NEWS RELEASE

 
Date: September 20, 2007

Contact: Derek Danziger
619-533-7103 or
Tiffany Metti
619-533-7136
www.ccdc.com
CCDC News Digest
Regular Meeting of the
Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC)
Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Special Notes: CCDC’s regular meetings are held at City Hall in the City Council Chambers, 12th Floor, City Administration Building, 202 C St. The next meeting will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 17.

The following summarizes Wednesday’s meeting:

ACTION ITEMS

BOARD RECOMMENDS AGREEMENT FOR PHASE 1 NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN GUIDELINES (Center City)
The Board recommended the expenditure not to exceed $486,380 for the SMWM firm to prepare design guidelines for downtown. The guidelines, in both phases, will address such topics as land use and design; places and destinations; circulation and streets; and goals and policies for each neighborhood. Issues will include enhancing architectural character, rehabilitating existing buildings, activating open spaces, increasing pedestrian orientation and many more. The guidelines will build on the work that has been done to establish new goals, update policies and the vision for downtown through the Downtown Community Plan, consistent with elements for urban design in the Centre City Planned District Ordinance. (Vote: 5–0 with Director LeSar excused) To read the full staff report for item 5, click here.

BOARD APPROVES PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN (Columbia)
The Board approved the Public Art Master Plan to guide the incorporation of public art into the Santa Fe Depot area and the development around it, including the North Embarcadero. The purpose of the Master Plan is to ensure close coordination and collaboration when integrating public art into the design, architecture and landscape within and near the seven parcels. The Plan outlines a vision for the area to become a cultural and artistic destination unique to downtown San Diego and the waterfront, reflecting its history and diversity, as well as its cosmopolitan and civic position. (Vote: 5–0 with Director LeSar excused) To read the full staff report for item 6, click here.

BOARD RECOMMENDS CORTEZ HILL STREETSCAPE REHABILITATION (Cortez)
The Board recommended that the Redevelopment Agency and the City Council take actions, including advertising, for bids and awarding a contract to construct the Cortez Hill Streetscape Rehabilitation Project. Integral elements include revitalizing and maintaining the ambiance and convenience of the unique residential neighborhood that has evolved in Cortez Hill; replacing deteriorating sidewalks, many from the 1920s; and removing and planting trees. After assessing 16 blocks, six blocks at the northeast corner of Cortez Hill were selected due to the severity of sidewalks’ deterioration. The focus is on the blocks that were unlikely to be redeveloped due to existing historic apartment buildings. The funding for the project will not exceed $785,000 from the FY08 budget under “Cortez Sidewalk Gap Improvement.” A spring 2008 completion is expected for the project. (Vote: 5–0 with Director LeSar excused) To read the full staff report for item 8, click here.

BOARD RECOMMENDS FUNDING FOR FUTURE CARE OF THE BALBOA THEATRE (Horton Plaza)
The Board recommended Agency approval for a total $5,968,444 Reserve Fund required for a 20-year Capital Improvement Plan for the Balboa Theatre. An initial minimum contribution of $259,385 in fiscal year 2009 is required for capital improvements and replacement of furniture, fixtures and equipment. Completion of the theatre’s restoration is nearing and its operation will be managed by San Diego Theatres Inc. It is important that it be maintained for generations to come. (Vote: 5–0 with Director LeSar excused) To read the full staff report for item 9, click here.

BOARD APPROVES GROUND LEASE, FUNDING AND DESIGN REVIEW FOR AFFORDABLE RENTAL DEVELOPMENT (Core)
The Board approved the proposed ground lease, the Owner Participation Agreement including Agency funding, and granted design approval for Ten Fifty B, an Affirmed Housing Group 23-story, 229-unit affordable rental housing development on the north side of B Street between Tenth and Eleventh avenues. 226 units would be restricted for 60 years to provide affordable rents to low- and very-low income persons. The Redevelopment Agency of the City will provide $33,975,000 in funding from the FY08 Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund. (Vote: 5–0 with Director LeSar excused) To read the full staff report for item 13, click here.

BOARD RECOMMENDS APPROVAL FOR 15TH AND COMMERCIAL PROJECT TO IMPROVE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACILITY (East Village)
The Board recommended that the City Council approve the conditional use permit, design review and variance for S.V.D.P. Management Inc. to build a 12-story, 142-foot-tall building on the south end of the block bounded by Imperial Avenue and 15th, 16th and Commercial streets. The project will improve the Bishop Maher Center, the current transitional housing facility on the site, by adding a larger more functional facility and adding 64 new permanent residential units, a manager’s unit and three guest rooms for visiting staff. The new building will also accommodate the child daycare/school facility currently located on the adjacent Joan Kroc Center (JKC) site. (Vote: 5–0 with Director LeSar excused) To read the full staff report for item 14, click here.

BOARD PROVIDES DIRECTION FOR THE Q MIXED-USE PROJECT (Little Italy)
The Board received a presentation and provided staff and developer direction for CLB Partners, LTD, The Q, mixed-use project on the north side of West Fir Street between India Street and Kettner Boulevard. The Q mixed-use project is a four-and six-story (77-foot-high) mixed-use development with one level of below-grade parking located on a 9,980 square-foot lot. The project includes one two-story residential unit (7,446 square feet) over 26,700 square feet of office space, and 11,300 square feet of retail space. The project site currently contains a historic structure which is being proposed for relocation. The Board generally liked the design and Chair Maas concurred with comments about the storefront along Kettner. (The Board received a presentation and gave preliminary design comments for this item)To read the full staff report for item 15, click here.

BOARD PROVIDES DIRECTION FOR VILLAGE HOTEL PROJECT (East Village)
The Board received a presentation and provided staff and developer direction for the Village Hotel project. The Village Hotel project of Bell Hotel Ltd., is a proposed five-story, 50-foot tall building located at the northwest corner of 15th and K streets. The project will replace an existing single-room occupancy hotel (Bell Hotel) that was fire damaged in 2006. It will be an extended-stay hotel with a maximum 30-day stay. (The Board received a presentation and gave preliminary design comments.) To read the full staff report for item 16, click here.

BOARD PROVIDES DIRECTION FOR 719 ASH PROJECT (Cortez)
The Board received a presentation and provided staff and developer direction for the BF Hospitality, LP, 719 Ash project.  The project is a 7- to 18-story (78 to 218 feet tall) mixed-use building containing two hotels with a total of 340 rooms, ground-floor retail, and two residential penthouse units, proposed for the south side of Ash Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues. The project would replace a two- to four-story hotel currently located on this site. (The Board received a presentation and gave preliminary design comments.) To read the full staff report for item 17, click here.

To read the entire President’s Report from the September 19 Board Meeting please click here or visit www.ccdc.com in the Meetings and Events section, September 19 Board Meeting.

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