2015

http://cdn.sandiegouniontrib.com/img...15c2d8bc4ecd52

Link to article

Looks like San Diego's "Front Porch" is going to be pretty respectable in a few years with the new BOSA towers, Navy Broadway, and a revamped Sea Port Village wow things are looking up. If the port was smart they would get moving on the Navy Pier Park as well, I'm kind of surprised they aren't making Manchester do that as part of the deal to develope NBC.