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Civic San Diego

Downtown San Diego Mobility Plan – Vision for the Future or A Well Intentioned Waste of Money?

February 22, 2016 By Jimmy Parker

Downtown San Diego Mobility Plan, January 2016 cover
Downtown San Diego Mobility Plan, January 2016 cover (altered)

In Southern California we suffer greatly from suburbia myopia. This affliction prevents us from understanding what makes urban environments succeed. We all too often attempt to recreate what we value in our suburban neighborhoods without the understanding of what it takes establish and sustain these ideas, designs and initiatives in a dynamic urban setting. We have idealized visions of tranquil urban neighborhoods where we live, work and pursue artistic/academic endeavors that will transform the cultural wasteland post-industrialized American cities.Continue Reading Downtown San Diego Mobility Plan – Vision for the Future or A Well Intentioned Waste of Money?

Filed Under: Feature Posts, Planning, San Diego, Transportation Tagged With: active transportation, bicycle, bike lanes, Civic San Diego, Complete Streets, pedestrian, San Diego

California lawmakers seek local oversight of downtown planning

September 9, 2015 By Murtaza Baxamusa

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

Filed Under: Affordable Housing, Feature Posts, Opinion, Planning, Revitalization, San Diego Tagged With: CCDC, Civic San Diego, Jane Jacobs, redevelopment, San Diego

Downtown San Diego by Bike – changes coming

March 12, 2015 By Bill Keller

Sharrow in downtown San DiegoWith vibrant neighborhoods, gentle terrain, the Big Bay and year round sunshine, Downtown San Diego figures to be on every list of America’s great cycling communities. We have everything… except the bicyclists.  Why?  It’s not very safe.  The street grid favors cars.  That’s about to change.Continue Reading Downtown San Diego by Bike – changes coming

Filed Under: Feature Posts, Planning, Revitalization, San Diego, Transportation Tagged With: active transit, bicycle, Civic San Diego, Complete Streets

In Defense of Uncertainty

October 13, 2014 By Murtaza Baxamusa

Nobody likes uncertainty. Certainly not the developers of a billion dollar mixed-use project that encounters community opposition due to traffic impacts. Nor the public transportation agency that runs into fairy shrimp on the future route of a trolley line. Nor the city planners for multifamily housing around a transit station that face a revolt from their single-family neighbors.Continue Reading In Defense of Uncertainty

Filed Under: Affordable Housing, Feature Posts, Planning, San Diego, Transportation Tagged With: Affordable Housing, Civic San Diego, housing, infill, redevelopment, transit, transit oriented development, urban planning, urban renewal, urbanism, zoning

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

October 7, 2014 By Bill Adams

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?

Filed Under: Historic, News, Projects, San Diego Tagged With: CCDC, Civic San Diego, condemnation, eminent domain, Historic, parking, Preservation, property rights, smart growth, urbanism

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

April 11, 2014 By Bill Adams

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

Filed Under: News, Projects, San Diego Tagged With: CCDC, Civic San Diego, new urbanism, redevelopment, smart growth, TOD, transit oriented development

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

April 8, 2014 By Bill Adams

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

Filed Under: News, Projects, San Diego Tagged With: Bob Filner, CCDC, Centre City Development Corporation, Civic San Diego, hotel development, infill development, infill projects, Kevin Faulconer, mass transit, redevelopment, smart growth, Todd Gloria, urban density

Land Use Planning Committee looking for Home after getting Axed by Gaslamp Board

February 6, 2014 By Bill Adams

Gaslamp Quarter south entranceThe Gaslamp Quarter Association (GQA) board of directors has decided to rid itself of its Land Use Planning Committee (LUP).  Reportedly, the decision was motivated by a desire to focus GQA resources on marketing and other business promotion functions.  The effective date of this decision remains unclear.

Continue Reading Land Use Planning Committee looking for Home after getting Axed by Gaslamp Board

Filed Under: Historic, Planning, San Diego Tagged With: Centre City, Civic San Diego, Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego

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

January 20, 2014 By Bill Adams

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.

Filed Under: Feature Posts, Planning, Revitalization, San Diego, Transportation Tagged With: auto-centric, CCDC, Civic San Diego, Downtown Community Plan, Downtown Partnership, La Rambla, Move San Diego, pedestrian, shared space, Walk San Diego, walkable

Graham Downes Remembrance by OMBAC

April 27, 2013 By Bill Adams

Graham Downes OMBAC remembranceBetween rugby games on Saturday April 27, 3013, The Old Mission Bay Athletic Club (OMBAC) held a remembrance for Graham Downes. Continue Reading Graham Downes Remembrance by OMBAC

Filed Under: Design, News, San Diego Tagged With: Architecture, BlokHaus, CCDC, Civic San Diego, Hive, OMBAC, San Diego Architectural Foundation

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