"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.

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

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.

More apartments for College Area.

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.

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.

Another gaslamp/EV hotel coming:

http://www.sdbj.com/news/2014/oct/16...own-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...

Wow! Love this!

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.

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.

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/articl...ay-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 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.

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

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:

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: