[SDCAL]

other local news, not to do with high-rises, but the city council passed an ordinace to ban "box stores" such as the super-walmarts that include grocery stores. The mayor vetoed it, but the city council memebers are expected to over-ride the veto and it will then go to voters.

I m actually IN FAVOR of the ordinance and pissed that mayor Sanders vetoed it. I think huge chain stores hurt unique ma and pop business that are local and unique and they encourage the drive and park and one-stop shop then drive home syburban mentality. This is the kind of shit that makes every city in America look exactly the same - - BLAND!

[bmfarley]

other local news, not to do with high-rises, but the city council passed an ordinace to ban "box stores" such as the super-walmarts that include grocery stores. The mayor vetoed it, but the city council memebers are expected to over-ride the veto and it will then go to voters.

I m actually IN FAVOR of the ordinance and pissed that mayor Sanders vetoed it. I think huge chain stores hurt unique ma and pop business that are local and unique and they encourage the drive and park and one-stop shop then drive home syburban mentality. This is the kind of shit that makes every city in America look exactly the same - - BLAND!
My only issue with Walmarts and Targets and the alike... are their architectural designs and use of land. Parking should be underground... or in back. Not in front separating the store entrance from the street.

I don't care about ma and pop stores.. or the fine grain retail as has been used here before. They are nice and have importance, but not at the expense of choice.

[SDCAL]

So I am flying out of the country at the end of this week for a couple weeks. Normally I shuttle up to LA on a small flight operated by either United Express or AA (American Eagle)

This time my return flight gets in LAX around 9:45pm, the only direct flight from the city I am returning from to the west coast. Due to a "curfew" in San Diego, the last flight from LAX to SAN is at 10:30. I would not have enough time to go through customs and make the flight. My only ooptions are to take a shuttle to LAX or stay the night at a hotel and fly out the next morning :(

Not only is our airports location impractical due to space constraints, but the proximity to neighborhoods that creates this curfew adds to the rediculousness.

I am so fed up with the airport I could just scream. I have decided just to drive to LAX and park my car there. I wonder how many other people just by-pass SAN altogether for international flights and then aren't even included in the "statistics' for would-be international travelers out of Lindbergh Field becasue they don't even set-foot in it and just go straight up to LA?

[eburress]

^^ I do. I drive up to LA all the time to catch flights.

[Derek]

^I drive up too. The curfew is ridiculous. The airport is ridiculous.

[Derek]

I'm glad they banned superstores. They are ugly and kill smaller businesses.

[Derek]

OK, this article summarizes the other complaints about NBC

http://www.c3sandiego.org/BroadwayComplex.html

This is from Jan 07 and I am not sure how much of it is just people complaining or actual lawsuites filed that may delay or even kill construction

The two main complaints various groups have are :

(1) That the environmental impact report is outdated and incomplete; NBC developers are using a report from 1992 instead of doing a more current one

(2) That high-rises should be set back from the coastal area so as not to create a "wall" that makes a view from the bay one-dimensional instead of two-dimesional by having shorter buildings to the front and taller ones set back

All those people can suck my balls. The homeless people that hang out in the waterfront park right there by the Midway create more of an environmental impact with thier pissing and littering, not 4-5 star hotels and botiques. As for this "wall". The proposed project is not a "wall". They are relatively tall, slender structures that actually open up more views because the new project creates new roads that go straight to the water front, as opposed to the grey shit that's there right now, with absolutely no views to the water whatsoever (unless of course you are up high).

[spoonman]

So what's everyone's opinion on Sunroad Development?

[Derek]

^More power to them. There needs to be more height challenges, proving that San Diego can go taller than they permit.

[Dale]

Note of encouragement: Miami has been agitating for height increases for years now. Just recently, allowable heights have been raised to 1,010' feet in much of the CBD.

[Derek]

^Was it due to the airport? Or city regulations?

[Dale]

^Was it due to the airport? Or city regulations?

The airport, which is at least three miles away, but the primary flight paths go right over the CBD.

So, the lesson here is that the FAA can and will relax height restrictions. And I get the impression that Miami had been hammering on them relentlessly, the argument being that taller buildings were absolutely necessary for Miami's economy and growing stature in the world.

[Derek]

^That's the problem. The FAA maintains there height limits within a 2 mile radius of the airport. The city of San Diego set the 500 foot limit throughout the rest of the city. In reality, it's really the city that is setting the height limits.

[Filambata]

From CCDC:

Ghods Builders is developing a mixed-use residential condominium tower on the block bounded by Sixth & 7th Avenues and Ash Street. The 38-story building will have 427 luxury condominiums and 58,000 square feet of retail and commercial space over below-grade parking.

http://www.ccdc.com/images/propertyImages/FROM%206AVE-A-smallCCDC.jpg

[Derek]

^That doesn't look too bad.

[eburress]

It would be nice to see a better rendering of it, but based on the pic, it doesn't look too bad.

[Derek]

Interesting location though. That area could use a fresh start. :)

[spoonman]

^To me it looks eerily similar to Cortez Blu *shudders* with that satellite dish looking edifice on the roof. However,I do like that there are no setbacks on the street side.

[eburress]

Note of encouragement: Miami has been agitating for height increases for years now. Just recently, allowable heights have been raised to 1,010' feet in much of the CBD.

What a dream 1,010 feet would be. Even if it weren't for the FAA, I think the max height downtown would be closer to 750 feet...I forget why though.

[spoonman]

That is a good spot for a new high rise. That immediate area hasn't seen a new building in 30 years I believe.

[eburress]

^To me it looks eerily similar to Cortez Blu *shudders* with that satellite dish looking edifice on the roof. However,I do like that there are no setbacks on the street side.

I thought that it was very reminiscent of Cortez Blue too, but since that turned out much better than I expected, there's no reason to think this one wouldn't too.

[spoonman]

Good or bad, it will have decent height. 38 floors 1/2 way up Cortez Hill will make it stand out pretty good.

Curious, where do you guys live?

[Derek]

The top does seem a bit similar. But it doesn't have that awful base that Cortez Blu has.

[spoonman]

Am I the only person irritated that we never can get a sleek looking building? Many of the current projects are going to look sooo bad when they get old that it's best not to think about it. It's like bad 70's architecture...don't even wanna go there...

[spoonman]

Cortez Blu was done by a "house" developer...it explains a lot.

[spoonman]

I want this for San Diego...
http://www.architectsalliance.com/images/projects/distillery-district_2.jpg

[Derek]

I want anything over 600 feet. :)

[spoonman]

^those look to me like they're just about 600'

[Derek]

Those look hot. Where are they?

[HurricaneHugo]

i drove past the naval station and two of the towers that they are building are about five floors up :)

[eburress]

I want this for San Diego...
http://www.architectsalliance.com/images/projects/distillery-district_2.jpg

Me too! Those look quite nice.

[SDCAL]

^ Damn, when I was scrolling down I got excited that those were for SD, I was thinking finally!! Where are those towers anyway

[spoonman]

Toronto

[sandiego_urban]

From CCDC:

Ghods Builders is developing a mixed-use residential condominium tower on the block bounded by Sixth & 7th Avenues and Ash Street. The 38-story building will have 427 luxury condominiums and 58,000 square feet of retail and commercial space over below-grade parking.

http://www.ccdc.com/images/propertyImages/FROM%206AVE-A-smallCCDC.jpg
Even though it's a bad rendering, I don't think it looks too bad. It sorta reminds me of the 225 South Sixth tower in Minneapolis. Granted, it's shorter and has balconies, but it has a similar silhouette. I'm just praying that it WON'T look like the neighboring Cortez Blu :yuck:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/Other%20Cities/175px-225_South_Sixth.jpg

[spoonman]

I have some info that should be of great interest to all of you...I don't know whether or not you have heard this, but Sunroad development (the company building higher than the FAA recommendations near Montgomery Field) is going up against the FAA again on a new project. This time, they are proposing two hotel structures on Harbor Island. It is also my understanding that they told the FAA that the set maximum heights are basically rubbish, and set unnecessarily low.

[spoonman]

^^Nice SDUrban; I like that building in Minneapolis too. I actually thought Cortez Blu might look like that one, until it wound up looking like commie blocks with military radar equipment on the roof...

[sandiego_urban]

Check out the informative May 2007 Project Status Log from CCDC, http://www.onlinecpi.org/downloads/Project%20Status%20Log%20May%2007.pdf

It gives the projected start dates of most of the proposals we've seen and heard about. It's good to see Embassy, Cosmo and Library Tower still listed. Those projects don't seem to be dead yet:tup: Sadly, MetroLive (aka 445 W. Ash) seems to have bitten the dust :(





A couple of weekends ago, I wandered into the DT Info Center and noticed that the model of Bosa's 1st and Island project had been added to the mini-model. Views from different angles -


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/DTSD%20Info%20Ctr/IMG_8610-1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/DTSD%20Info%20Ctr/IMG_8613.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/DTSD%20Info%20Ctr/IMG_8611.jpg

[sandiego_urban]

I have some info that should be of great interest to all of you...I don't know whether or not you have heard this, but Sunroad development (the company building higher than the FAA recommendations near Montgomery Field) is going up against the FAA again on a new project. This time, they are proposing two hotel structures on Harbor Island. It is also my understanding that they told the FAA that the set maximum heights are basically rubbish, and set unnecessarily low.
Great news! ANYONE challenging the FAA is okay in my book. And even if they lose, I'd be happy just knowing that someone had the balls to call out the FAA on their rules (Miami did it, why can't we?). While keeping in mind that air safety is most important, I'm sure there is room for some changes to downtown's height limits.


I like that building in Minneapolis too. I actually thought Cortez Blu might look like that one, until it wound up looking like commie blocks with military radar equipment on the roof...
That tower in Minneapolis is really nice, and coincidentally, it was designed by Pei Cobb. Why couldn't they have designed 700 W. Broadway to look more like that?

Also, your description of Cortez Blu is dead-on.

[HurricaneHugo]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/DTSD%20Info%20Ctr/IMG_8611.jpg

Looks good!

[mello]

I was walking home to Washington St. along Park Blvd at around 2:45 am this morning and noticed a plane coming in to land. Looked like a commercial flight (non cargo). And SDCAL was talking about how he couldn't fly into SD late at night on a short hop from LA (returning from Asia).

So what gives. Why was this plane allowed to roll in at almost 3 am?? Are there some exceptions to the rule. An explanation would be appreciated. :cheers:

[Derek]

^They have to pay a penalty fine. To who? I have no idea. :)

[Dale]

I have some info that should be of great interest to all of you...I don't know whether or not you have heard this, but Sunroad development (the company building higher than the FAA recommendations near Montgomery Field) is going up against the FAA again on a new project. This time, they are proposing two hotel structures on Harbor Island. It is also my understanding that they told the FAA that the set maximum heights are basically rubbish, and set unnecessarily low.

This is what you need: a developer with a little spit-and-vinegar in him.

[Derek]

I have some info that should be of great interest to all of you...I don't know whether or not you have heard this, but Sunroad development (the company building higher than the FAA recommendations near Montgomery Field) is going up against the FAA again on a new project. This time, they are proposing two hotel structures on Harbor Island. It is also my understanding that they told the FAA that the set maximum heights are basically rubbish, and set unnecessarily low.

^^I'm all for the Nickelodeon Hotel. But it will be a matter of time when the NIMBYs get their hands all over this.

Did anyone see the front page of today's paper?

Sunroad's plan to build near Lindbergh Field troubles FAA
By Maureen Magee
and David Hasemyer
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
June 1, 2007

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070601/images/towers280.jpghttp://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070601/images/hotels.gif

At the same time Sunroad Enterprises has been battling over the height of an office tower near Montgomery Field, it has proposed building two hotel towers near Lindbergh Field that also exceed federal standards.
The hotels would be built on public land on the east side of Harbor Island, less than half a mile from the international airport where nearly 300 passenger and cargo planes depart daily.

One of the buildings surpasses Federal Aviation Administration height limits by 125 feet and the other by 69 feet, according to FAA documents and records obtained from the San Diego Unified Port District, which oversees development along San Diego Bay.

The Port Commission reviewed the initial Sunroad proposal, which did not cite building heights, in December 2005 and asked the company to go ahead with environmental reviews. Sunroad later specified heights – which it later said were preliminary – for the towers but ignored directives from the port district and the San Diego Regional Airport Authority to notify the FAA of its plans.

The port recently informed the FAA itself. Three weeks ago, the FAA issued eight separate findings concluding that the proposed hotels would be “hazards to air navigation.”

The port told Sunroad that the heights proposed were unacceptable.

“Our staff position is that any building on the East Harbor Island site will not exceed the FAA's recommended obstruction standards,” port officials wrote in a letter to the developer two weeks ago.

Sunroad cannot build without support from the Port Commission. Since it received the port's letter, Sunroad has questioned the way the FAA decides building heights in the area.
The company told the FAA in a letter sent earlier this week that its consultants say buildings as tall as 403 feet could be safely built on east Harbor Island because it is outside the primary approach and departure routes of planes using Lindbergh Field.

Sunroad remains committed to the project. Its reluctance to confer with the FAA, among other things, has caught some local agencies off guard.

“Maybe they think they have better experts than the FAA,” said Linda Johnson, the airport authority manager in charge of land-use planning. “It does seem like a very bold approach.”

The disagreement comes as Sunroad defends the 180-foot office tower across from Montgomery Field in Kearny Mesa that the FAA says exceeds the safe height limit by 20 feet.

The 12-story building has spawned a series of lawsuits and investigations in recent months, and it created a public rift at City Hall between Mayor Jerry Sanders and City Attorney Michael Aguirre.
Aguirre sued Sunroad in December, and the developer countersued the city for $40 million. The city attorney also filed conflict-of-interest charges against Sunroad Vice President Tom Story, who once worked for the San Diego Development Services Department.

Sanders issued a stop-work order on the top two stories of the Kearny Mesa project on May 18 – six months after the height dispute was first reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune and more than a year after the FAA said the tower would pose a danger to pilots.

Sunroad suspects that controversy motivated the port to act.

“I'm sure the port is acting out of an abundance of caution because of the situation that has come up around Montgomery Field,” Sunroad spokeswoman Karen Hutchens said.

Sunroad officials denied that the port directed them to inform the FAA of their plans for the hotel towers, even though letters from the port district to the company refer to such a request.

“Nobody asked Sunroad to submit anything to the FAA,” Hutchens said.

She said it was premature to seek an FAA study of the project because it is still in preliminary planning and years from construction. The building heights submitted to the FAA by port officials were maximum heights Sunroad used for planning purposes and do not reflect a final plan, she said.

“We are in the process of developing a concept for the property,” Hutchens said. “The timing wasn't right for this to go to the FAA.”

She said FAA rules do not demand a review sooner than 30 days before construction begins.

Sunroad executives presented revised plans for the Harbor Island project to commissioners in September, six months after the FAA told the company its office tower in Kearny Mesa was a danger to Montgomery Field pilots landing in bad weather.

The latest revisions call for 600 hotel rooms, 21,000 square feet of meeting space, restaurants, shops and landscaped plazas and promenades.

The project would be built around the existing Sunroad Resort Marina, on property the company leases from the port, and the popular Island Prime restaurant, which subleases its venue from Sunroad.

The Sunroad towers – at 221 and 281 feet, respectively – would far exceed the Sheraton San Diego Hotel as the tallest structures on Harbor Island. The 1,044-room Sheraton is 154 feet tall, just under the FAA's standard.

Since Sunroad objected to the FAA's conclusions, the agency has solicited comments from representatives of airlines, pilot groups, business associations and government agencies.

“We will review the comments and conduct further analysis to determine whether a final hazard determination is warranted,” said FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.

Port Commissioners Stephen Cushman and Robert Spane said they were unaware Sunroad's plans were deemed hazardous by federal regulators.

“Sounds like we did our job,” Spane said. “We did used to run the airport. Maybe that has something to do with it.”

The port operated Lindbergh Field for decades before that responsibility was turned over to the San Diego Regional Airport Authority in 2003.

Sunroad originally planned to negotiate a new lease, complete environmental reviews and begin construction by this fall. The Sunroad Harbor Island project was to be completed in early 2010.

All must first be approved by the Port Commission, the State Lands Commission and the California Coastal Commission. Finally, the city of San Diego would need to issue building permits.

Sunroad officials have requested a meeting with the federal regulators as soon as possible.

In a letter to the FAA dated May 24, Sunroad said it wants to “determine what alterations need to be considered to eliminate the obstruction of navigable airspace” for the Harbor Island project.

The letter was dated one day after a heated phone conversation between Story, Sunroad's vice president, and Ralph Hicks, the port's land-use director. Hicks documented the phone call in a memo that is now on file at the port district.

“Mr. Story rebutted that port staff had not asked Sunroad to submit this paperwork numerous times,” the memo says. “Mr. Hicks stated that staff has documented proof that these requests were made, and given Sunroad's failure to submit the paperwork or contact the FAA, port staff moved forward.”

Sunroad failed to notify the FAA of plans to build its Kearny Mesa tower near Montgomery Field, claiming it was exempt from the requirement.

According to documents obtained by the Union-Tribune, a company architect said there was an exemption for buildings under 200 feet.

However, the building fell into another FAA review category, one that covers buildings planned within three miles of the airport.

The FAA didn't learn of the $45 million office tower until an anonymous tip advised the federal agency of the developer's plans before construction began in March 2006, at about the same time the city issued a building permit.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070601/images/view430.jpg
Sunroad's two-hotel development would be built at the tree-lined eastern tip of Harbor Island. The towers would surpass FAA height limits by 125 feet and 69 feet, records show.

;)

[eburress]

A couple of weekends ago, I wandered into the DT Info Center and noticed that the model of Bosa's 1st and Island project had been added to the mini-model. Views from different angles -


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/DTSD%20Info%20Ctr/IMG_8610-1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/DTSD%20Info%20Ctr/IMG_8613.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/DTSD%20Info%20Ctr/IMG_8611.jpg

Thanks for posting! I wasn't a huge fan of the building's initial rendering (it looked top-heavy to me) but I think these angles better show what the building's really going to look like - not too bad! :)

[SDCAL]

I agree, the model and being able to see the buildings dimensions in relation to the other high rises nearby makes me feel much better about this one, I hope ground-breaking will be soon :) right now it is a parking lot

one thing i'm curios about and it's hard to tell from the model photos, is "J" street going to remain with that awkward dead-end that doesn't serve any purpose, or will the project encapsulate that?? Right now, J street dead ends a block after the last street in connects to. seems like it would be a good place for a park or some greenery

[SDCAL]

I was walking home to Washington St. along Park Blvd at around 2:45 am this morning and noticed a plane coming in to land. Looked like a commercial flight (non cargo). And SDCAL was talking about how he couldn't fly into SD late at night on a short hop from LA (returning from Asia).

So what gives. Why was this plane allowed to roll in at almost 3 am?? Are there some exceptions to the rule. An explanation would be appreciated. :cheers:

Yeah Derek SD is right, they have to pay some kind of fine, so it's not that the airport will not allow a plane to land after hours, but none of their regular shedules offer flights after (I think after 11:00 for landings). I heard on the news there was a big snaffu with United airlines back east and it disrupted their global network, so it could have been the result of this that you saw a plane coming in at 3 am

[SDCAL]

I apprecitate Sun Road standing up to the FAA, that's how reform begins. I just wish some downtown developers would challenge the 500 ft rule, and do it big, by proposeing something 700-750ft to make a statement. In my opinion, Library Tower would be the perfect building to do this. I know the project seems to be hanging on by a thread right now, but if it is resurrected I think the developers should consider escalating the height as it's location is not remotely near the flight paths. East Village needs another iconic structure (besides the ballpark) to keep the momentum going and I think the new library with it's distinct dome design along with a 750ft library tower standing out as by far the tallest building south of downtown LA would really magnatize East Village

[spoonman]

^That's sort of my feeling about Sunroad and the whole height limit challenge issue. My hopes are that Sunroad decides to build a building downtown and challenges the height limit.

My belief is that a building taller than 500' for east village is definately arguable. My hope is also that because of Sunroad, people will re-examine this issue. I don't know that there is really opposition to going over 500' downtown...I believe it's simply that nobody has thought about it much (in city gov't). Makes me interested to talk to a guy like Bosa. The thought of building the tallest tower downtown must have crossed his mind at some point. All he would have had to do was make Electra 21 feet taller. Maybe it's possible but not worth the trouble? Who knows but him perhaps...

[CoastersBolts]

Speaking of the CCDC office downtown, is that always open to the public? Also, if my memory serves correct, it's in the NBC Building?

[Derek]

^It's always open to the public and it is in the NBC building. :)

[mongoXZ]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/DTSD%20Info%20Ctr/IMG_8610-1.jpg
Ehhh. . .it's ok. An infiller. Typical Bosa.

http://www.ccdc.com/images/propertyImages/FROM%206AVE-A-smallCCDC.jpg
Now this one is something to get excited about. Its location is close to the Northern end of the financial core. . .an area that needs some new stuff. From Pt Loma the skyline would look even more dense toward Balboa Park. And the fact that the top is cylindrical is a breath of fresh air compared to the same ol same ol wev'e seen gone up here.

[mongoXZ]

Yeah Derek SD is right, they have to pay some kind of fine, so it's not that the airport will not allow a plane to land after hours, but none of their regular shedules offer flights after (I think after 11:00 for landings).

I lived in Mission Hills for a year. They (Lindberg Field) actually send residents a monthly newsletter reporting which Airlines got fined this amount of $$ every time they land passed the curfew. The penalty is pretty small (about $250 per violation). When I first saw these newsletters I laughed to myself and said "What a goofy airport we have!":haha:

[sandiego_urban]

Now this one is something to get excited about. Its location is close to the Northern end of the financial core. . .an area that needs some new stuff. From Pt Loma the skyline would look even more dense toward Balboa Park. And the fact that the top is cylindrical is a breath of fresh air compared to the same ol same ol wev'e seen gone up here.
Yup, it's location will help make the link between Cortez Hill and the Core much better. 58,000 square feet of retail/commercial will definitely be a welcome addition to the area.



Here's an article from Monday's SD Daily Transcript regarding the 777 Beech proposal. The tower looks pretty nice, but I'm not sure it's such a good idea to build it so close the historic El Cortez Tower :shrug:

They should build it in East Village and make it 3 times taller!!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/downtown%20development%203/elcort.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/downtown%20development%203/elcort2.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/downtown%20development%203/elcort3.jpg

[bmfarley]

El Cortez may be historic, but to me it is quite ugly. The neon red sign does not help either. the cafe out front is pretty cool place to hang.

[HurricaneHugo]

They're probably just mad the tower will be blocking their views to Balboa Park etc;

[HurricaneHugo]

btw, does anybody have a good, recent pic of Petco park and the surrounding area?

[ucsbgaucho]

Thought you might enjoy this photo. I took it last fall, and this year entered it along with 7 other photos into the Del Mar Fair, and it won a 5th place Honorable Mention award! :)
http://chrisaustinphotography.com/ssp_director/albums/album-15/lg/SD-harbor-boats-with-hotel.jpg?562164

[ucsbgaucho]

Hurricane, I'll be heading to the Padre/Red Sox game this Saturday, with my 5D of course, so I'll try to get some good shots of the area before and after the game.

[Derek]

I say build 777 Beech. El Cortez is ugly, and that tower can hide its hideousness more. :)

[sandiego_urban]

Nice pic, ucsbgaucho!


I say build 777 Beech. El Cortez is ugly, and that tower can hide its hideousness more. :)
Sure, the El Cortez isn't the most beautiful or ornate building downtown, but it's probably the most recognizable to us natives. Buildings like this prevent DTSD from looking and feeling like Dubai (or even worse, UTC ;)), where everything is brand spanking new.

I actually love seeing the blinking neon sign at night...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/Misc/cortez.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/Misc/el-cortez-hotel-1a.jpg

Edited to include some old shots -

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/Misc/untitled1-1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/Misc/untitled-1.jpg

[visionary]

http://www.museumtowerdallas.com/#

[Derek]

El Cortez looked better without the "El Cortez" neon sign on it, but it does give that building some character that I do love. ;)

But it definitely could've gone without that hideous parking structure/cafe in front of the entrance.

[bmfarley]

El Cortez looked better without the "El Cortez" neon sign on it, but it does give that building some character that I do love. ;)

But it definitely could've gone without that hideous parking structure/cafe in front of the entrance.
Nah... That cafe adds character to the area and provides an activity. After all, if the cafe were not there I speculate that there would be little reason to go up to Cortez Hill. What else is there to do up there?

[Derek]

^Good point, and I revise my opinion.


The cafe could've been integrated a little nicer into the building. Notice how there was a nice park in front of the building before.

[Urban Sky]

^^i agree. it's oddly designed...

[Urban Sky]

http://www.museumtowerdallas.com/#

what does that have to do with anything??:shrug:

[Urban Sky]

Thought you might enjoy this photo. I took it last fall, and this year entered it along with 7 other photos into the Del Mar Fair, and it won a 5th place Honorable Mention award! :)
http://chrisaustinphotography.com/ssp_director/albums/album-15/lg/SD-harbor-boats-with-hotel.jpg?562164

hot damn, thats nice. great color, great composition. love it.

[Derek]

Excellent work, ucsbgaucho! :tup:

[eburress]

what does that have to do with anything??:shrug:

We were talking about it on the previous page - just guessing, but maybe that's what.

It is a GORGEOUS tower though, and needs to be seen. :worship:

[Trvlr]

Yeah Derek SD is right, they have to pay some kind of fine, so it's not that the airport will not allow a plane to land after hours, but none of their regular shedules offer flights after (I think after 11:00 for landings). I heard on the news there was a big snaffu with United airlines back east and it disrupted their global network, so it could have been the result of this that you saw a plane coming in at 3 am

In fact, there is NO penalty for landing aircraft if they use the runway past 11:30pm. The curfew only applies to departing aircraft between 11:30pm and 6:30am.

America West has had a scheduled flight from Las Vegas that gets in around 12:30am. The airline may have recently dropped it, but it has/had operated for a long time, sometimes even being schedule to land after 1:00am.

[HurricaneHugo]

stupid planes...i live right under the flight path :mad:

[visionary]

We were talking about it on the previous page - just guessing, but maybe that's what.

It is a GORGEOUS tower though, and needs to be seen. :worship:

Sorry for posting without explaining...had a time crunch. The tower was discussed on a previous page and I have a friend working on the project in Dallas. I just think it's an amazing tower and get frustrated that SD has been unable to produce such fantastic looking towers such as this.

[ucsbgaucho]

Could add some drama to the skyline in a few years if it goes through. I think it's a great idea! I still think it'd be cool to use the bridge like they do in Louisville for fireworks shows.

Wash of blue light is considered for Coronado bridge

By Janine Zúñiga
STAFF WRITER

June 22, 2007

Lighten up, San Diego.

While it's no Golden Gate Bridge, local public art enthusiasts are hoping to make the San Diego-Coronado Bridge shine – day and night.

The idea – to light the 2.12-mile bridge from underneath – has been quietly shopped around for several months.


San Diego Port District
An artist's rendering depicts the Port of San Diego's Public Art Committee proposal for a blue-tinted San Diego-Coronado Bridge.

San Diego-Coronado Bridge

The bridge opened Aug. 3, 1969.

It cost $47.6 million to build.

It was built with 20,000 tons of steel and 94,000 cubic yards of concrete.

Bridge crews work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to maintain the bridge, including a team of six painters who work from one side to the other and then start all over again.
The Port of San Diego's Public Art Committee is pitching the plan, which is accompanied by an artist's rendering of a blue-tinted Coronado bridge.

“The bridge is already a beautiful icon, but you only see it in the daytime,” said Gaidi Finnie, a member of the Port's art committee. “They are doing such wonderful things with lighting these days. It will be just that much more visible and really something to see.”

If the lights are installed, San Diego would join several cities worldwide illuminating not only bridges and skylines, but roadway medians and walls.

But do all those lights fly in the face of increasing efforts to combat global warming and promote energy efficiency? Catherine Sass, the Port's public art director, said “dramatic changes” in lighting technology make this project more viable than even 10 years ago. The recently “uplighted” Vincent Thomas Bridge at the Port of Los Angeles uses cost-efficient light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, and a solar photovoltaic system.

The Port committee considered several sites for a piece of public art before settling on the bridge-lighting idea. The group discussed 20 other San Diego locations, including the cruise ship terminal area, the Broadway Pier, Harbor Island and the west ends of Grape, Cedar and Ash streets.

Members chose the bridge because it is already a San Diego landmark, can be seen from many locations, is monumental in size and would leave a public art legacy.

Finnie, who is spearheading the effort, made the first public presentation of the idea in Coronado on Tuesday. Coronado is one of at least eight municipalities and agencies that need to approve the project before it can proceed.


San Diego Port District
The Public Art Committee considered 20 other San Diego locations for a piece of public art, including the cruise ship terminal area, the Broadway Pier and Harbor Island, before settling on the San Diego-Coronado Bridge.
Others include the state Department of Transportation, which maintains the bridge; the city of San Diego and its Commission for Arts and Culture; the Navy; the California Highway Patrol; the Coast Guard; the Harbor Police; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and other port cities.

“We have to take all concerns into consideration,” Finnie said. “If it's foggy, can you turn the lights off? Can we have more lighting in certain areas for security reasons? There are electric issues on the bridge. Things need to be replaced. We need to form a number of partnerships.”

Finnie said the committee will present the proposal to various groups during the next few months. If the groups are supportive, Finnie said, artist guidelines might be ready early next year. Artists would then submit ideas, cost estimates and, if chosen as finalists, create models for public review. The Port, with comment from the committee and the public, would make the final selection.

Sass said there are no cost estimates yet. She said grants would be the main source of funding for the design, installation, maintenance and electrical costs.

“We would need to ask what this project would solve and go that way with funding,” she said. “There may be highway enhancement grants. There are some special grants the governor has. There may even be arts-oriented or security-oriented grants.”


Advertisement

Robert Mosher, architect of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, is advising the committee. He was out of town this week, but committee members said that initially he wasn't keen on the idea of lights.

“But once he got in a dialogue about it, he told us that he originally had a lighting plan and something happened and it was cut,” Sass said. “He got pretty interested in bringing back the idea.”

After this week's presentation, most Coronado city officials, including Port Commissioner Robert “Rocky” Spane, said they liked the lighting idea. Some council members said they were concerned about spending any city funds on public art and about lights being too bright.

“It's a good idea, but it can't be ostentatious because of the residential neighborhoods nearby,” said Mayor Tom Smisek, adding that everyone who has seen the artist's rendering “really liked it.”

Tom Ham, Caltrans' district highway art coordinator, said he hasn't heard any objections to the idea of a lighted bridge. He heard from some agencies that the lighting might improve security, especially at night.

“So far, I haven't heard anything bad, but some people don't like change,” Ham said. “Maybe they like the bridge just fine the way it is.”

The bridge has provoked strong emotions before. When it was proposed, many Coronado residents opposed it. In April 1958, city residents voted 2,224-1,528 against its construction.

And while it was delayed a few more years, former Gov. Edmund G. “Pat” Brown went to Washington and convinced President Lyndon Johnson that the bridge was a good idea. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the project in 1965.

Then bridge tolls became a sore subject. Tolls were in place when the bridge opened in 1969. After the bonds to build the bridge were paid off in 1986, more than a decade ahead of schedule, toll opponents tried to stop the fees. But residents, fearing more traffic, wanted to keep the tolls in place. City officials struggled to keep the tolls for more than 15 years before they ended in 2002.

As officials consider the plan to bathe it in light, the bridge is approaching its 40th anniversary.

“It would be a wonderful tie-in if it worked out, but it would need to keep progressing at a good rate,” Sass said. “It's an ambitious plan, very ambitious, but not impossible.”

Library researcher Michelle Gilchrist contributed to this report.

[Derek]

^Oh that's a great idea! That would be a very neat addition.


Now if the Harbor Club twin towers could add some light around the tops of thier buildings.

[sandiego_urban]

Here's the artist rendering of what the bridge would look like when it's lit up. Looks great to me :tup:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/downtown%20development%203/coronado.jpg

[Urban Sky]

New Sony Building to Create United San Diego Campus


Posted: June 22, 2007
From: Kate Hardman

By now, the theme of Sony United is familiar to Sony employees as a means to harness the power of the brand, both within and outside the company. In that spirit, SEL is also taking steps to unite by developing of a new headquarters’ campus that will bring together its San Diego employees in an environment intended to inspire collaboration and innovation.

Today, SEL operates in four buildings in Rancho Bernardo: two owned; two leased. Through the construction of a new 11-storey, 450,000 square foot building, SEL will eliminate the need for leasing and will be able to unite all San Diego employees in three Sony-owned buildings. SEL will also construct a six-storey parking garage with 1,400 spaces.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/urban_sky/newbuilding_story2.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/urban_sky/newbuilding_story1.jpg



Since SEL moved its headquarters to San Diego in 2004, it was immediately apparent that we needed a headquarters-style building, said Greg Aventi, director, facilities.

“At the moment, for example, we have corporate communications sitting in the middle of an engineering floor,” he said. “It’s far from ideal.”

The new building, which is scheduled for completion by July 2009, will enable SEL to move its corporate functions such as the executive offices, HR, marketing, sales, communications and law into one building, leaving building 7 open for its original purpose – engineering.

“Our engineers have gone from working on 27-inch televisions to 50-, 60- and even 70-inch models,” said Dennis O’Connell, vice president, facilities. “Space for this operation is much-needed.”

With the new building’s construction, SEL joins the trend taking place across Rancho Bernardo, which is evolving from a warehouse environment to one of corporate offices.

Sony has chosen local firms to carry out the work. Carrier Johnson (of 655 Broadway, Hall of Justice, Renaissance and Treo fame) the building 7 architect, has designed the new building and Pacific Building Group and Sun Construction will work together in its construction.

“Every decision, from building the new construction and the investment, to the choice of companies we are working with is a demonstration of Sony’s commitment to the region,” O’Connell said.

Along with a new modern-looking building, employees will also benefit from a new fitness facility and activity deck for outdoor events. The parking structure will house the deck on its roof, connected via a bridge to the fitness facility on the third floor of the new building.

SEL also plans to open up the top floor of the new building as a cafeteria for employees while a large auditorium-style meeting room on the first floor will be available to local non-profit community groups for events.

“We hope the new building will not only attract new talent to the company, but will also motivate today’s employees in providing a destination that people are proud to work in,” Aventi said.

SEL expects to break ground in November. Communications about parking and local issues will be sent out in San Diego Updates.

[mello]

So what is the answer penalty or no penalty for landing at Lindbergh past 11:30?? If there is no penalty then what SDCAL was describing on the previous page of this thread doesn't seem to make sense. Why couldn't he come back from LA late at night when returning from Asia? This is very strange :shrug:

NOTE: Kind of funny how if the curfew is only for incoming flights because that is where the less "well off" people live... neighborhoods such as Golden Hill, the funky part of Bankers Hill, and the economically depressed hoods of South East San Diego that are in the flightpath east of Golden Hill - Encanto etc. can't think of the names right now. While the mostly upper middle class to rich folks in Point Loma, Ocean Beach, Mission Hills, and Mission Beach are spared the upsetting late night noise on the *take off end* of the runway.

[SDCAL]

My opinion of el cortez

I don't think it's ugly and I think it hassignificant historical importance and should be retained and unkept asit has been. this does not mean, however, that building around it should not go forward, afterall it is downtown. The tower next to it could be the most internationally recognized marvel known by architects the world over and the residents of EC would STILL complain that it shouldn't go up. As one person said, it comes down to people pissed about losing their view plain and simple

[Derek]

^You are so right. People living downtown need to realize that new buildings are going to get built. They need to stop being little bitches and realize that it isn't all about them. :)



I don't think the residents of Rancho Bernardo will be too thrilled with an 11 story building going up. Too many NIMBYs.

[SDCAL]

So what is the answer penalty or no penalty for landing at Lindbergh past 11:30?? If there is no penalty then what SDCAL was describing on the previous page of this thread doesn't seem to make sense. Why couldn't he come back from LA late at night when returning from Asia? This is very strange :shrug:

NOTE: Kind of funny how if the curfew is only for incoming flights because that is where the less "well off" people live... neighborhoods such as Golden Hill, the funky part of Bankers Hill, and the economically depressed hoods of South East San Diego that are in the flightpath east of Golden Hill - Encanto etc. can't think of the names right now. While the mostly upper middle class to rich folks in Point Loma, Ocean Beach, Mission Hills, and Mission Beach are spared the upsetting late night noise on the *take off end* of the runway.

just relaying what the travel agent told me. they checked all airlines and nothing leaves LA for SD past 10:30 pm. I know from past experiences that things do fly after that time between LA and SD but it seems like it ws due to the airline being late. I have a feeling it happens frequently they are just not standard scheduled flights

[roadwarrior]

Are they still planning on extending the trolley up to the UCSD/UTC area by 2012?

I remember that was the talks when I lived in SD, in the late 90s. I'd imagine that with all the high-rise developing going on right now in the UTC area that it'll push through.

[Derek]

All talk, no action.

[eburress]

Action requires money.

[HurricaneHugo]

Here's the artist rendering of what the bridge would look like when it's lit up. Looks great to me :tup:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/downtown%20development%203/coronado.jpg

Beautiful.

[Urban Sky]

I don't think the residents of Rancho Bernardo will be too thrilled with an 11 story building going up. Too many NIMBYs.

I think it's already approved. It's too bad Sony couldn't move downtown. This is why we don't have more office buildings downtown. GR

[Derek]

^Expect complaints. ;)


I agree though, I wish Sony would go downtown instead of out in the suburbs. :(

[eburress]

^^ Their employees all live in the burbs, so while it would be great for SD, it would be bad for their employees. That's generally not the sort of business you'd find in most downtowns anyway though. It seems like its usually more financial-based businesses that fill up the downtown buildings.

[dl3000]

Agreed eburress.

So is this complex the US headquarters for Sony or what because they have the Sony Tower in New York which I figured to be their headquarters. Either way a downtown building would be awesome.

[HurricaneHugo]

nope, its the headquarters for their Sony Electronics division

[bmfarley]

Are they still planning on extending the trolley up to the UCSD/UTC area by 2012?

I remember that was the talks when I lived in SD, in the late 90s. I'd imagine that with all the high-rise developing going on right now in the UTC area that it'll push through.
Some say it'll happen... others say it will not. No one knows for certain now.

I hear the main challenge is that cost estimates are going up... Up because of 2 main things 1) Caltrans no longer has the right of way available due to plans to widen I5 and now land will need to be purchased outside of the I5 envelope, and 2) similar situation with the City of San Diego origionally having land available.... but due to fiscal constraints the land no longer comes without a price.

I know from past interest on these types of projects that if projected ridership numbers are modest or low, then it willl likely not score well to receive Federal funding. FTA could fund up to 50% of the cost to construct... higher costs and less than 50% from the feds means more local funds would be required.

[bmfarley]

It appears Breeza, Bayside and Saphire each have their foundations right at about grade with the adjacent streets. You know what that means, right? we will see those buildings shoot skyward soon enough as it seems a new floor goes up about every week or week and a half.

Here's a webcam snap i grabbed on Sunday late afternoon:

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n71/farleybrandon/SD%20Bldg%20Pics/LI072407.jpg

[bmfarley]

Am i the only one that noticed that the Grand Pacific Tower has their CCDC project page updated?

CCDC Grand Pacific Tower (http://www.ccdc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=projects.projectDetail&propertyID=599)

And check out the picture so many of us love!!!!
http://www.ccdc.com/images/propertyImages/Grand%20Pacific%20Tower%20CH-12.jpg

[bmfarley]

And...

Is this a new image for 16th & G Street (http://www.ccdc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=projects.projectDetail&propertyID=637):

http://www.ccdc.com/images/propertyImages/16&G-CCDC.jpg



Lofts 32 (http://www.ccdc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=projects.projectDetail&propertyID=577)

http://www.ccdc.com/images/propertyImages/LOFT%2032%20E64.jpg..not very impressive if you ask me. Google sketchup?

[HurricaneHugo]

And...

Is this a new image for 16th & G Street (http://www.ccdc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=projects.projectDetail&propertyID=637):

It looks amazing. :)

[HurricaneHugo]

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n71/farleybrandon/SD%20Bldg%20Pics/LI072407.jpg

It's a race to the sky!

[Derek]

I think I'm the only one who here actually likes Grand Pacific.


It's about time Breeza got up to the street. That one has been under construction for a long time. That's going to be a nice looking area though.


16th and G is HOT! I definitely want to see that built. That area needs to be revitalized, and that's an excellent start.


Lofts 32 is typical infill. Not a bad looking little project though in my opinion.

[stockjock]

Thank you for the photos of the El Cortez. While I'm sorry that there is so much litigation and contention surrounding the building, I'm thrilled that it was preserved and I'd prefer that another building not be built in the same lot. The building is truly a San Diego icon and its sightlines should be preserved wherever reasonably possible, in my opinion (which is probably the minority view).

Nice pic, ucsbgaucho!

Sure, the El Cortez isn't the most beautiful or ornate building downtown, but it's probably the most recognizable to us natives. Buildings like this prevent DTSD from looking and feeling like Dubai (or even worse, UTC ;)), where everything is brand spanking new.

I actually love seeing the blinking neon sign at night...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/Misc/cortez.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/Misc/el-cortez-hotel-1a.jpg

Edited to include some old shots -

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/Misc/untitled1-1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/Misc/untitled-1.jpg

[eburress]

I think I'm the only one who here actually likes Grand Pacific.


You may be. I think it's gawd awful! :)

[spoonman]

^I agree...it hurts to look at that building.

[spoonman]

I don't know if any of you have heard this, but I've heard the term "San Diego architecture" thrown around lately. It was more or less in reference to green glass buildings with too many balconies. I don't want our city to get a rep like that.