Ace Hardware is coming to Downtown!!! Spring 2009

Woot!

too bad the san diego hardware store went under :(

Does anyone on here think we could do better with the San Diego Coronado Bay Bridge? I know they are working on spending millions to have creative uplighting to better show it off.

I just think we could have a better signature bridge that could have a bigger impact on the downtown skyline.

I like Santiago Calatrava's designs and think they'd fit in well with the Bay. Here are some pics of some of his current designs. Just curious what you guys and gals thought.

New Bridge under construction in downtown Dallas
http://www.alstaplesassociates.com/i...idgedallas.jpg

Calatrava bridge in Italy
http://www.alstaplesassociates.com/i...ridgeitaly.jpg

Calatrava bridge in Israel
http://www.alstaplesassociates.com/i...ravaisreal.jpg

I found this on the CCDC website for a design review committee meeting coming up on November 5th.

The Coronado bridge is fine, I don't think they could have done better with the location

All those calatrava bridges seem to be overkill for their intended purposes...

I actually agree with Staplesla. The Coronado bridge is boring and does nothing for the bay. It's a shame with such great signature bridges such as the Golden Gate in San Fran, Williamsburg in NYC, and the Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia that they couldn't have built something better here.

since there's not much else to talk about, I thought I'd chime in as well regarding the Coronado Bridge. I have to disagree with those who wish the bridge had more to it. I think that from most vantage points, anything more than the nice sleek simple curve that it is would obstruct a perfectly decent view of both the sky and the coast in the distance. so many of these cities are looking for Calatrava to give them wings, but they really dont have much else going for them. The bay and the ocean are the the real attractions, and my take is that we're lucky that we don't need a bridge to liven things up.

Prop 1A
 

Now that this has passed, what does it mean for California? What are the routes, and what is the 1st leg to be built?

It means 160,000 construction related jobs & 450,000 permanent jobs. Jobs are good! Right?

The first leg would be LA---SJ----SF I believe. Here's a vid:
• Video Link

The California High Speed Rail project will be the states largest ever public works effort. Because of its size and complexity, it will advance in phases. The first phase will be linking San Francisco and Los Angeles with an initial construction effort in the Central Valley (to get train system testing section up and running asap).

Phases to San Diego and Sacramento will follow. An adopted preferred alignment is already in the books, but may be revisited. Actually, it seems it has too! The San Diego station is at Santa Fe Depot and the alignment enters downtown as an aerial structure. That decision was made before all the towers went up immediately adjacent to the existing rail corridor. And, I am very doubful neighbors would appreciate an aerial structure right out their windows. Maybe put it underground, like in San Francisco? But, imo, it should come downtown because that is where people are destined.

I agree, and perhaps incorporate it into the Lindburgh Metro Station that Sanders introduced this past year. I think that there is the room to put it there, and any impact on industrial properties is far easier to mitigate than residential high rises.

The San Diego line is actually going to be underground now downtown. My husband is the civil engineer working on the line. The funds will also allow for the trolley tracks to be tunneled with HSR in parts to free up most of the delays on the roads.

Also, people on here are stating SF to LA will be the first line. This isn't actually true. They aren't sure yet. This was one of the reasons for the change from Proposition1 (SF to LA line) to Proposition 1A. Proposition 1A allows for the first financially feasible line to be built. My husband says that the SD through Riverside back down to LA line will be cheaper and may actually get built first. Regardless though of what is in the news, they are still only in preliminary design and a lot will probably change.

Good stuff. That news is welcome and it's great to hear that formal effort is being made to get this rolling. It's increasingly difficult to follow HSR in local news, since they don't have any writers at all and rely almost entirely on the UP and AP (okay, that was a joke), but, any idea when this will be discussed publicly? There are several local agencies thaat would weigh in; City, MTS and SANDAG.

Also, I am familiar with the changes in the proposition. It permits use of funds to be allowed to be used on any portion of the network; depending on project readiness and that the SF to LA segement is not jeopardized. My read is that SF to LA will move forward first. I also note, although your husbands work is noteworthy, engineering and planning efforts are further along in the SF to LA section.

Trust me I know, he's the project manager and I have to hear about it all the time. lol. He's up north right now doing something on the Merced line. I'll ask him next week about a timeline, etc.

Great info on HSR! Thanks a lot Staples and everyone else. Although I didn't support the proposition, I'm anxious to find out what will happen in southern california as a result. Linking LA/OC/SD first would be tremendous for the region.

StaplesLA, thanks for the inside info

I almost voted no on 1A because of SD not being in the first phase and not even guaranteed at all in the vague wording, but it makes me feel more confident knowing there is avtual engineering plans being worked on

glad I ended up voting for it ;)

its not coming to san diego...

And prop B was badly described.

The description on the ballot didn't mentioned anything about a chargers stadium or other possible uses. Most people didn't know what it was about.

Either way, it won't hurt the Chargers as they didn't even endorse it and its not like it would have gotten anything done (too unrealistic).

Now, no longer having Aguirre as city attorney, helps out A LOT.