SAN DIEGO | Boom Rundown, Vol. 2

[tyleraf]

Of all the articles I've read on the park there hasn't been any indication the design never changed so were probably good.

[tyleraf]

1 Columbia Place (formerly Columbia Center) is undergoing a multimillion dollar renovation.


Here is a photo of the work.

[spoonman]

Originally Posted by Leo the Dog

+1

Alvarez appears to be too young.

+2. Bad for urban development. I especially did not like Alvarez's stance on Barrio Logan.

[mello]

Did you guys know that a Hanson's organic market is going in the bottom of Ariel Suites? This now makes Little Italy possibly the most complete urban neighborhood in Southern California! It has it all from schools to home furnishing, maybe a bit lacking on retail but wow LI is going to be a very impressive place especially once the gorgeous park on the South side of the County building is complete.

-- For those who don't know Hanson's has a store in San Clemente I have been there and it is pretty cool, a bit pricey however.

[tyleraf]

East Village is getting a gateway sign. http://eastvillagesandiego.com/category/vices/

[Leo the Dog]

Originally Posted by tyleraf

East Village is getting a gateway sign. http://eastvillagesandiego.com/category/vices/

That's great! Where is it...Market street?

[tyleraf]

They haven't decided yet. They are just collecting donations right now.

[Bertrice]

I'm sure it might get done before Horton plaza park and the convention center

[SDfan]

What ever happened to the Asian gateway sign in the Marina District, or the Asian Thematic District? I can't remember which area is which, or where one begins or the other ends... whatever. What happened to the sign?

[Erip]

Originally Posted by SDfan

tyleraf,

Here is the article on the approved design back in Nov 2012:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/loca...179378851.html

Notice the rounded amphitheater with the light sculptures surrounding it. Also the different levels differentiating each area of the expanded plaza.

Then here is the PBS article from a few days ago:
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2014/feb/04...n-plaza-park-/

No rounded space. No light sculptures. Flat. Just a boxed, square space.

It is very possible, and I pray, that PBS just pulled a stock photo from when they were deciding on which of the three designs would move forward. Hopefully that's the case, and the city isn't cheapening the original design but hacking critical elements from the approved plan.

It looks like the original, more complex plans stand, at least according to this:
http://sandiegodowntownnews.com/reviving-horton-plaza/

[HurricaneHugo]

Anybody know of any good low cost apartments in downtown San Diego?

Friend is looking into them

He didn't make much last year so he might qualify for low-income housing

[SDfan]

Originally Posted by Erip

It looks like the original, more complex plans stand, at least according to this:
http://sandiegodowntownnews.com/reviving-horton-plaza/

Thank you so much for clarifying!

[SDCAL]

Originally Posted by HurricaneHugo

A week to go, Faulconer or Alvarez?

I'm voting for Mr. Alvarez.

I think it's a bit simplistic to say that Faulconer is pro development and Alvarez in anti development.

Faulconer's core constituents are NIMBYs, people who tend to be older, wealthier, white males who live above the 8 and who don't want to see SD grow anymore. Sure Faulconer is friends with people like Manchester, but Faulconer can't overturn court decisions as mayor to get things like NBC going.

Faulconer seems to me to represent old San Diego - the San Diego where downtown and the rest of the city are kept very separate. Alvarez seems to represent the future - younger, and with a vision that SD can be a dynamic city throughout all the neighborhoods inclusive of downtown with more cohesion.

Anyway, I don't mean to go on a political rant here, but I'm surprised that people on a forum who often seem frustrated with SD's status quo would be for the status quo candidate.

[spoonman]

Originally Posted by SDCAL

I'm voting for Mr. Alvarez.

I think it's a bit simplistic to say that Faulconer is pro development and Alvarez in anti development.

Faulconer's core constituents are NIMBYs, people who tend to be older, wealthier, white males who live above the 8 and who don't want to see SD grow anymore. Sure Faulconer is friends with people like Manchester, but Faulconer can't overturn court decisions as mayor to get things like NBC going.

Faulconer seems to me to represent old San Diego - the San Diego where downtown and the rest of the city are kept very separate. Alvarez seems to represent the future - younger, and with a vision that SD can be a dynamic city throughout all the neighborhoods inclusive of downtown with more cohesion.

Anyway, I don't mean to go on a political rant here, but I'm surprised that people on a forum who often seem frustrated with SD's status quo would be for the status quo candidate.

I agree with many of your arguments. Faulconer's large NIMBY constituency is probably terrifying to many on this board. That said, my opinion is that when the day is done, Alvarez's anti business stance will make him even more hostile to development than Faulconer. Faulconer will likely just look the other way as much as is politically possible when development concerns arise.

[Bertrice]

the embcarcadero is really starting to get going

http://www.cbs8.com/story/24694937/f...n-sign-removed

[Prahaboheme]

Thanks for posting this. I'm excited to see this sign preserved and hopefully restored to another part of the city. Additionally, great to see this block developed into a higher density building. A win-win.

I believe this is still the current rendering:

[SDfan]

Originally Posted by SDCAL

I'm voting for Mr. Alvarez.

I think it's a bit simplistic to say that Faulconer is pro development and Alvarez in anti development.

Faulconer's core constituents are NIMBYs, people who tend to be older, wealthier, white males who live above the 8 and who don't want to see SD grow anymore. Sure Faulconer is friends with people like Manchester, but Faulconer can't overturn court decisions as mayor to get things like NBC going.

Faulconer seems to me to represent old San Diego - the San Diego where downtown and the rest of the city are kept very separate. Alvarez seems to represent the future - younger, and with a vision that SD can be a dynamic city throughout all the neighborhoods inclusive of downtown with more cohesion.

Anyway, I don't mean to go on a political rant here, but I'm surprised that people on a forum who often seem frustrated with SD's status quo would be for the status quo candidate.

I voted for Faulconer because I don't like obstructionists. Alverez was pretty much Filner-light. Filners actions in Kearny Mesa, College Area, and Carmel Valley towards progressive development absolutely terrified me. Alverez demonized developers, businessmen, and "downtown interests" throughout his campaign. I'm a Democrat, but I'm not easily swayed by populist rhetoric, nor was I comfortable with the amount of money funneling in from outside groups -even if it was from unions I support, I don't like it when any entity or special interest tries to manipulate my community.

Needless to say, I woke up relieved this morning. Now we can move on.

[SDfan]

Sad day.

Downsized hotel OKd for downtown
Developers blame tight financing conditions for Ash Street project
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/...wntown-design/

[spoonman]

Originally Posted by SDfan

Sad day.

Kind of a bummer, but from street level, 14 floors and 24 aren't that different. That Ash street corridor is one of the last places with a lot of surface parking, and I will be happy to see it go.

I'd like to think though that the 200 rooms that are not going to be added to this hotel will appear in another development that will occur due to the convention center expansion.

[Erip]

Some good analysis on the plaza station project: http://sandiego.urbdezine.com/2014/0...-a-case-study/