SAN DIEGO | Boom Rundown, Vol. 2

[Puzzlecraft]

Broadstone project at 5th & Thorn 10/5/2013: A rendering has been posted at the site.

1.

The rendering view is from 4th & Thorn. Two small houses which were removed from the site are shown put back with red roofs. Preservation edict?

2.

[TransAustin]

Regarding the projects on:
http://wwww.civicsd.com/images/stories/downloads/planning/PROJECTSTATUSLOGJULY2013.pdf
Can anyone specify if the projects that are pending construction (development permits approved) are almost certainly going to be built or if they are are still up in the air? Basically, what is the probability of a building with this status to be constructed?

[SDfan]

Originally Posted by TransAustin

Regarding the projects on:
http://wwww.civicsd.com/images/stories/downloads/planning/PROJECTSTATUSLOGJULY2013.pdf
Can anyone specify if the projects that are pending construction (development permits approved) are almost certainly going to be built or if they are are still up in the air? Basically, what is the probability of a building with this status to be constructed?

Honestly, it depends on the economy. We lost a lot of projects in the last recession. Most of these should be built if things are still humming along. Anything by Bosa and Pinnacle are safe bets - they're in it for the long haul. The Gray development is starting construction soon, I think. Don't count on any office construction though - unless it's built to suit. Speculative office construction probably won't return to downtown San Diego for years to come.

[SDfan]

Originally Posted by Puzzlecraft

Broadstone project at 5th & Thorn 10/5/2013: A rendering has been posted at the site.

1.

The rendering view is from 4th & Thorn. Two small houses which were removed from the site are shown put back with red roofs. Preservation edict?

Interesting project - expect more of this in the uptown area. Smaller versions in Hillcrest/North Park.

As for the preservation, probably. I'm sure someone's mother farted in there making them significant for future generations.

[aerogt3]

Originally Posted by SDfan

As for the preservation, probably. I'm sure someone's mother farted in there making them significant for future generations.

LOL

Historical preservation in SD/CA is a joke. Built in 1940? OH MAH GAWD THAT'S SO OLD!!!!11!!11!

[psychotron]

Happy to see a lot of projects in the pipeline, spread across different areas too. I'm rather looking forward to CAC Waterfront Park.

That preservation is pretty laughable. Unless the building had an important occupant, I don't see anything architecturally significant about it. It looks like so many other homes around southern CA. Progress always has its costs. It's not like we're fighting to preserve the original Penn Station!

[Prahaboheme]

Originally Posted by aerogt3

LOL

Historical preservation in SD/CA is a joke. Built in 1940? OH MAH GAWD THAT'S SO OLD!!!!11!!11!

To play devil's advocate, while these buildings may not be terribly old or historic they do exhibit the character and feel of San Diego. More importantly, they break-up a super block which makes it more pedestrian. I think the new development will be enhanced by the presence of these buildings not detracted by them.

[Streamliner]

Originally Posted by aerogt3

LOL

Historical preservation in SD/CA is a joke. Built in 1940? OH MAH GAWD THAT'S SO OLD!!!!11!!11!

While 1940 doesn't seem like that long ago, it is still 73 years old. Penn Station was only 54 when it was destroyed, and they tried to demolish Grand Central after only 55 years of use.

I'm not trying to compare these San Diego buildings to the NY train stations. My only point is that you shouldn't disregard something because you don't think it's old enough.

That said, I don't know why these bungalows are important, or why they are being preserved. Anybody know? I think it's healthy to be skeptical of these kinds of decisions. Many of our old neighborhoods needs to densify, but if we keep marking every aging building as historic, we might paint ourselves into a corner.

[SDfan]

Originally Posted by Streamliner

While 1940 doesn't seem like that long ago, it is still 73 years old. Penn Station was only 54 when it was destroyed, and they tried to demolish Grand Central after only 55 years of use.

I'm not trying to compare these San Diego buildings to the NY train stations. My only point is that you shouldn't disregard something because you don't think it's old enough.

That said, I don't know why these bungalows are important, or why they are being preserved. Anybody know? I think it's healthy to be skeptical of these kinds of decisions. Many of our old neighborhoods needs to densify, but if we keep marking every aging building as historic, we might paint ourselves into a corner.

I agree with your points. There is historical merit in this city, it's just been terribly overstated by many who just wish to obstruct development they don't personally like.

Historical designation is an important part in maintaining significance and character in a city. It's just really too subjective in San Diego.

[SDfan]

Yay, more litigation to come!

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/oct/10/coastal-commission-convention-expansion-plan-bay/

Commission approves convention expansion
By Lori Weisberg5:22 p.m.Oct. 10, 2013 UTSan Diego
Overriding the objections of its own staff, the California Coastal Commission on Thursday cleared the way for a $520 million expansion of San Diego's convention center.

The commission's unanimous approval removes a huge hurdle to getting the bayfront project built, which backers say is key to retaining conventions like Comic-Con that have outgrown the center and luring much larger meetings projected to deliver millions of dollars in hotel tax revenues.

Still threatening to delay the expansion, however, is pending litigation challenging the financing plan, which relies heavily on a hotel room surcharge of 1 percent to 3 percent already approved by the city's hotel owners. While a judge has upheld the levy as legal, opponents have appealed the ruling, setting the stage for potentially lengthy delays.

[tyleraf]

What do you know. The buffoons of the navy broadway complex coalition are at it again. I'm glad the coastal commission ignored the recommendation of its staff though. At least the expansion is now approved.

[spoonman]

According to this link posted by TransAustin

http://wwww.civicsd.com/images/stori...OGJULY2013.pdf

And this story in the UT...

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/Oct/10/renters-housing-market-marriage-delayed/2/?#article-copy

"And capital is getting easier to find for big projects downtown, with a major hotel deal expected to be announced in the next 60 days, said Robert Green, a veteran hotel developer (and no relation to USC’s Richard Green)."

...It appears that plans for a 362 room hotel will finally be announced for the property that was slated to become the never-built Marriott Renaissance Gaslamp. That lot has been empty for about a decade, since eminent domain was used to demolish the structure that was there previously. With 362 rooms on only part of a city block, I imagine this hotel will max out at the Gaslamp's 12 story height limit.

[Nerv]

Originally Posted by SDfan

Yay, more litigation to come!

It'll get built. They'll delay it some (although I'm kind of doubting as long as the Chargers were claiming) and it will probably cost us more in the end but as long as the laws remain as they do I would expect nothing less.

[Nerv]

Originally Posted by Prahaboheme

To play devil's advocate, while these buildings may not be terribly old or historic they do exhibit the character and feel of San Diego. More importantly, they break-up a super block which makes it more pedestrian. I think the new development will be enhanced by the presence of these buildings not detracted by them.

Exactly. I'm no fan of saving anything old since a lot of old things are just ugly but it's a good thing to work some of the older structures with the new into your city plans. Hey I don't live there but I know sometimes in these local areas the neighborhood actually wants the old stuff to remain too. There are a lot of older structures worth saving that aren't historic. I kind of like the way it breaks up the block too and stops the new structure from overpowering everything. My opinion only.

[Erip]

I agree completely. I liked the casitas, and am very glad they're going to be incorporated in the new project. I do find it kind of odd that the new development's architecture is so different and out of line with the old buildings they saved though. I wish they found a way to creatively blend the old and new...kind of like the north park post office project, you are here, or even petco park. The main broadstone building is very blah. Looks like we can add another onion to go with Park at Sixth.

[Urbanize_It]

Originally Posted by Bertrice

I don't live down there but this would make me visit
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1047290220/rad-lab-urban-park-in-downtown-san-diego

Rad Lab urban dog park funded! I think this will be a nice addition to East Village!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1047290220/rad-lab-urban-park-in-downtown-san-diego/posts

[tyleraf]

Here is the redesign of Ballpark Village. The height is now 411 ft. Also I'm glad to hear that RadLab will happen. It will add a lot to East Village.

[spoonman]

^ Nice that they lost the "mullet".

[JPAztec]

Hey everyone, long time reader, first time poster here. Loving the activity in SD these days, and even if our city has it's share of problems, it's still managing to make some headway on public and private developments, good to see.

Since I drive south and then back north past DT nearly daily, I've seen the crane for 15th and Island for some time, but have yet to see that little bugger popping up...anyone know if there is an active web cam of the area? This thing is going to be highly visible, it's got me excited to see it rise.

[tyleraf]

East Village construction update. Sorry about the low quality iPhone pics.
15th and Island:



15th and Market:


13th and Market: