Could this be a sign?

Condo high-rise approved, completion in 2015

http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/...95d379f58af1c4
Vancouver Nat Bosa won approval Wednesday, of a 36-story, 285-unit condo tower to be built by 2015 north of the Santa Fe Depot downtown.

Estimated at a value of $250 million when completed, the as-yet unnamed project at Kettner Boulevard and Ash Street would be Bosa’s first local project since he opened Bayside on Ash west of the railroad tracks in 2008.

He said he’s proceeding now because the inventory of unsold new condos downtown is running low and values should equal or exceed pre-recession levels by the time his project opens in four years.

“There’s sunshine on the other side,” he said. “It’s peaking through. It’s time you put sunscreen on.”

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2...mpletion-2015/

Very nice. I am very glad to see this is going up soon. Bayside is one of my favorite buildings downtown. So this should make a great new addition to the skyline. On another note it doesn't sound like we're getting a new city hall anytime soon.http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2...-hall-project/

I love this building. However, it will be some of the most expensive condo real estate in the city.

I think I liked the older version of this building better (it was similar but taller and it incorporated yellow like Bayside) but this one isn't too shabby! I'm glad the building ball may be rolling again! ;)

Why have none of you told me about COMM22?!

http://www.mve-architects.com/portfo...reet-Mixed-Use

http://www.bridgehousing.com/Comm22

"COMM 22 is BRIDGE's largest development in Southern California to date. This mixed-use, urban infill development will bring a fresh energy to San Diego's Bronze Triangle neighborhood. Working with nonprofit partners MAAC Project and the Bronze Triangle Community Development Corporation, BRIDGE will develop 226 new homes in a mixed-income development that will combine affordable apartments for seniors and families with community-serving retail space, market-rate lofts and for-sale homes. A unique design will combine new construction with adaptive reuse of existing structures. The plans also include child-care services, access to transportation and commercial office space."

Our new house is just a couple of blocks from there so it'd be nice to watch it rise! :)

^ That'll be great for Logan. So many parts around Commercial and 22nd have been fenced off for years!

Where is this located?

Commercial Street (aka N Street) is a run-down street leading from East Village into Logan Heights. Since the Trolley's Orange Line runs straight through it I think is would be a perfect place for some significant TOD development in the distant future. Imagine some mid-rises on the other side of the Interstate 5!:)

Here's a pic of the area:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38677544@N00/2662858408/

Does anyone know whether the Chula Vista bayfront project is still alive? Link:http://www.portofsandiego.org/chula-...ster-plan.html

Last I heard that CV Bayfront proposal thing is d-e-a-d.

Introducing the Silver Line. . .:banana:

Eh, useless.

Give us the mid-coast extension already.

You're not seeing the potential here. Eventually this thing can expand into Hillcrest/Balboa Park, North Park, and areas beyond. The streetcar is used to serve a more concentrated and more urban area for the critical mass being reached in downtown. The coolest streetcar I've seen is Toronto's which was being heavily used. It gives the city a more cosmopolitan, urban vibe.

• Video Link

Until it expands up that way I don't see how it will be used that much other than diehard tourists. You won't even be able to use a Compass Card, so you might as well save some money and just walk anywhere in downtown for the time being.

:previous:

At least this is a start, right? No major construction is being done since the tracks are in place. The old streetcars were practically donated and refurbished by volunteers. No significant amount of money used. Nothing to lose. Other cities would kill to have this opportunity for their city cores.

How is it different from running the trolley?

Same tracks, same stations, older trains, no use of a compass card...

Yeah, I'm starting to get really confused about all of this. From what I've read, there are tracks that used to go through Hillcrest and Northpark, but have now been covered up. How could only these new (old) cars be able to use the tracks, but not the other trolley cars? Also, doesn't the trolley need the cables overhead to give it power? I have never seen any of these cables in Hillcrest or Northpark, so I don't understand how "no construction" would be necessary for them to run? And if they don't need the overhead cables, then why would they need the tracks at all? Couldn't they just put street tires on them and they could run anywhere? I get that these run on the tracks, so then where does the power come from?:koko:

I think some things need to be cleared up here.

The old street car being put into service is really more of a novelty rather then an actual model for future transportation, downtown, uptown, or anywhere.

That's why MTS didn't pay anything to get this started. Its more for fun, tourists and to draw people to mass transit alternatives.

Now, as for getting a modern streetcar system put into place, that is being studied and looked at by SANDAG and MTS. As the video from Toronto posted earlier shows, streetcars are slimmer, shorter, have less carrying capacity, and are more ideal for urban neighborhoods then traditional light rail (LRT) systems.

Basically, they would be perfect for Hillcrest, North Park, South Park and Golden Hill.

So, lets break it down.

1.) The old school streetcar going into service is a novelty to attract attention.

2.) The old streetcar was not paid for as a real transit alternative, but furnished by volunteers and funded by donations.

3.) There are studies looking at modern streetcars for San Diego's urban neighborhoods (as well as for downtown Oceanside, Escondido and El Cajon).

3.) Those studies will be conducted by SANDAG and MTS. Just look at the SANDAG 2050 transportation regional map plans.

Any other questions?

I get all of that. I was more interested in learning what would be needed to be built in Hillcrest and Northpark to run these cars.

Would they have to build out the electrical lines that the cars connect to from the pole that sticks out of the top of the cars? I apologize I don't know the name for these things.

If they do have to build those, I was wondering how the streetcars used to run in Hillcrest and Northpark. Some articles have mentioned there used to be tracks, which are now reported to be covered up. Did they once have the upper electrical wires above as well, but those were just taken down?

That's about it. Thanks for your help.

There were tracks that lead all over the city at one point. In fact they even ran all the way to La Jolla Village. As for over head wires, those existed as well. It wouldn't be difficult to place those back up given that all you need is clearance really. You can see some of the old streetcar tracks at various points in the city actually, and there is even a park somewhere in the city that has an old streetcar depot.

I was talking to a member of the city council, and they were hoping to get the street cars back into the uptown neighborhoods in ten years time. Although, they wouldn't guarantee anything.

How does it compare to trolleys/buses cost wise, speed wise, and carrying capacity wise?

I think these streetcars would be nice to go up and down 5th/6th avenues, but a trolley system would be much better for North Park.