"Upper" East Village coming soon? (San Diego, Oakland: apartment complex, lofts)

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Saw this in the morning and thought I would share.

It seems to make sense from the intentional levels of blight in this area. Its amazing what they have done compared to 15 years ago to downtown. I guess when an area hits bottom, there is only one way to go.

East Village plan downtown's biggest undertaking since Petco Park | SignOnSanDiego.com

[T. Damon]

This is great news for continuing the improvements of this portion of downtown, of course, big ambitious plans like this take a great deal of investment so hopefully the private sector also sees the value and potential because otherwise it will be just pie in the sky dreams.

This definitely is inspired by the national Urban Land Institute competition
Competition Stage Brief » ULI/Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition (link for it and this year's competition) last year which was set in this neighborhood. I loved looking at the proposals from the winning and finalists teams- very inspiring- https://sites.google.com/site/hinesdesign2010/finalists

As a urban architecture/planning junkie and a big booster of the downtown here I am excited that some of these ideas may come to fruition.

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Originally Posted by T. Damon

This is great news for continuing the improvements of this portion of downtown, of course, big ambitious plans like this take a great deal of investment so hopefully the private sector also sees the value and potential because otherwise it will be just pie in the sky dreams.

This definitely is inspired by the national Urban Land Institute competition
Competition Stage Brief » ULI/Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition (link for it and this year's competition) last year which was set in this neighborhood. I loved looking at the proposals from the winning and finalists teams- very inspiring- https://sites.google.com/site/hinesdesign2010/finalists

As a urban architecture/planning junkie and a big booster of the downtown here I am excited that some of these ideas may come to fruition.

T.Damon,

Very cool. I am working with a non profit group right now in Lemon Grove. As a matter of fact one of our plans is to get some smart growth designs for the urban commercial areas. The city currently has a Smart Growth initiative which just broke ground and starting with the LG trolley Depot which includes some mixed use living spaces and park.

Currently we are working with CHiP and they have some amazing contacts in the Oakland and Bay Area with the likes of Robert Ogilvie in regards to some plans that we are working on.

I wasnt sure if this was the type of planning you do, but if so, it would be fantastic to have someone local. PM me and lets chat if you are interested.

[kettlepot]

I'm glad to see someone with big plans for Downtown, however John Eisenhart had some valid points. These artist lofts won't actually house any artists. The process is usually factory space, abandonment, artists move in and renovate, hipsters follow, and finally it is gentrified with wealthy Bohemians who move into the original, but renovated buildings. This development skips the in between steps, and demolishes the original buildings.

Having not been in that area for awhile, I can't say for sure if much in that area needs to be saved, but it sure does seem like the end result will be new and artificial. Still, new and artificial is probably an improvement for much of that area.

[T. Damon]

I agree that organic development always results in much more interesting, quirky and vibrant buildings and areas. Master Plans like this end up with buildings almost relating too well to one another, like Celebration, the Disney town in Florida- pretty, but blah boring. Still, the incorporating of funky spaces like working alleys, live/work lofts and parks along the fault lines shows that at least it has some potential. Some of those old warehouses are cool and there are some nice funky buildings there that might be saved (I hope) just to maintain some character to the area.

Shmoov-I'm really much more of a hobbyist (not quite the right word haha) of urban planning and development, I don't design anything larger than houses.

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Originally Posted by T. Damon

I agree that organic development always results in much more interesting, quirky and vibrant buildings and areas. Master Plans like this end up with buildings almost relating too well to one another, like Celebration, the Disney town in Florida- pretty, but blah boring. Still, the incorporating of funky spaces like working alleys, live/work lofts and parks along the fault lines shows that at least it has some potential. Some of those old warehouses are cool and there are some nice funky buildings there that might be saved (I hope) just to maintain some character to the area.

Shmoov-I'm really much more of a hobbyist (not quite the right word haha) of urban planning and development, I don't design anything larger than houses.

T Damon,

No sweat! I am not a planning guy by trade but really like ideas and concepts from industry folks way smarter than I am. The input for design are invaluable and all thoughts are welcome.

Totally agree about Celebration. I have been to Celebration and its "perfect" lol. I worked in Orlando for a year for the mouse. Being in upper management or at least being seen as a team player of sorts, it was status quo to live in Celebration. Insert cultish-like jokes here.
It was the equivalent of a telecom worker here in SD living in 4S or Carmel Valley for that matter. Its not a bad thing at all, just an observation made outside of the practical reasons for living close to work. Its INFECTIOUS! lol

As far as the East Village, there are some classic Victorians down there sandwiched between dilapidated buildings and new construction. Reminds of the movie "Up".
Yes, we will have "artist lofts" according to the plans. However they are not the classical definition by any means lol
I still think the Barrio Logan area is developing into more of that type of starving artists area from my observations.
Outisde of the Victorian homes nestled in between dilapidated buildings, that area needs some work. It was the last bastion of "old" downtown when it was full of warehouses etc.

[thepinksquid]

Originally Posted by shmoov_groovzsd

Totally agree about Celebration. I have been to Celebration and its "perfect" lol. I worked in Orlando for a year for the mouse. Being in upper management or at least being seen as a team player of sorts, it was status quo to live in Celebration.

Small world... haha. I worked in Celebration (in the office complex right off 192) for several years. Weird, weird place.

[tickyul]

Haha, this will be great......more and more green space for the Homeless to set up their tents on......and of course do their bodily functions.

[MovingAloha]

Originally Posted by tickyul

Haha, this will be great......more and more green space for the Homeless to set up their tents on......and of course do their bodily functions.

^!

[Sassberto]

Expect a typical monolithic redevelopment project - it's almost all privately owned by the Jeromes.

The big question is the retail. San Diego is just overloaded with underperforming retail at this point, and in general the trend toward ground floor retail concept in new construction seems to have been only marginally effective.

If downtown San Diego is going to be anything more than an overgrown apartment complex it needs way more loft / creative / digital commercial space to encourage some sort of momentum for people to live and work there. If these developers had a real vision to create a sub-neighborhod of downtown that's a bit more eclectic and less monolithic than the current east village areas around the ballpark, I think they could be successful in actually attracting a permanent population.