San Diego: How Not to Treat a Waterfront

[marmar]

San Diego: How Not to Treat a Waterfront
Mark Hinshaw | Crosscut | Feb 13th, 2012



[font size="1"]Artist’s rendering of proposed San Diego Chargers stadium on the waterfront. Credit: Crosscut[/font]


Seattle’s planning process for a new waterfront park has been winding through twists and turns, but it has been for the most part free of the rancor and controversy that typically surround large redevelopment initiatives. Indeed, at times, the conceptual work on the new park has almost been a love fest. Landscape architect James Corner’s mellifluous descriptions of expansive grassy roofs, angular folds, and fun-filled spaces replete with street vendors, performance art, heated pools and teeming crowds have been met by appreciative audiences—so far.

But 1,250 miles to the south, at the other end of the left coast, another city is embroiled in a throwdown between its mayor and a powerful local developer. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders has long advocated an expansion of the city’s elongated convention center, located between the downtown and the bay. Despite its dramatic form, the convention center has created a lengthy wall with a row of truck docks facing the water. Mayor Sanders wants to rearrange the functions of the building and open it to water views and a series of connected public spaces.

Enter the ebullient and prickly hotel developer Doug Manchester, who insists on people calling him “Papa Doug,” with his own grand vision. Last year Manchester purchased the venerable, 144-year-old San Diego Union-Tribune. He immediately began using its front pages to trumpet a proposal to locate a new San Diego Chargers football stadium, along with an additional smaller arena, on the Tenth Ave. Marine Terminal that is immediately to the south of the convention center. Now a full civic debate is under way.

This idea has run afoul of several groups, not the least of which is the mayor. Mayor Sanders has been working for some time on another site just east of downtown for the stadium, intended to replace a facility that is literally crumbling. The U-T proposal would displace the marine terminal that receives regular cargo ships called the “banana boats.” These colorful vessels, painted yellow, are emblazoned with the Dole Fruit Company’s big, four letter name and contribute to what little remains of the working waterfront. Each month, Dole brings in almost 200 million bananas and off-loads them into the adjacent warehouses. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://americancity.org/buzz/entry/3342/

[BlueToTheBone]

1. OMG! What a horrible idea!

lovely pic and all, but really. They act like no one lives there and that it won't impact either the sea, natural life or people in any way.

[KamaAina]

2. Because football fans are concentrating SO hard on the view outside the stadium

[Gormy Cuss]

3. You know, that gave me an idea.

Why not put the stadium downtown on the approach path to the airport? No more of those wimpy blimps flying overhead...