Thanks for clarifying! I couldn't tell from the render how far behind the lowrise the other building was. I saw columns and assumed midrise.


I was west of the 5 on La Jolla Scenic Drive (it earns its name) just south of La Jolla Village Drive.

http://aycu37.webshots.com/image/277...4591542_rs.jpg

^^ This is more along the lines of how the University City buildings should be constructed IMO (photo from Bellevue) - not that crappy ass stucco. At least Commons is doing it "right."

^I was excited until I read the Bellevue part.

Me too.

Have to agree about UTC/Bellevue Comparison
 

When analyzing other metro areas "secondary highrise districts" UTC is pretty weak. For a metro area of 3.6 million our secondary skyline is not up to par.

Minneapolis has St. Paul, Seattle has Bellevue, Toronto has Mississauga, Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston all have many highrise areas.

I don't know why developers have been allowed to get away with such cheap looking buildings. UTC desperately needs a nice tower that is 400 feet plus to shake it of its dated look.

Regarding the hotel boom downtown: I think this is definitely a good thing, I really want the Marriot proposal at Ballpark Village to go through because without that East village may not see anything of significant height for a long time.

500 foot towers in that part of downtown would really add depth to the skyline and give it a third focal point. Right now I think the two focal points are the C street dense corridor and the corridor along Kettner and PCH from Electra over to Bayside.

What is the latest on the Marriot project??

To want a project to go through just for the sake of projects going through is not good policy. Those towers have hideous architecture, and while I think a major Convention Center Hotel is a good thing for the East Village (that area in particular) they need to rearange the program to include more retail. As of right now, there is only 5,000 SF on the ground floor!!! They do have 22,000 SF of restaurant, but it is not on the ground floor.

what? there was a 4.0 earthquake today in the morning?

aww nuts i missed it :(

I was in a stell office building downtown. The ride was cool... my 2nd there.

^^ Darn - I didn't feel it! :(

Cosmo Square
 

I felt the queake downtown, it was a short-lived ride here though

On another note, and please read the disclaimer first:

DISCLAIMER - while the people working at the CCDC office are very friendly, they seem to know even less than what we do form pooling information on this board. I have obtained information there that has not turned out to be true in the past.

With that disclaimer said, let me relay what I was told after inquiring about several projects and their status:

Cosmo Square - I was told this has been sold but is still going forward with the same building plan

Library tower - I was told this was still going to proceed; the people did not seem to have heard of it switching to a hotel, though, which makes me wonder if they don't have the latest information

Main Library - this is the one they were most skeptical about. They said that many people who come in to view the projects complain about the design and that they are still trying to get enough donations to proceed

Embassy1414 - they said this is scheduled to begin construction "very soon"

Federal Courthouse - they said it will still proceed, but it's been scaled down a bit (not as tall) [was asd to hear this because the model showing the original size looks great]

Office building by Petco park - they mentioned an office building designed to resemble the Onmi to flank the ballpark on the opposite side across form the Omni, don't recall seeing any plans on that

Nave Broadway Complex - they said the building that is on the same block as the proposed park needs to be re-designed because it has too much "open space" (a tower on top of a broader lower platform, the tower area needs to be filled in more is what they said).

Anyhow, that was what I got from my inquisitions at the CCDC office today. Like I said, the people were extremely friendly and willing to talk but I didn't feel comfortable the information was all 100% accurate. I hope it is because they seemed pretty optimistic on everything except the main library

Of course I don't want a project just going through for the hell of it keg. I haven't seen the renderings of the Marriott towers, have they been posted here?? I don't think they have. Anyway I want them to have a nice design and a large amount of street level retail which I think they will have once the final proposal is approved.

Concerning an office building built to mirror the Omni: Sounds ok but why not go with something original. I remember there was a proposal about 4 years ago for an office tower on land that is now a parking lot and it did have a curvy side that resembeled Omni, but this was back in 2002 maybe....

update on possible Luthansa flights from Lindbergh Field
 

Posted date: 9/3/2007

Lindbergh Field To Lufthansa: ‘Come Fly With Us’

Regional Airport in Talks to Land German Carrier
By CONNIE LEWIS

San Diego Business Journal Staff

If the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority’s efforts to lure Lufthansa are successful, the German airline could be the first European carrier to land at Lindbergh Field since British Airways packed its bags and left for the last time in October 2004.

Hampton Brown, who manages the Airport Authority’s route services department, said that talks with the Cologne, Germany-based airline are ongoing and that the agency had recently asked various community organizations, including the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau, to send letters to the company voicing support.

“That initiative is one where we need community support to impart to the carrier that we need European service here,” Brown said.

Lufthansa is Europe’s largest airline and the sixth largest in the world with service to nearly 200 destinations in 100 countries around the world. While the carrier’s fleet includes The Boeing Co.’s 747 aircraft that would not be suitable for service to San Diego, its smaller, 247-seat Airbus A310s would be, he said.

Brown declined to speculate on the likelihood of landing the carrier.

“Lufthansa has a lot of opportunities, so it is a very competitive situation,” he said. “They’re (Lufthansa) setting their schedule for next summer soon, and I wouldn’t say there’s a high probability we’ll be in the mix for next year, but 2009 may be a possibility. But we’re in the early stages with this.”

David Peckinpaugh, president and chief executive officer of ConVis, said that in 1999 the county tallied a record 807,000 overseas travelers, an increase of 3.2 percent from 1998. In 2006, the figure had dropped to 650,000.

Nonetheless, figures that the Airport Authority keeps show that there are total of 1,200 passengers a day bound for Europe, including those coming and going from Lindbergh Field.

“That’s more than sufficient in our view to support daily service to a European hub,” Brown said. “San Diego is the largest U.S. city in terms of market size and passengers today without service to Europe.”

Staying Longer, Spending More

The United Kingdom, Germany and Japan are the biggest suppliers of the county’s overseas visitors. The average amount each overseas visitor spends per five-night trip is about $565, compared with an average of $435 that a domestic traveler spends for three-night trips, according to ConVis.

International travelers typically spend more, Peckinpaugh said, because they stay for longer durations.

Brown said that the Airport Authority is pursuing other European and Asian carriers and that Chicago-based Boeing’s new wide-body, twin-engine, 787-8 aircraft helps to open those doors because it appears to be a perfect fit for Lindbergh Field.


In its basic configuration, the 787-8, which was rolled off the factory floor in July for a preview, will have from 210 to 250 seats. Airlines will vary in the number of seats they have for the same plane.
“That’s the perfect size for (accommodating) the San Diego to European and Asian markets,” he said.

He declined to name the airlines that the agency is courting, saying that doing so could tip off competing airports and possibly give them an edge.

“This is like recruiting a factory or a corporation to San Diego,” Brown said. “These assets are limited assets and they’re very valuable.”

Demand For 787s

According to a Boeing spokesman, several European and Asian airlines have orders in for the 787s. These include All Nippon Airways — known as ANA — Japan Airlines, Korean Air and Air Berlin, as well as five Chinese airlines. There are three models, the 787-8, 787-3, which is for short hauls, and 787-9 which accommodates up to 290 seats, but the list does not specify which models the companies ordered.

Currently, international routes from Lindbergh Field are served by AeroMexico, which flies nonstop once daily to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California; Air Canada, which has once daily nonstop flights to Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Air Canada’s Jazz, a regional airline that operates once daily nonstop flights to Vancouver, British Columbia; and Alaska Airlines, which flies once daily nonstop to Cabo San Lucas. US Airways Express also flies a once-weekly route on Saturdays to Puerto Vallarta, Baja California, and another once-weekly Saturday flight to Cabo San Lucas. Both of those are nonstop flights as well. In December, Frontier Airlines will start a seasonal route to Mazatlan on Saturdays only.

Meanwhile, the Airport Authority is studying the feasibility of locating a cross-border airport terminal linked to Tijuana’s Rodriguez International Airport. The study will cost $385,000.

One Park Blvd. anybody?

I would be so stoked if Lufthansa flew here.

Anybody know when Virgin America is supposed to begin service here?

Did anything happen while SSP was down?

Nothing at all.

Nope... other than a foo foo parking article in today's UT. I saw that Keg92101 must have been jonsing to post something... her did there.

WHAT???!!!

YOU GUYS HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT IT??!!

WTF??!!

Let me go find the article, this will change things quite a bit!:notacrook:

Cosmo/library tower
 

So, as I posted earlier, the CCDC office told me last week that Library Tower is still a go and Cosmo Square was sold but the purchasers plan to keep the same design

Since I don't trust what they say 100% and since it seems like some people on this board have good connections, can anyone confirm/deny these??

I really hope Cosmo does go through with the same, or similar design. It would really spruce up that block which is in dire need of activity :cool:

don't keep us in suspense!! what happened??

I want you to say that there was an article about the airport moving and/or the downtown height limit being increased to 1000 ft...

...but I sense sarcasm. hahaha

I agree. There is very little new stuff happening right now. I think one of the driving factor's behind the downtown lull is that the retail is not keeping pace with the new residents, and potential residents are waiting for te retail to keep up. I was one of the early birds to move into downtown, thinking that within a year, retail would be in and I would have countless amenities within walking distance. My wife and I are getting pretty fed up with the lack of activity. I think that owners/brokers are seeking too much money and are not looking at the long term picture.

If you visit any other city that has an area experiencing a redevelopment, most buildings have their retail booked prior to occupancy, and many have them slated before construction! It is part of the marketting package. I don't understand why we are so far behind the curve regarding this issue. Typical example is TR Produce. How in the hell is that amazing space not filled?!?!? I know; They keep pushing the rent up. All of these owners would have been better off to sign an excalating lease to get the spaces filled, and continue the synergy of development.

Oh well. At least the fate of our downtown retail, at least around the ball park, lies in the hands of a couple of brokers. great.....

Strata scrapped or sold
 

If you visit the intracorp website, they no longer have Strata listed as an upcoming project.

Maybe it will be re-entitled as an office building. I think its a great spot for an office building.

Strata.... if that project is located on the southside of Market between 9th & 10th, across from the incoming Bowl, where the dry cleaner currently are, ... Or were, then I've noticed a change. The dry cleaner is out and there's a fence around the building/property.

I know, and the Strata website is still up and running. Perhaps the project is on the block and they are going to deliver the property scraped and remediated (drycleaner plants typically have contaminated soil)

Last week when I went to the CCDC office (or whatever the office is with the model map) they said strata is supposed to start construction "soon", but those people seem to know less than those on this site.

As far as the dry cleaner being out and the fence surrounding it, it has been like that for some time. The dry cleaner left about a year ago and I remember using that dry cleaner a year ago and they told me they were leaving for a condo project, so it does seem to be stalled

I agree with the retail aspects - I live downtown and it's frustrating to walk by all these places (like TR produce) and see grafittin and abandonment in what should be a prime location. I think things will start to fill-in, they put a longs drugs in Alta. I am waiting to see what/how long it takes to get something in the Mark on street level along market. But TR produce has been a mystery to me. It would be the perfect place for a Trader Joe's, Henry's or Whole Foods. Maybe when the Legend is complete and the area sees more activity something will go in there.

Right now downtown just seems to have alot of holes to fill-in. Only Little Italy seems to have the seemless stree-level activity with retail, restaurants, etc. I think Horton Plaza hinders the Gaslamp because it makes the retail and club/bar areas seem more segreagated instead of having retail and restaruants coexisting on the street like you see in NY or other cities. I almost wish there was no Horton Plaza and all the stores were just on the streets of the gaslamp area intermingled with the restaurants and clubs

Upper MGT told me that they are looking to go into OM's Southblock Lofts project at 6th & G. Possibly open within the year. Longs Drug's was signed prior to construciton even starting, probably through a connection with the developer. The Mark was set to have Wells Fargo (who backed out, probably when the lease rate was increased), and a Coffee Bean / Peet's. The high lease rates are even driving out/stalling the national chains, let alone, mom & pops

Yeah, there hasn't been too much going on lately. But let's not forget that DTSD experienced a boom before many other cities, so it's only natural that our development activity would be slowing down first.

In the meantime, here are some pics I took yesterday of Electra, Sapphire, Vantage Pointe, Bayside and the Hilton:

Electra is turning out to be the beauty we thought she would be. This was taken from the Lane Field parking lot
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0811.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0813.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0797.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0788.jpg

Sapphire looks to be at the 3rd floor. The floorplate looks so small.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0796.jpg

Vantage Pointe is massive.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0832.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0827.jpg

Bayside is above ground
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0801.jpg

The Hilton is moving fast
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0824.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0825.jpg

I should probably post these in the individual development threads, as well.

^Thanks for posting. :)

The rumor is that an apartment developer is looking at it.

Cosmo Square is in foreclosure.

Street 701 ISLAND AVENUE - ETC. VACANT LAND

Assesors Parcel Number 535-115-01-00 535-115-02-00 535-115-03-00 535-115-04-00 535-115-06-00 535-115-07-00 535-115-08-00

Owners SIMPLON BALLPARK L L C

Property Type Vacant Land

LEGAL NTS Recorded Date 2007-07-05

NTS Doc. Number 2007-0448667

TD in Default 2005-1120261

Trustee Sale No. 41594

Trustee FORECLOSURE CONSULTANTS INC

Trustee Phone

SALE INFORMATION

Status SCHEDULED FOR AUCTION

Sale Date 2007-07-27 PP
2007-08-17 PP
2007-08-21 PP
2007-08-31 PP
2007-09-06 PP
2007-09-28
SaleTime 10:00 AM Sale Location S. entrance to the County Courthouse
220 West Broadway, San Diego, Ca Estimated Default $ 16,589,018.08

Thanks for posting! That's an understatement about Sapphire. I was just thinking that the other day. I hope it's not an illusion either because it seems as if it is going to be one slender tower! I can't wait to see this one go higher!
:)

No, I think it is going to be slender. Looking at it from the East or the West, it'll look narrower than most, but looking at it from the South or North... it'll look wider.

^^ You may be right - I was looking at it from the northeast intersection, so I may have been reacting to the side that faced the east. Definitely a small floorplate.

This is wild, but I have seen a 747 landing at Lindbergh Field twice now.

I live on 5th Ave right near the flight path and when I looked out the window the first time and saw that monster I though I was hallucinating!

It seems to land around 7:15pm on Thursday nights. Anyone know what it is?

There used to be one that was for British Airways that would start a flight in SD then go to Phoenix and then on to London, saw the giant taxi once. That then became a 777 that came from Phoenix and went nonstop to London from SD.

I took a USAirways 767 from Philadelphia to San Diego once, but it was a mistake, as the original plane had to be changed at the last minute and a 767 was the only plane available, and was nearly empty.

If I had to guess though, I would guess it is a cargo plane of some kind.

Double post! :(

Here it is (I think). It was an Atlas Air cargo plane, carrying smaller planes direct from Portugal for this weekend's plane races around San Diego Bay. Apparently SAN does see it's fair share of 747s and 767s every now and then, from all over the world (and an Airbus 340). Hawaiian Airlines and many of the cargo planes opperate 767s daily, so those don't count.;)


http://www.flickr.com/photos/souther...7600616233925/


Here is a picture of a Saudi Arabian 747 at Lindbergh Field. :whatthefuck:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/souther...57602023685916
http://www.flickr.com/photos/souther...7600616233925/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/souther...7600616233925/

A JAL 747 for the World Baseball Classic.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/souther...7600616233925/

Here is an LAN 767 from Santiago, Chile, forced to land here due to heavy fog at LAX. Another one from Peru was also diverted here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/souther...7600616233925/

A North American (Charter) 767 flying into SAN.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/souther...7600616233925/

A Delta 767 landing here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/souther...7600616233925/

A Saudi Airbus 340 of the Saudi royal family at SAN.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/souther...7600616233925/







I was bored, sorry! All photos taken by So Cal Metro on Flickr.

What a bummer about Cosmo Square :( . While we knew that some of the proposals wouldn't get far, I was really hoping that this one would. We can only hope that the potential buyer will go ahead with was has already been approved.

It's not an illusion at all. At 32 stories, that will be one slender tower. Let's hope it looks as good as the rendering in the end.


Even though it's not related to downtown, here's the only rendering I've seen of the proposed Charger stadium in Chula Vista. It's crazy that it's hanging off the hill like that.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...t%203/st-2.jpg

^It looks stupid. Keep it in Mission Valley! :(

If they really try to build a stadium out east in Chula Vista, they will probably lose a huge number of fans going to the games.

A typical NFL game at Qualcomm already costs a few hundred dollars for a family of 4 to attend. The new stadium will certainly be 30% to 40% higher.

Adding an extra hour of travel (and gridlock) time to the experience will make that even worse.

I know that the Q is antiquated and needs to be replaced but I truly believe that the NFL has hit the limit on what people will pay to see games live.

I see arguments that all of the other new stadiums sell out. That is probably true but San Diego already has one of the highest cost per game. I don't know what the limit that people will pay but I imagine that they are approaching it.

Plus, there won't be a trolley station. :(

(Well, I haven't heard any proposed yet.)

Oh I don't know. I can't speak to cost, but I know people in other cities drive farther to get to games than people in SD would be driving to get to ones in Chula Vista.

Plus, the 125 is a toll road. Maybe they want to place it off the 125 on purpose, for added revenue from vehicle traffic. Which is stupid.

I think the stadium should be ina central location near readily available mass transportation. And although the Bayfront site would have 1 or 2 trolley stations near it, it is too far south. To me, ideally a stadium should not be south of downtown San Diego.

My preferred site has not been discussed anywhere but here... Mission Bay Park immediately northwest of I5 - I8 interchange and the SD River; southeast of Fiesta Island. I can imagine after a little terra-forming that plenty of space is avaialble for a stadium, parking, mixed-used retail and residential, more boat slips, and quite possible the area becming the terminal location for the proposed California High Speed Rail Authority (either here or downtown?)

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...ortsArena1.jpg

^I remember you talking about that from the first thread. I totally think that your idea is a very good idea. :tup:


(Though, I think a high speed rail terminal should go downtown. ;))

I think that is a great idea for a location. The only thing is that the environmentalists would be beside themselves.

I also agree that Chula Vista is too far south given traffic and other considerations. The big thing is that it would be stupid for the Chargers to want to move farther south if they plan to stay in this city. All the serious money is north of the 8. These are the people who can afford boxes and season tickets, not to mention ticket's for their buisness purposes.