^ Mello, Do you have any info on those projects in Chollas View or other parts of SE SD? I would love to see what is happening out there.

I think more should be done to build out the Market Street corridor. It may b a little ghetto, but there is a lot of potential.

Yea, I'd love to see Market built out more. Hopefully one day Fulton will be able to remove height limits in Sherman Heights and Golden Hill.

Stumbled upon this link for webcams in the UT. Makes it easy to track the progress of Lane Field, 15th &Island, State Courthouse and other projects since you can see much of downtown.

http://www.discoversd.com/webcams/

I actually don't have any articles to reference what is going on there but I have a friend who lives at 47th and F and has been there for twenty years and she told me all about the revamp and planned in fill for the empty parcels around there.

Here's a vague update (see bottom of article) saying the Marriott Renaissance Gaslamp hotel is back on track to build on the lot at 5th and J soon. Like most projects, I'll believe it when I see it. But it's something I guess.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/...main-downtown/

And here's a link to the developer's website showing pics of the hotel design:

http://www.therobertgreencompany.com...otel-san-diego

I'm glad to hear that the hotel is back on track although I read somewhere a while ago that it likely won't be a Rennassaince anymore. That corner has been dead for too long and I can't wait to see it activated.

I believe the developer has to execute or risks a penalty or risks losing the right to develop the site. Don't remember the details. Glad to see that spot finally get something after Gran Havana was eminent domained. RIP

The lot at 5th and J deserves better. I really do hope this project moves forward at last.

Local activity
 

Excavation in progress for a much needed parking garage in Little Italy at Cedar & Kettner. Meanwhile whatever was going to go up at the old Mandarin restaurant at 5th & Maple has been stalled for months. Finally, at long last, activity has begun in the big empty lot at 5th & Nutmeg across from St. Paul's.

http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/San...5th_Maple1.jpg
Mandarin House

http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/San...5th_Maple2.jpg
Peeking over the fence at Mandarin House

http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/San...structure1.jpg
Cedar & Kettner parking garage rendering

http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/San...structure2.jpg
Cedar & Kettner parking garage current status

http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/San...th_Nutmeg1.jpg
Vue on 5th location next to St. Paul's

http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/San...th_Nutmeg2.jpg
Vue on 5th rendering

http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/San...th_Nutmeg3.jpg
Foundation wall steel on site.

Nice to see some activity in Bankers Hill. Now St Paul's Tower and 4th and Palm need to get started. I also look forward to seeing the development that will be built around the new County parking garage in Little Italy. I read somewhere that there is a residential highrise planned for there.

I don't think it's going to happen. Vue on 5th was supposed to be 13 stories, but when St. Paul sold the land at 5th and Nutmeg, at some point the development changed into the 7 story mid-rise we are seeing rise now. The unit count is the same as the old plan (45), so it's highly likely the other site still owned by St. Paul will be reduced in height as well.

I can't think of any high-rise development actually happening in Bankers Hill. Like Hillcrest, they've done a pretty good job at cutting developers down to mid-rise levels.

Come to think of it, I can't think of any high-rise development outside of downtown or UTC.

I hope it gets built. It's as tall as the Gaslamp allows, and would be a nice addition to the area.

The other St. Paul property at the corner of Olive was slated to be 15 floors. According to this post, the project is still intact for now, but likely a ways off. I do know that the height had already been approved. If it gets chopped it would probably be for economic reasons.

http://stpaulcathedral.blogspot.com/...n-reports.html

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/...cf389def36.jpg

Comic-Con
 

As a downtown resident, I LOVE Comic Con weekend.

No other event in San Diego brings this much International attention to our city.

Conan O'Brien is hosting live from downtown SD this weekend, just one example of how the event attracts world-class entertainment and recognition.

I think it should be one of the highest priorities of our city to ensure this event stays in San Diego and never leaves.

With that said, what is the status of the convention center expansion?

I really hope they get on this quickly so we can ensure we keep Comic Con and maybe attract other events of a similar scale.

SDCal: Cory Briggs is suing to stop the expansion from happening.

San Diego Streets has a big update on the NEVP. http://www.sandiegostreets.com/2014/...-improvements/

That is so annoying and completely absurd. Where the expansion would be Is wasted area already and expanding will provide an immense amount of benefit.

Ugh.

Mayor Faulconer has appointed a new head of civicsd. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/...an-diego-head/

Considering the immensity of Comic-Con this weekend, the expansion is absolutely justified and needed to keep San Diego's competitive edge in the convention marketplace. It would be an absolute travesty for Comic-Con to move to another city because SD cannot get it's act together and expand.

Given the vibrancy of the Gas Lamp last night (we are talking Times Square level crowds), I cannot imagine another host city doing it better, and I don't think the Comic-Con folks really want to leave SD, but the mere fact that this convention gets larger and larger every year, has completely sold out, tells us that at some point they are going to need more space.