CCDC News Digest

Centre City Development Corporation’s (CCDC)
Annual Board Meeting and Regular Board Meeting
January 25, 2012

The following summarizes Wednesday’s Annual Board meeting:

CCDC Board elects Officers
With a unanimous vote, the CCDC Board of Directors elected the following slate of officers: Chair, Kim John Kilkenny; Vice Chair, Bill Shaw; Treasurer, Donna Jones; Secretary, Steven Relyea. Details on the Annual Election of Officers and information on Appointments to Corporation Committees or Appointments of Corporation Committee Chairs can be found by clicking on item descriptions.

The following summarizes Wednesday’s Regular Board meeting:

Board approves design of Fat City Lofts project; Recommends Denial of Land-Use Permits

The Board voted 6-0 with two abstentions (Chair Kilkenny and Secretary Relyea) to grant design review approval, based on architecture and urban design, for the Fat City Lofts project, a proposed mixed-use project development on the block bounded by Pacific Highway, California and Hawthorne streets, and a vacated portion of Ivy Street. The proposed project would include 232 apartments, 4,485 square feet of ground floor retail space and 294 parking spaces.

The project also requires approval of a Coastal Development Permit and Centre City Development Permit by CCDC Board Chairman Kim Kilkenny. Due to the residential project’s location in close proximity to the Solar Turbine’s industrial complex, CCDC staff recommended denial of the permits based on the project’s inconsistency with policies of 1992 Centre City Community Plan and the City of San Diego’s General Plan Economic Prosperity Element that seek to avoid land use incompatibility and protect base sector industrial uses.

In a subsequent vote, a motion to recommend approval of the Centre City Development Permit and Coastal Development Permit failed by a 2-4 vote (Directors Black and Oncina in favor;  Vice Chair Shaw, Treasurer Jones and Directors Morgan and Gattas opposed) and with two abstentions (Chair Kilkenny and Secretary Relyea). The Board did not make an official recommendation on this matter, as no further motions were made or votes taken. The decision on the land use permits will be made by acting president Kilkenny, whose decision is appealable to the San Diego Planning Commission. Click here to read staff report for Item #10.

Board Grants Design Review Approval for Residential Mixed-Use Project at 11th & Broadway

The Board granted Design Review approval of two-phased residential mixed-use project by Pinnacle International, Inc. on a 40,000 square-foot block bounded by Broadway, E Street, Eleventh Avenue and Park Boulevard in the East Village. The Project consists of two towers (31 and 32 stories) comprised of 623 residential units (40 affordable units), indoor and outdoor amenity space, approximately 9,700 square feet of street-level retail space, and 644 parking spaces.

The Project also requires approval of a Site Development Permit for the proposed demolition of the Hamilton Apartments (HRB Site No.727). The Board recommended that the Planning Commission approve SDP, subject to conditions. Public hearings for consideration of the SDP will take place before the Historical Resources Board and Planning Commission in February/March, 2012. Click here to read staff report for Item #8.

Board Hears Informational Item on Connections Housing
The Board heard an informational item on the construction status of Connections Housing, the permanent homeless housing and services center to be located at the former World Trade Center building at 1250 Sixth Avenue in downtown San Diego. Virtually every resource an individual needs to break the cycle of homelessness will be available on-site, including 73 permanent supportive housing units (2 manager units), 16 special needs single room occupancy units, 134 interim housing beds, a one-stop social service center and a community health clinic. Boardmembers and meeting attendees were invited to attend the Connections Housing Construction Kickoff on Thursday, January 26 at 10:00 a.m..

To read staff reports for all items, please visit www.ccdc.com and click on the January 25, 2012 Board Meeting on the calendar in the Meetings and Events section.

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CCDC is the public, nonprofit corporation created by the City of San Diego in 1975 to staff, plan and implement downtown's redevelopment on behalf of the City's Redevelopment Agency. CCDC offices are located in the Wells Fargo Plaza Building, 401 B Street, Suite 400, in downtown San Diego.

 

NEWS RELEASE
December 22, 2011

Downtown Quiet Zone Construction Activity Continues
Completion now anticipated in late spring 2012

SAN DIEGO — Construction activity continues on one of the largest urban “Quiet Zones” in the United States. The safety enhancements, including new gates, medians, traffic signals and warning lights, are currently being installed and tested at all downtown San Diego grade crossings from Fifth Avenue to Laurel Street. Future Quiet Zone expansion will include the intersection at Park Boulevard and Harbor Drive. Bringing the Quiet Zone on-line includes transitioning or “cutting over” from the old system to the new signaling system, conducting numerous tests with moving trains to ensure accurate timing, and testing all new safety equipment.  Due to these complexities, the project’s completion is now targeted for late spring versus early March.

“We absolutely recognize the importance of this project to downtown residents, as well as the economic impact on our region when our hotels and businesses are adversely affected,” said Kim Kilkenny, Centre City Development Corporation Chairman. “We remain committed to delivering the project safely and within the approved budget and we will continue to keep the public apprised of the progress.”

Equipment delivery delays and the complexity of planning, scheduling and performing the “cut-overs” contributed to the revised schedule. Two of seven required tests have been completed with the next scheduled for early January and subsequent dates now being established. The project remains within the Redevelopment Agency approved budget of $20.9 million. Under the current schedule, safety enhancements are expected to be certified by late spring 2012. Once the improvements are certified, the railway between Laurel Street and Fifth Avenue will qualify as a “Quiet Zone” as authorized by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

As required by the FRA, train horns must be sounded when approaching each at-grade crossing. The volume and duration of the horns has become the primary complaint for residents, businesses and hotels located along the downtown waterfront. This designation will exempt that section of the rail corridor from federal regulations requiring that train horns be sounded for 15-20 seconds before entering all public grade crossings, except in emergency situations as determined by the train engineer. The Quiet Zone will not eliminate the sound of warning bells or lights associated with the San Diego Trolley.

Background

The San Diego Quiet Zone project includes 13 public right-of-way railroad crossings, from Park Boulevard at Harbor Drive north to Fifth and First avenues, Front Street, Market Street, Kettner Boulevard and G streets, Broadway, Ash, Beech, Cedar, Grape, Hawthorn, and Laurel streets are included in the San Diego Quiet Zone.  Park Boulevard will be constructed as a separate project.

As one of the nation’s longest and most complex Quiet Zones to be planned within a shared rail corridor, many organizations are involved in the design, construction, functionality and long-term maintenance including: BNSF Railway, Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), AMTRAK, San Diego Imperial Valley Railway, North County Transit District, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the FRA.

For more information about the Quiet Zone, visit www.CCDC.com, or San Diego Quiet Zone, http://www.quietzonesd.info/. For specific information about traffic impacts on this or other downtown construction projects or special events, visit Paradise in Progress www.paradiseinprogress.org.

 

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CCDC is a public, nonprofit corporation established in 1975 by the City of San Diego to plan and facilitate the redevelopment of the 1,500-acre downtown area.

 

NEWS RELEASE
December 6, 2011

Jeff Gattas Appointed to CCDC Board of Directors
Replaces Robert A. McNeely Who Has Reached Term Limits

 

SAN DIEGO — Today the San Diego City Council unanimously confirmed Mayor Jerry Sanders’ appointment of Jeff Gattas to the Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) Board of Directors. Board members are each confirmed for a three-year term and are eligible for reappointment to a second three-year term.

Gattas brings extensive management, advocacy and marketing experience to his new role. His current position as executive director of university communications and public affairs for UC San Diego includes media relations, communications, state and local government relations and business management.

Prior to his employment with the university, Gattas served as director of City Council Affairs acting as liaison between the City Council and Mayor’s office. He also served as chief of staff to San Diego City Councilmember and Acting Mayor Toni Atkins.

Gattas was educated at San Diego State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance and a Master of Science in Mass Communication, Public Relations & Telecommunications/Film. He also completed Harvard University’s Senior Executive Program in State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Gattas replaces Robert A. McNeely, former vice chair, who finished his board service in May 2011.

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CCDC is a public, nonprofit corporation established in 1975 by the City of San Diego to plan and facilitate the redevelopment of the 1,500-acre downtown area.

 

CCDC News Digest

Centre City Redevelopment Corporation
Summary of the Regular Meeting of the Board
Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Board Approves Permit Extension for 13^th and C Street Residential Project
The Board approved a three-year extension of a Centre City Development Permit/Variance for the 13^th and C mixed-use residential project, originally granted in June 2007. The scope and design of the project will remain the same and includes 108 residential apartments with approximately 9,000 square feet of commercial space in two six-story buildings with 120 below-grade parking spaces. To read the staff report for item #8, click here.

Board Recommends Denial of One-Story Jack in the Box Reconstruction in the East Village Neighborhood

The Board recommended that the City of San Diego Planning Commission deny a request by Jack in the Box, Inc. to allow the reconstruction of a new 21-foot, one-story restaurant with a drive-thru at 1110 C Street in the East Village Neighborhood. The proposed reconstruction is inconsistent with goals and polices of the Downtown Community Plan established to meet residential and employment targets (90,000 residents and 165,000 workers by 2030). The proposed reconstruction also requires approval of deviations from many of the development standards of the Centre City Planned District Ordinance. The proposed project will go before the City of San Diego Planning Commission for final consideration in December. To read the staff report for item #10, click here.

To read staff reports for all items, please visit www.ccdc.com and click on the November 16, 2011 Board Meeting on the calendar in the Meetings and Events section.


CCDC is the public, nonprofit corporation created by the City of San Diego in 1975 to staff, plan and implement downtown's redevelopment on behalf of the City's Redevelopment Agency. CCDC offices are located in the Wells Fargo Plaza Building, 401 B Street, Suite 400, in downtown San Diego

NEWS RELEASE
November 16, 2011

CCDC Receives Statewide Award Recognizing Leadership Efforts
to End Homelessness

 

 

SAN DIEGO – Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) received a statewide Public Sector Champion Award for its ongoing leadership in efforts to end homelessness in downtown San Diego from the California division of Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH). At a November 10, 2011 awards ceremony in Los Angeles, CCDC was praised for its bold policy initiatives, a strong track record in creating supportive housing and effective collaboration with community partners.

“We are particularly honored because this award incorporates our collective efforts to address homelessness in downtown San Diego,” said CCDC Board Chair Kim John Kilkenny. “Experience shows that housing alone is not enough. Supportive services are a critical component to stabilize lives.”

Some of the successful initiatives that CCDC has led or supported include:

• Since 1975, CCDC, on behalf of the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Diego, has provided gap funding or otherwise facilitated the construction of more than 3,300 affordable housing units downtown, including almost 300 units of permanent supportive housing. Additionally, CCDC has helped fund nearly 1,000 homes in nearby neighborhoods. Looking ahead, more than 700 affordable housing units are in the development pipeline or currently under construction, including more than 260 supportive housing units.

 

• CCDC formalized a policy that all affordable housing projects must designate at least 15 percent of the total number of units to supportive housing. This ensures that formerly homeless tenants receive the help they need for physical, emotional or substance abuse issues. This policy exceeds State standards.

 

• CCDC created a Five-Year Work Plan Toward Goal of Ending Homelessness in Downtown San Diego that was approved by the San Diego City Council and includes input and commitments from an unprecedented partnership of elected officials and representatives from local, regional, state and federal governments, public and private sector agencies, service providers, and non-profit organizations.

 

• The organization supported a comprehensive assessment of the homeless population through a 2010 Registry Week survey that quantified the number of individuals who sleep on the streets each night (more than 1,000) and identified those who were particularly vulnerable due to physical, emotional or substance abuse issues. One year later, more than 100 of the most vulnerable are housed and receiving the help they need.

“We will continue to allocate redevelopment resources for supportive housing and remain steadfast in our commitment to help the most vulnerable in downtown San Diego,” said Kilkenny.

 

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CCDC is a public, nonprofit corporation established in 1975 by the City of San Diego to plan and facilitate the redevelopment of the 1,500-acre downtown area.

NEWS RELEASE
November 3, 2011

 

TWENTY-FIVE NEW STREETLIGHTS SPAN SEVEN BRIDGES
IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO
Energy efficient lights illuminate downtown and surrounding neighborhoods

San Diego – In an effort to improve public safety and promote environmental efficiency, Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) working on behalf of the City of San Diego’s Redevelopment Agency, has installed twenty-five new, energy efficient induction streetlights on seven bridges that cross the I-5 freeway.

Streetlights on the Market Street, Island Avenue and J Street bridges allow pedestrians to travel to and from Sherman Heights, east of downtown. To the north, the First, Second, Third, and Sixth Avenue bridges connect to Bankers Hill and regional asset Balboa Park. “Quality of life can be measured in ways large and small,” said San Diego City Council President Pro Tem Kevin Faulconer. “These lights will help enhance public safety for San Diegans while saving energy and money.”

The $246,000 project was completed under budget and two months early. “The energy efficient lights are relatively inexpensive to install and maintain,” said CCDC Board Chair Kim John Kilkenny. “Residents will benefit from this improvement for years to come.”

 

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CCDC is a public, nonprofit corporation established in 1975 by the City of San Diego to plan and facilitate the redevelopment of the 1,500-acre downtown area.