Vision For Charger Stadium Has A Face

Thanks to pension and budget crises, government dysfunction and a political culture of suspicion and mistrust, San Diego sometimes seems to have lost its ability to think big. If our city is to reach its potential, this must change, starting — but only starting — with the need for a new stadium for the Chargers, an expansion of the Convention Center and, indeed, the broader downtown waterfront.

We need to think about the options with fresh eyes, without preconceived notions of what is or is not possible. After weeks of interviews and other reporting, U-T San Diego has come to believe in a new vision. It is a vision that would not just integrate a new stadium with an expanded convention center, but, in phases, would include a sports/entertainment district with a new sports arena, new public parkland, public beach and promenades — all in an area that today is unsightly industrial property inaccessible to the public.

More expensive than current plans? Yes, with a total tab of perhaps $1.5 billion. But the rewards would be far greater, too.

Quiet Zones Compleation Date Delayed Till Late Spring

Construction activity continues on one of the largest urban “Quiet Zones” in the United States. The safety enhancements, including new gates, medians, traffic signals and warning lights, are currently being installed and tested at all downtown San Diego grade crossings from Fifth Avenue to Laurel Street. Future Quiet Zone expansion will include the intersection at Park Boulevard and Harbor Drive. Bringing the Quiet Zone on-line includes transitioning or “cutting over” from the old system to the new signaling system, conducting numerous tests with moving trains to ensure accurate timing, and testing all new safety equipment.  Due to these complexities, the project’s completion is now targeted for late spring versus early March.

Convention Center expansion has received conditional financing

The San Diego Unified Port District has given conditional approval to help fund the $550 million cost for the proposed San Diego Convention Center expansion.

Based on the action that was taken at a special meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, the Port District may contribute up to $3 million a year for up to 20 years.

The Board of Port Commissioners unanimously agreed to support the funding request with conditions.

• Learn More About the Convention Center Expansion Project

In addition, Port Commissioners directed the Port District staff to begin negotiations with the city on the terms and conditions of support agreements. The staff also was directed to “develop alternatives to address balancing the needs and benefits” in the Port District’s five member cities of San Diego, National City, Chula Vista, Coronado and Imperial Beach.

Details on numerous issues, such as when the Port District will begin making its financial contributions, will be worked out in future negotiations between the Port and city.

“There is a lot of work left to do,” said Scott Peters, the Board of Port Commissioners Chairman. “We do some things to make money and we do some things to make community. This should provide a return on investment to the port.”

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Huge new development planed for San Diego’s Upper East Village

After carefully vetting a number of qualified applicants, Jerry Navarra, chairman of Jerome’s Furniture, chose Lankford & Associates, Portman Holdings and Phelps Development — together forming a new entity dubbed LPP — to be the master developer for a nearly three million-square-foot renovation in San Diego’s Upper East Village.

The grand vision involves turning three blocks of a bleak warehouse district into a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use space with new residences, shops, hotels, office buildings and a four-acre open space park.

One of the primary design concepts for the renovation is an Innovation, Design, Education and Arts (IDEA) zone — an artistic vision championed by developers David Malmuth and Pete Garcia that will encompass the area between Market Street and City College and 11th Avenue and the I-5 freeway.

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