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California lawmakers seek local oversight of downtown planning

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construction worker and he family at downtown construction site“Downtown is for people” wrote legendary urban planner Jane Jacobs in 1958, in response to building-centric redevelopment that was a byproduct of politics and economics seeking to rebuild cities across America. During her lifetime, she advocated for citizens to decide what end results they wanted, pioneering concepts like “social capital,” and advocating for planners to steer the rebuilding machinery to serve the community.

Yet, even today, downtown San Diego is being built as a collection of projects, with an approval process that consistently favors developers. Continue Reading California lawmakers seek local oversight of downtown planning

Parking lot no more at Fifth & J in the Gaslamp Quarter?

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5th & J Gaslamp Quarter San Diego - former site of Gran Havana Cafe and Cigars and two historic buildingsAn invitation was emailed last week for a ground breaking ceremony to be held on Wednesday Oct. 8, at 10:00 AM for a new Pendry Hotel to replace the parking lot of 5th & J.  The invitation was ground breaking in more than one way.  This parking lot was the site of one of the most egregious abuses of eminent domain under the California Community Redevelopment Act, and became one of the poster-children of the property rights – anti-eminent domain movement.  Many believe it also played a role in Governor Brown’s repeal of the redevelopment law.  Continue Reading Parking lot no more at Fifth & J in the Gaslamp Quarter?

Beware of Wall Street Schemes on Redevelopment

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Civic San Diego's HQ, 401 B St.With the demise of redevelopment in California, some cities are looking for creative ways to stay solvent. One idea is to leverage New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) to buy properties and become landlords. This acquisition fund concept was recently adopted by Civic San Diego (CivicSD), a nonprofit corporation that is a consultant to the city of San Diego on the wind-down of redevelopment.Continue Reading Beware of Wall Street Schemes on Redevelopment

TR Produce Creative Space Proposal Another Example of City Council’s Folly in Approving Demolition of Other Creative Space.

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Interior TR Produce Underground ElephantThe long vacant ground floor of the TR Produce Building (888 J Street) may finally receive an occupant under a proposal before Civic San Diego.  However, because the prospective tenant is primarily an office use rather than a retail use, it will require a conditional use permit (CUP) subject to certain findings being made.  The prospective tenant, Underground Elephant, “focusses on providing enterprise marketing software solutions to companies. . .”   The company has 85 – 90 employees and is currently located in 600 B Street.  To mitigate its non-conforming use, Underground Elephant proposes a “Coffee bar” at the front of business, which will be open to the public.  Continue Reading TR Produce Creative Space Proposal Another Example of City Council’s Folly in Approving Demolition of Other Creative Space.

K – 8 Charter School Proposes Move to New Campus in East Village San Diego

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Urban Discovery Academy aerial renderingThe Urban Discovery School, currently located in the Banker’s Hill neighborhood just north of downtown San Diego, is proposing a move to a new location in downtown’s East Village.  The project involves some welcome adaptive reuse and will allow the school to grow to 450 students.  The school’s is nearing the end of its term at its current location.  The new site is owned by the San Diego Community College District.  Urban Discovery School has negotiated a 99 year lease which will go to the College District Board for approval on April 17, 2014.   The site is the block bounded by 13th & 14th Avenues and E & F Streets, near the planned Village Green park.  The Civic San Diego staff report summarizes the project as follows:

Continue Reading K – 8 Charter School Proposes Move to New Campus in East Village San Diego

Revised 11th & Broadway Pinnacle Project in Design Review – San Diego

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View from 11th & E St - Pinnacle

A revised Pinnacle project for 11th & Broadway is in design review at Civic San Diego.  The main difference seems to be that the developer now proposes to relocate (by 50′) the historically designated Hamilton Apartments rather than demolish them as had been previously approved by the Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) in 2012.  An act of enlightenment and altruism, or an act pragmatism (i.e. to avoid litigation or utilize tax credits)?  The Civic San Diego staff report doesn’t say.  In any case, preserving historical resources and adaptively reusing existing structures can only be a good thing for downtown’s diversities of architecture, people, and uses.  The staff report to the Civic San Diego Real Estate Committee summarizes the project: Continue Reading Revised 11th & Broadway Pinnacle Project in Design Review – San Diego

Fairfield Inn to provide “real infill” in Downtown San Diego

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Fairfield Inn from 6th & FThe smallish gap (75′ wide) between the Andaz Hotel and the Jewelers’ Exchange Building, now being used as a parking lot, may be developed with a Fairfield Inn hotel tower.  More precisely, the site is midblock on the east side of 6th Avenue between E & F Streets.  The proposal is now in the early design phase.Continue Reading Fairfield Inn to provide “real infill” in Downtown San Diego

Why Downtown San Diego Pedestrians Stop for Cars More Than Any Other City and What to do About it.

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San Diego’s downtown street grid and its small blocks make continuous walking difficult, especially for people trying to go in a straight line. Jogging is even more difficult. The blocks are 200 by 300 feet. Among major cities, only Portland has smaller blocks at 200 by 200 feet. Continue Reading Why Downtown San Diego Pedestrians Stop for Cars More Than Any Other City and What to do About it.