SAN DIEGO | Boom Rundown, Vol. 2

[Bertrice]

Horton plaza park from today. the pylons are going up, Touchdown San Diego!

[Streamliner]

^^^Wow! I apparently haven't been by Horton Plaza in awhile, I'm amazed it's become something more than a dirt pile.

Originally Posted by tyleraf

Makers Quarter has filed for permits for a 333 foot tower. http://www.civicsd.com/images/storie...A_-_9.4.15.pdf

For reference, that's the same height as the Federal Courthouse building

[The Flying Dutchman]

Dallas-based company specializing in high-end apartments. It will be interesting to see how they fit into the Maker's Quarter concept the Navarra family is pushing for on their land.

[tyleraf]

Here is a rendering of the MQ tower.
image by tylerfagan, on Flickr

[The Flying Dutchman]

Another glorified parking garage.

[mello]

A big battle is obviously going on between interests who want a non contiguous convention center built just behind Petco, I'm guessing John Moores (JMI) and his cohorts. All the while 2000 hotel rooms hang in the balance, (Huge JMI proposal and 500 room Hilton Bayfront expansion).

The whole argument by Briggs is such utter bs claiming that the waterfront land is meant to be used by the public. We all know the land where the expansion would take place is a parking lot and loading bay area from the CC and the contiguous proposal would wipe out that eyesore and actually greatly enhance the bayfront experience with an awesome roof top park.

Briggs also claims the Convention Center is not open to the public and that is so false anyone can walk up the steps and see the gorgeous views from up there. What do you guys think is the endgame here what are the powerplayers trying to accomplish. Keep in mind the existing hoteliers do not want to see Moores big project go through the less inventory downtown the better for them.

Thanks for your input.

[The Flying Dutchman]

I don't think any outward expansion will happen. Love or hate Cory Briggs, he beats to his own drum, and he's pretty good at it. Any expansion will either have to be built inward or non-contiguously. That much we can be sure of. That, or razing the current CC to the ground. (Maybe not the worst idea given it's $30 million maintenance backlog.)

Since there really is no room directly across the current CC for expansion, it will most likely have to come from the lower East Village. Enter JMI. CC or not, that's where development is headed. I imagine many more fights to come as big money wages for real estate as far south as Barrio Logan, perhaps farther.

That's a long way off, but for the time being, let's not forget the Chargers debacle, which must be 'a good and fair deal for taxpayers'. Recent pollsters have advised Mayor Faulconer that asking for a tax increase (hotel TOT) is far more politically feasible than a stadium vote. I think given the choice to go to the polls with one or the other, Faulconer will choose the TOT.

Now, since stadium money could quite possibly come from the general fund, Faulconer could cook up some way to fund a new stadium with increased hotel/convention center tourism revenue. Robbing Peter to pay Paul, so to speak. Kills two birds with one stone, too.

I think if a TOT had union support, it would pass without a problem. As it stands, it does not (likely the reason it failed a couple years ago and also why Lorena Gonzales is pushing for development decisions to be made by the City Council, rather than CivicSD.)

It all makes for good popcorn drama, that's for damn sure. I think the market will take its own course if the Mayor can't figure all this out, as it has been doing for years (PETCO, Waterfront/Embarcadero). At the end of the day, is it too much of a stretch to think of our downtown as one massive open-playground area for all? Probably not, but then again, the hoteliers want their monopoly.

[dales5050]

Originally Posted by mello

What do you guys think is the endgame here what are the power players trying to accomplish. Keep in mind the existing hoteliers do not want to see Moores big project go through the less inventory downtown the better for them.

Thanks for your input.

It's a shame that people like Briggs to have the power they do. That guy is as dirty as them come and single handedly held back San Diego.

While you can't stop a lawyer from filing lawsuits.. YOU CAN punish those people who are connected to him.


At the end of the day I think the bayfront convention center expansion happens. But it's going to take losing out on something like ComicCon for it to get a green light sadly.

[eburress]

Originally Posted by tyleraf

Here is a rendering of the MQ tower.
image by tylerfagan, on Flickr

I like it! Streetlights' projects are usually pretty nice.

[Chapelo]

I work over at The Plaza office complex, and take the footbridge that crosses La Jolla Village Drive to eat lunch at the UTC Mall. Here are some pictures of the work progressing on the west side of the mall, where the new Nordstrom and parking structure will go.



They tore down most of the buildings that were on the northwest side, including Cozymel's, the Scripps Clinic, and Bluefin. They all looked to be buildings that were original to the mall when it opened in 1977. I think this was the childcare building.



The Costa Verde development is still a hole, but appears to be moving along nicely. I've seen concrete trucks there, so foundation work must be in progress. I work in the shorter tower (the 10 story one), and it's kinda hard to get pictures of the site....not high enough.

[mello]

The only people who love Corey Briggs are those with the San Luis Obispo mentality who still can't comprehend this is a major city and don't give a damn about the next generation coming up behind them or those trying to get in to the middle class in SD. Briggs has easily taken 10k hard working people out of the middle class who would have been busy building projects. He is as selfish as they come and must have been bullied as a kid/beat by his parents or born with a mico penis.

That being said what is behind him proposing the TOT increase? What master is he serving concocting this new idea. I actually do like it but why have we waited so long that Briggs is the one to bring it up. You only need 50% to pass a TOT increase to just have it go in to the general fund (non earmarked), so why hasn't this been done years ago?

Why are the Unions opposed to a TOT increase and I always wondered why the Unions haven't attacked Briggs and his ilk for being anti worker and anti middle class because they block projects and high paying construction jobs from moving forward.

[The Flying Dutchman]

Unions want more say on what they are paid and how they are involved in the development process (e.g req. new hotel development to hire Union employees.) This is why they want more control over CivicSD/city council.

Hotels have an effective tax rate of 12.5% (10.5% TOT plus a self-imposed "tax" for the TMD of 2.0%)

News covered this topic here: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/video/#!/...Tax-/324589721

Briggs wants to drop the TMD which does NOT go to the general revenue fund, raise the TOT to 15%, effectively raising what customers already pay by an additional 2.5% in line with most major cities, and also direct the net gain of 4.5% towards the general revenue fund.

It's something I agree with, too.

[The Flying Dutchman]

Thanks for the updates re. UTC. Good to have eyes on the ground! New UTC tower just opened:

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/...r-flexibility/

[HurricaneHugo]

What building in any city would you steal and put in San Diego?

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=218630

Icon says one of the Petronas towers, I say Sydney Opera House, you?

[dales5050]

Originally Posted by The Flying Dutchman

Unions want more say on what they are paid and how they are involved in the development process (e.g req. new hotel development to hire Union employees.) This is why they want more control over CivicSD/city council.

Hotels have an effective tax rate of 12.5% (10.5% TOT plus a self-imposed "tax" for the TMD of 2.0%)

News covered this topic here: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/video/#!/...Tax-/324589721

Briggs wants to drop the TMD which does NOT go to the general revenue fund, raise the TOT to 15%, effectively raising what customers already pay by an additional 2.5% in line with most major cities, and also direct the net gain of 4.5% towards the general revenue fund.

It's something I agree with, too.

So you want a tax that is paid by tourists that goes to fund bringing in more tourism dollars to be removed and replaced with a higher amount charged to tourists but that funding being pushed to a general fund...where it does not do anything to grow tourism?

I don't care if you call it a fee or a tax. It's just smart business to set aside revenue from one of THE most important revenue sources to specifically grow that revenue stream.

Your first point explains it all. Unions, which are only there to benefit it's members (no matter what BS they sell you on standing up for workers) want to wet their beak.

Briggs is in bed with the same people who are owned by unions. People like Lorena Gonzalez and her brother Marco...who is also a wart on the ass of the city as well.


Anyone in support of these 3 people are just as bad as the worst NIMBYs....similar outcome just a different game.

[Streamliner]

Originally Posted by HurricaneHugo

What building in any city would you steal and put in San Diego?

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=218630

Icon says one of the Petronas towers, I say Sydney Opera House, you?

That's a fun thread. I always liked London's Leadenhall building. At 735 feet it would create a nice peak in the skyline without overwhelming it. I'd have it replace the ugly concrete jailhouse on State/F Street.

[Streamliner]

Originally Posted by Chapelo

I work over at The Plaza office complex, and take the footbridge that crosses La Jolla Village Drive to eat lunch at the UTC Mall. Here are some pictures of the work progressing on the west side of the mall, where the new Nordstrom and parking structure will go.

Speaking of The Plaza, they also demolished the Donovan's steakhouse there. It looks like something's going up really quickly, but I couldn't catch what it was as I drove by.

[mello]

Does anyone know what is the hold up with the Hazard Center Expansion? Is it still a 22 floor apartment tower? That proposal has been around for years and still nothing. Rental market is red hot and Western Mission Valley with perfect weather and central to job centers is a can't miss for solid 2 or 3 bedroom rentals. Also Manchester's project at the UT San Diego property? Strange that these two projects aren't breaking ground. Economy has been solid for 2 years and like I said you can't beat SD's rental market.

[Streamliner]

Originally Posted by mello

Does anyone know what is the hold up with the Hazard Center Expansion? Is it still a 22 floor apartment tower? That proposal has been around for years and still nothing. Rental market is red hot and Western Mission Valley with perfect weather and central to job centers is a can't miss for solid 2 or 3 bedroom rentals. Also Manchester's project at the UT San Diego property? Strange that these two projects aren't breaking ground. Economy has been solid for 2 years and like I said you can't beat SD's rental market.

This article from Voice of San Diego says that approval has been granted. Haven't heard much at all though. You're right, one would think that they would want to move a bit quicker than this.

[Chapelo]

Originally Posted by Streamliner

Speaking of The Plaza, they also demolished the Donovan's steakhouse there. It looks like something's going up really quickly, but I couldn't catch what it was as I drove by.

It's going to be a Red O Restaurant

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/...estaurant-utc/

They slapped up steel last week, and looks like they're just about done erecting steel.

Good thing too, Donovan's felt really dated...like nothing had changed since 1986. The food wasn't that great.