Quote:
Originally Posted by Rooted Arborial
I have not been to San Diego, but I have always wondered why the skyline looks so uninspired. I looked at these images hoping I might be surprised, but I
still am struck by how much this downtown looks like a rather forgettable suburban corporate accumulation.
So, I did a little digging because I can't believe the 8th largest city in the US would lack someone with a better sense of design. There are a few larger towers
there which stand out from the majority which look crudely truncated and blocky. It is a shame that even Helmut Jahn was apparently beaten down in this
city.
I wondered. Is it the strong presence of the military? is it the tourism? Is the city just a stopping off point on journeys to other places?
The worst of the bunch of less than inspiring designs is the cluster known as Emerald Plaza.
So, I did some more digging. I went around on a brief Google street view tour and the city looked better. Then, I did some reading about the city and I think I
found my answer.
The airport is right next to the downtown.
Apparently, in San Diego, the sky IS the limit. Air traffic has officially stunted the ability of this city's skyline to soar.
San Diego's skyline is a very good example of what can happen when urban planning lacked sufficient vision and the seeming inescapable result seems stunted.
I hope it works much better at ground level.
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This image encapsulates the reason for the 500-foot limit:
While the skyline has been stunted, the airport has created some key benefits that are often overlooked:
First, the downtown skyline is likely much denser than it likely would have been otherwise.
Second, the airport probably has the most prime location for travelers of any American city. Downtown is a quick Uber or bus ride away (though I wish it had direct rail connections). But it's so close to multiple popular neighborhoods that I know people who literally walk or bike to the airport when heading out on trips. This is a huge perk for tourists, business travelers, and for conventions.
Visually, the flight path provides a lot of interest. In Little Italy you'll see trains/Trolleys zipping by, ships sailing in the harbor, and airlines gliding down to the City. I love that part of it. Also, landing in San Diego is probably the trippiest out there, with how close you get to the buildings and the ground:
South-facing view
North-facing View
That said, San Diego would definitely have towers exceeding 500 feet if the airport weren't there. The tallest buildings are right at that 500 foot level, and the only reason there aren't more 500-footers is because the limit was later defined as 500 feet above sea level rather than ground level. So recent highrises max out at 480' or so. My guess is that we'd easily have 800 foot residential towers if allowed. The harbor/ocean views downtown are amazing and every developer would want to maximize them.