Downtown Neighborhoods

Central government, financial and corporate institutions are concentrated in the Civic/Core District, which extends from A/Ash streets to Broadway and Union Street to Eighth Avenue. Restoration and revitalization of many of the historic buildings are adding new residential, retail and commercial opportunities in the heart of downtown. City Hall is here and the historic Copley Symphony Hall and San Diego Civic Theatre integrate arts and culture in this neighborhood. The trolley runs along C Street, a major east–west artery. Plans to improve this important travel corridor are underway. In the near term, this include safety and landscape improvements; in the future, projected plans address the entire public realm of the corridor and its function as a link to essential City services.

Beginning at its namesake pier at the edge of the Columbia neighborhood, Broadway is downtown's ceremonial main street, distinguished by medians featuring lush foliage and lighted banners. This transportation hub is home to the historic Santa Fe Depot, the second busiest Amtrak rail corridor in the country. The surrounding neighborhood is largely composed of commercial development, with residential opportunities dotted throughout. The waterfront, a major segment of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan (NEVP), will include, when complete, landscaping, activity sites and a pedestrian esplanade to enhance public access and accentuate bay views.

At the edge of the San Diego Bay lies one of the region’s greatest economic assets, the San Diego Convention Center. Surrounded by hotels and proximate to the Gaslamp, East Village, and Marina neighborhoods, the Convention Center has hosted nearly 16 million guests, generated more than $360 million in tax revenues, and hosted more than 4,500 events since it opened in 1989. The facility employs more than 560 full-time and part-time employees and supports nearly 12,500 jobs across the county. A proposed expansion would allow the Convention Center to attract more and larger conventions to San Diego, creating thousands of jobs and growing the economy. The Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge allows safe access from the waterfront to East Village while enhancing the area's aesthetic appeal and increasing public open space. One of the world's longest self-anchored pedestrian suspension bridges, it appears to sail into San Diego's skyline and unite downtown's urban core. It also completes the Park to Bay link, connecting Balboa Park to San Diego Bay along Park Boulevard.

One of San Diego’s oldest residential neighborhoods was named after the famous El Cortez Hotel, which has been restored and converted into condominiums. Views include Balboa Park, San Diego Bay, the Pacific Ocean and the urban scene below. Victorian-style homes share the area with newer condominiums and apartments. The hill’s topography separates it from downtown’s hustle, yet its proximity makes it desirable for those who want to live on the cusp of an active urban center. The character of this neighborhood is symbolized by the lavender blooms of the jacaranda trees that line its main streets and lead to its newest ­linear park, “Tweet Street.”

At 325 acres, this is downtown’s largest and one of its fastest growing, most diverse neighborhoods, offering a trendy lifestyle close to San Diego Bay. Artist’s lofts, studios, galleries and shops can be found in this area; former warehouses that have been transformed into charming residential units with mixed uses add an urban appeal. As it transforms over the next 20 years, the East Village will maintain an eclectic character and support a wide range of interests, including: entertainment at PETCO Park; events at the new Central Library (currently under construction); academic endeavors at San Diego City College, the New School of Architecture, San Diego Fashion Institute, two high schools, and Thomas Jefferson School of Law; and shopping at a mix of unique retail establishments. To facilitate social interaction and quality of life, construction on a new 57,000 square foot public park located at 14th Street and Island Avenue is targeted to begin by the end of 2011. The park will feature open lawn space, a children's playground, and a cafe with public rest rooms directly adjacent to the park. Additional parks are planned throughout East Village in the future.

Named for the historic Horton Plaza Park, downtown’s redevelopment began with the opening of the Horton Plaza shopping and entertainment center in 1985. The 15-block area is the center of downtown’s commercial activity and includes high-rise office buildings, stores, hotels, theaters and restaurants. San Diego’s Walk of Fame features statues of Alonzo Horton, former Mayor and Governor Pete Wilson, and Horton Plaza developer Ernest Hahn. The historic Balboa Theatre, one of the oldest performing arts venues in San Diego, was completely restored by CCDC, on behalf of the Redevelopment Agency, and reopened as a live performance and conference venue in 2008. Revitalization has spilled into the Gaslamp Quarter where Alonzo Horton first encouraged downtown’s redevelopment in the 1870s by building a wharf at the foot of Fifth Avenue to facilitate trade with the area’s retail stores. The16.5-block neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the 94 structures identified as historically or architecturally significant now house more than 100 restaurants and nightclubs, movie theaters, stores, offices, galleries and lofts. Annual events including Mardi Gras, Taste of Gaslamp and ShamROCK draw thousands of visitors to experience the vibrant and unique atmosphere.

The sloping landscape at the northern edge of San Diego Bay was once home to a highly successful tuna fishing industry and many of the Italian families who derived their living from the coastal waters. The unique street­scape now comprises a lively urban village with single-family homes, condominiums, and apartments. A Little Italy sign hangs prominently over India Street, the main commercial corridor, which is alive with restaurants, small cafés, boutiques, galleries, specialty shops and abundant public art. Amici Park, lined with cypress trees and featuring a bocce ball court, adjoins the rebuilt Washington Elementary School, providing a playground for students and open space for the community. The neighborhood also hosts a variety of annual arts and holiday festivals, including ArtWalk and Festa.

Formerly composed of warehouses and vacant lots, this neighborhood now offers a variety of home types, styles, sizes and prices. The area stretches between the waterfront, Horton Plaza and downtown’s office towers; its residents enjoy a number of open space and recreation areas including Pantoja Park, Children’s Museum Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade and Seaport Village. Part of downtown’s rich cultural history can be found here, including the San Diego Chinese Mission Historical Museum within the Asian/Pacific Thematic Historic District, recognizing the contributions of Asian cultures to the city’s development. It is also home to the San Diego Children’s Museum.