60 minutes in downtown San Diego

[Urban Sky]

Originally Posted by oak-sea

Here's the problem with SD's "drive towards city"....
My experience with SD (after living there from '91-'96) is that downtown SD is not where the action is. The action is at the beaches- PB, MB, OB... or north of Balboa park in Hillcrest, and of course, La Jolla. Downtown is really pretty isolated- culturally. Maybe putting development on the perimeter of Balboa park...in my mind one of the top 4 greatest city parks in America... would extend downtown's reach north and east. Balboa park is as important to SD as it's water.

SD has changed SOO much since 1996. that has COMPLETELY changed since then.

[Urban Sky]

Originally Posted by gatt

nice pics!i would like to see streeet level photos someday to see how vibrant this city really is.i heard it's a beautiful city from a family member.

your wish is my command

[KevinFromTexas]

That's some fast shootin' Tex.

[IconRPCV]

Originally Posted by BTinSF

Very nice photography.

Here's the problem with SD's "drive towards city": In your photos I see lots of tall buildings, I see lots of parking lots, I see lots of cars. What I don't see is much sidewalk retail or much reason for anyone to walk around and, as a result, I don't see many people walking around. Most of the buildings you photographed do not seem to have ground floor retail and the only entrance is into a main lobby so unless someone were employed or lived in them, there would be no reason to be there. I have found the same phenomenon in most modern US cities that have traditionally been car-oriented and now are driving "toward city". In my book, "city" means crowds on the sidewalk and things to attract them. I don't see that. Maybe locals can tell me it's there and just not in most of the pics.

From what I can see of some "new" cities in other places like, just for example, Dubai, all this is also true. It's not just a US phenomenon. Have city planners in these places just given up trying to get people out of their cars?

You obviously have not been to San Diego lately. I live in downtown and find that the streets are full of people all the time. I have heard Tuscon is just bustling with activity.

[gatt]

Originally Posted by Urban Sky

your wish is my command

[mello]

No need to bash Tucson BT is just a wussy and lives there to get away from those brutal San Francisco Winters.

These are great shots and really do show that there is still a lot of surface parking to be developed and crappy short buildings that can be torn down.

I would say that streetlife downtown is more concentrated in certain areas. The parts that Plinko took photos of are a bit more dead, especially on the weekends.

It would be interesting to compare streetlife in San Diego to metro areas of similar size. Say Seattle, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Phoenix, even throw in Dallas, Miami, Houston and Detroit. I bet SD would compare pretty well due to our high residential and tourist population downtown.

I haven't travelled to any of those metros recently but I invite others to discuss. What San Diego lacks is lots of office space in the downtown. I think all of downtown SD only has 11 to 12 million square feet of office space. Pretty pathetic actually. We probably have the highest percentage of residential and hotel towers in our skyline along with Miami.

[sandiego_urban]

Great pics!

[Urban Sky]

Originally Posted by gatt

im serious.

[mSeattle]

Looking very good on the infill.

[JBinCalgary]

great photos

[Urbanguy]

Damn dude you took some great shots for only a 60 minute photo shoot! SD is looking good, great to see all the new condo's going up.

[Goody]

nice shots

[nimithat'sit]

san diego is fantastic! 619 forever!:-P

[ozone]

First off San Diego probably wouldn't be classified as a medium sized city. It's bigger than many American cities with taller skylines. Like San Jose in Northern California the nearby airport restricts the height of downtown buildings. San Diego is actually California's second largest city.

Secondly Downtown San Diego is not isolated from the rest of city nor are the beaches considered any more "real". I think you are confusing LA with SD. Downtown San Diego has some pretty vibrant close-in neighborhoods like Banker's Hill and Hillcrest and there's lots of people 'on-the-ground' and with the best weather in America and all those new infill projects I don't think the SF dude should worry too much about San Diego pedestrian activity. At least a San Diegan can enjoy a summer walk along the waterfront without have to don a parka.

The biggest problem I have with San Diego is it's over-dependence on the military and the location of it's airport. Both of those take up what is some the best real estate in the city. The military also creates too much of a conservative atmosphere for a California city of it's size. But that's just my opinion. Hopefully the build up it's core will begin to change it socially as well.

[mello]

I completely agree with your assesment ozone. I wish the military would go away here, I am so sick of them owning all of the best property and keeping it off limits to the public. Beach access just south of Coronado is restricted due to the Coronado amphibious base.

I know they have been a big part of our economy but now I believe they are starting to constrict the metro areas economic growth.

Note: I think most people understand that the City of San Diego is the states second most populous one, however it is the 3rd largest metro area. Currently San Diego is the 15, 16th, or 17th largest metro in the Nation depending on how you look at the numbers.