Ok, those that think a downtown stadium would sit vacant for most of the year are flat out wrong. The stadium last year hosted over 150 events, including obviously the Chargers games, but also conventions such as the Jehovah Witness convention, soccer games including the recent Mexico vs. Guatemala match, drag racing, and the numerous trade shows and conventions.

The stadium is host to:
* San Diego Chargers Football
* San Diego State University Aztecs Football
* Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
* San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
* San Diego Auto Connection
* OMBAC
* Big 3 Auto Parts Exchange
* RaceLegal

A new stadium in this region could also attract more bowl games. :)

^Right and many of those functions can happen at Qualcomm given it's current age and location and it's current costs. A brand new stadium, downtown, wouldn't be able to support the same kinds of activities at a cost that's competitive with competing venues with a far lower cost structure. I mean it seems like a strange comparison to compare what an aging (though by no means 'old') stadium 15 miles outside downtown on relatively cheap land could afford to do relative to a brand new stadium downtown and it's associated cost structure...

I just want a new stadium to keep the Chargers and perhaps host a World Cup match or two. :)

Sad :no::(

I just wish it wasn't too much to ask. :(

Not entirely sure why this is sad. So long as growth is healthy (or at least so long as there is growth) then why should we care whether other cities are growing faster or whether SD is the 7th or 9th largest city in the country? It's not clear that San Antonio or Phoenix or etc are doing better just because they have more people, in some cases it seems like the opposite is true.

The bus depot is a terrible use of space in that area.

The choice is to build something truly fantastic or something merely great, I say reach for fantastic.

I agree there is opportunity to improve southeast San Diego. Starting with that yard is a logical place. However, the function of the yard would need to relocate elsewhere first.

I believe lots of federal funds are apportioned according to population and population ranking...?

well being on top helps civic pride and it's kinda sad to see us tank you know my hometown.

Population rank has nothing to do with amounts apportioned to Urban Areas. Population, yes. Rank, no.

Library/School Moving Forward
 

The proposal to build a new main library in downtown San Diego picked up more momentum yesterday when the City Council agreed to incorporate a high school to help fund it.

The San Diego Unified School District has agreed to chip in $20 million in exchange for a long-term lease of two floors of the nine-story library. The council voted 5-3 to move forward with the new school-library combination.

Council members Todd Gloria and Marti Emerald said that despite the city's financial woes – San Diego faces deficits of $100 million or more per year – it's still important to embrace bold projects.

“This is an opportunity to show that there is some vision on this council, that we are willing to move this project forward, that we dare to dream big and do things even in difficult times,” Gloria said.

Emerald agreed.

“We may be down, but we are not out,” she said. “To sit and cower because of a bad economy, to be afraid of moving forward, to lack a vision, I think is a disservice to the community.”

Council members Donna Frye, Sherri Lightner and Carl DeMaio opposed moving forward, saying the city can't afford it.

The construction cost was pegged at $185 million in 2005. Getting a new cost estimate and updating the plans will cost $500,000 to $700,000. The city has spent $17 million on planning and designing the project and preparing the library site, officials said.

Council members expressed concerns about the expense of staffing and operating the new central library, which would be more than twice the size of the existing one.

“Restoring the city's financial strength must be our first priority so that all of the other goals we hope to accomplish have a chance to be achieved,” Lightner said. “Neighborhood libraries, which are used by the majority of San Diegans, already suffer from limited hours and short staffing. To further cut those branches at this time so a new central library can be built, furnished, maintained and operated would be unwarranted.”

The sixth and seventh floors would be used for a charter school serving about 400 students at the East Village location.

The council's endorsement will help San Diego keep a $20 million state grant. In addition to state and schools money, the library is relying on $80 million in downtown redevelopment funds and private donations.

Yesterday's council vote directs the city to send a letter to the state committing to collaboration with the district. The city may terminate the deal if construction costs are too high.


WHAT'S NEXT

September: Council to enter contract with school district and amend contracts with architects and others to update specifications

November: City to put project out to bid

July 2010: Construction contract to be awarded

January 2013: Building to be completed

July 2013: Library to open

2016
 

July 08, 2009

JMI seeks to keep hotel going

San Diego's downtown redevelopment agency indicated today that it will give Padres owner John Moores' development company what it wants to keep alive a potential hotel at Ballpark Village, across the street from the Petco Park.

JMI Realty wants a 5-year extension of its density allotment to 2016 and the right to move some of its required parking spaces to the Metropolitan Transit System garage at 11th and Imperial avenues. The company said it needs the concessions to keep its lenders happy and make the site more marketable.

The split vote at a Centre City Development Corp. committee meeting came over the objections of the hotel workers union, UNITE Local 30, and the labor-friendly Center on Policy Initiatives. They argued the city should hold those points in reserve as negotiating tools when JMI submits its hotel plans, expected in the fall.

The hotel will be a large project, and the city would likely look to demand some concessions from the developer. In the past, it was dictating the placement of affordable housing.

The hotel union supported JMI's past hotel proposal on the site, a 1,900-room Marriott, because that company agreed to protect organizing rights for workers. Another operator might not be favorable to a similar agreement.

Marriott pulled out of the project last year, but JMI still hopes to build a hotel and attract another hospitality company.

The issue will eventually end up at the City Council for a final decision.

Posted by Jeanette Steele | 02:07 PM

Where does JMI want to build this? Where is across the street?

It's to the east/southeast of the park. Dunno the exact streets.

Between Imperial and the Trolley/RR tracks.... and the 11th Ave (stub street)and Park Blvd. This project was discussed in this thread some months ago...

Forgot to say it sooner...but has anybody watched Transformers 2?

I don't know if it was the weed but I could have sworn San Diego's skyline popped up for about two seconds while they were flying to some base.

It was definitely San Diego. :laugh:



I noticed that, too.



Is anybody else on here going to Street Scene? Beastie Boys are headlining. :D :D

yeah i saw that too

Be there both days. I'm psyched about the awesomeness of the bands this year.

I already got my two day pass. :D

Can somebody please explain to me why there's always traffic on the 163 on ramp from the 5? ON A SATURDAY??!!!

I know it's horribly designed (4 lanes converge into 1 in a matter of seconds) but still...ITS A SATURDAY!!!

I was there last night. What time were you there?

This was at 1pm...

Oh. :(


But yeah that interchange is ridiculous. I was on it again today and almost got sideswiped on both sides of my car at the same time!

I went for my usual walk to the Market 32 on 10th and island and I have to say the fake grass in front of fahrenheit and M2i stinks real bad today (must be the heat) of dog piss and such. Why don't they just put real grass there, so the urine stink and bugs go away or at least die down a bit. DAMN!!!

It's been like that for a while now. I always cross the street before walking down that block because the smell makes me sick.

From jetsongreen.com:

Beyond Platinum City Hall Proposal
Written by Preston Koerner | July 14, 2009

http://jetsongreen.typepad.com/.a/6a...f41d970c-500wi

According to the Union-Tribune, a $432 million project is making its way to San Diego City Council for consideration as the new San Diego City Hall. Although still in early stages, developer Gerding Edlen indicates that the design is beyond LEED Platinum, and according to some, it could be one of the greenest buildings on the West Coast if built. The 23-story building, with a design that kind of resembles a large sail, has some of the following green elements:

http://jetsongreen.typepad.com/.a/6a...3cbd970b-500wi

• Solar thermal panels that offset about 75% of total hot water demand;
• Solar PV panels that provide roughly 8% of total energy use;
• Natural light, efficient lights, and smart controls that reduce energy consumed by 9%;
• Small wind turbines that generate supplemental electricity;
• Waste water that's treated on-site for reuse and to be exported elsewhere;
• A green roof to capture and filter rainwater; and
• An efficient chilled water system that cools the building.

The Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects design is handsome and innovative, and if San Diego decides to build something, they'd be in good hands with Gerding Edlen. The company has considerable experience with LEED projects, as well as a cutting edge Living Building Challenge project called the Oregon Sustainability Center. In any event, only time will tell as the new green San Diego City Hall still has a number of details to be determined.

http://jetsongreen.typepad.com/.a/6a...f7de970c-500wi

http://jetsongreen.typepad.com/.a/6a...a54d970b-500wi

http://jetsongreen.typepad.com/.a/6a...a62d970b-500wi

Build it.

^ Let's hope so. That part of the city really needs a project like this.

Build that now.

The Gerding project won't be built until it comes up for a public vote. Many people think we don't need to build a new city hall building in this current fiscal climate (though I disagree). Therefore, the city council is stating that because public funds will be used it will be put up for a public vote.

^^^
Maybe it's time to start collecting signatures in support of the new City Hall? If I lived in San Diego I would be totally for it.

It won't matter. The other side is stating they already have enough signatures for a public referendum. So it will have to go to the voters.

It won't happen for 50 years at least.

hello

yawn

Comic-Con is going on...has anyoned ever attended?

Yes, for the last 6 years. I spaced this year and didn't get tickets in time, so the streak might be over, but it is a lot of fun.

I went last year. I've never been into comics, Star Wars, and all that stuff. But it was cool to see everything.

I've never been, but holy shit was it busy downtown today.

Rights Group Upset Over Broadway Terminal
 

A $21 million cruise ship terminal being built on downtown San Diego's Broadway Pier will change the look of the waterfront but is spurring debate about whether the project leaves any meaningful public space.

Citizen activists are raising the concerns, as is the state's powerful Coastal Commission.

The 52,500-square-foot building project has been controversial nearly since it was announced.

An organized group of civic activists objected, saying the building, now set to be 42 feet tall, will ruin the one-of-a-kind convergence of Broadway and San Diego Bay at a time when the city and the San Diego Unified Port District are poised to spend $228 million on a waterfront makeover.

The new terminal was to be a temporary structure, needed while the port renovated its primary B Street facility to serve cruise ships. But fire standards and tightened security rules dictated a permanent building.

The port district and the city scuffled over the mundane initial design — basically a large industrial shed — so the port district ended up spending about $8 million more than expected. That delayed the B Street pier work, said Rita Vandergaw, port marketing director.

Now that the terminal is under way, questions have arisen about use of the rest of the 1,000-foot pier. A little more than half of the concrete surface will be public open space when cruise ships are not in port, which is the majority of days.

San Diego's downtown redevelopment agency has set aside $1 million to turn the terminal's “forecourt,” the pier's first 400 feet, into something special.

Vandergaw envisions festivals and public markets, in addition to maybe potted plants — though buses and trucks will need to drive through the area on cruise days, so nothing big or permanent will work.

A spokesman for San Diego's Centre City Development Corp. said the agency wants to bring the “cool” to the pier.

“Part of our challenge will be to come up with a design that makes the average Joe feel like, on a non-cruise-ship day, that ‘Hey, the gates are open. It's OK for me to walk there,’ ” said Gary Bosse, CCDC's assistant vice president for public works. “And not only is it OK, but, ‘There's something cool out there I want to see.’ ”

Activists say what has occurred is not cool.

“The whole thing is based on servicing cruise ships and bringing supplies onto and off the pier with massive diesel trucks,” said Don Wood, a citizen watchdog on waterfront projects. “Anything that's available on that pier for the public is an afterthought.”

Older plans showed an oval park at the foot of Broadway that is now just a memory. But the California Coastal Commission hasn't forgotten it.

In a July 2 letter to the port district, the commission said the oval park was going to measure more than 79,000 square feet, and that the public space planned on the pier entrance and surrounding promenade along Harbor Drive doesn't match up.

“There is no question that the revised park/plaza configuration is not the same,” the letter said.

Officials involved in planning the pier and building say they've tried their best to make both attractive.

“It will be more of a visual presence than what we have now,” Vandergaw said. “But it's going to be a nice addition to the waterfront in terms of colors, public art and public space.”

The colors will be blues and greens, she said, and much of the building will be glass. The port envisions it being rented out for civic events and weddings. The building will also have environmental features, with solar arrays providing 14 percent of the terminal's energy.

The public art will be see-through panels splashed with lights to create the effect of dancing water on the facade.

Phil Bona, CCDC's former vice president for architecture, said he understands why longtime activists might feel let down after years of planning the waterfront upgrade.

“I'd probably be disappointed because I got sold a bill of goods that was full of romantic notions I thought were going to happen. But things change,” said Bona, who now operates his own architecture firm.

“I'm just happy that something's going to be get built. Because one thing I've learned about San Diego: There's a lot of talk and a lot of planning and only after a lot of angst do things get built.”

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stori...mooth-sailing/

Maybe if we actually got the other waterfront projects moving, they wouldn't be complaining about space so much.

This is just disgusting. This 'town' will never learn how to embrace a waterfront. I hope Carnival Cruises and their passengers enjoy their fancy shed.

This is just downright insulting...and $1 million doesn't buy anything special on the waterfront even with real estate being what it is. What a crock.

Thought it was a 34-story building.

Unless it has been changed, Gerding's website says 34 stories.

http://www.gerdingedlen.com/project.php?id=71

Umm..someone needs to do a photo update. You Diegans never do picture updates.

I walked by Strata today and noticed they were hauling the crane away. Gotta wonder how many people are going to move into that building next year, though.