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This
question was posed in the fall issue of C-3 Views.
Since that time, in spite of our requests to take a new look
at what should occur at the Broadway Complex site on our waterfront,
the Navy, Centre City Development Corporation and the City
of San Diego continue to march forward to implement an outdated
1992 plan which further walls off our waterfront for the benefit
of the few rather than the good of the region.
In response to this, Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 (C-3)
recognized that it was time to utilize their coordinating
function - as we did when the Navy imposed their hospital
into our Balboa Park. Subsequently we have formed the Broadway
Complex Coalition composed of organizations and individuals
who share our goals. At this time the Broadway Complex Coalition
includes: C-3; The Sierra Club, San Diego Chapter; Friends
of San Diego; Partners for Livable Places/San Diego; Save
Everyone's Access; The San Diego Council of Design Professionals;
and others.
The charter for the Navy Broadway Complex Coalition states:
“The Navy Broadway Complex was a gift to the Navy by
the citizens of San Diego for military purposes. In
1987, the US Congress authorized the Navy to develop the 14.7
acre site. In 1992 the City, through its redevelopment agency,
and the Navy authored an agreement concerning the redevelopment
of the site. At the Navy's request, the City extended the
Development agreement twice. The agreement currently is set
to expire on January 1, 2007; and, as a result, the 2005 BRAC
decision included that date as a deadline for a ground lease
with a developer. The Navy released an RFP and it has selected
Manchester Financial Group's proposal for the site. The Navy
refused to release information leading up to this decision.
Subsequently, an after-the-fact list of public meetings has
been advertised, which amounts to accepting the 1992 density
and discussing how it would be located on the site. We have
no assurance that any of the input will actually be incorporated
as changes to the plans that have already been submitted.”
The
Coalition Charter continues:
- As the downtown development environment that
created the 1992 plans and the Development Agreement has dramatically
changed in the past fourteen years;
- As the Broadway Complex is a unique site that
needs to be reconsidered within the current context of the
Embaracdero Plans and the Downtown Community Plan Update;
- As the Broadway Complex site is such that its
future vision needs full vetting and public input;
- As security is a concern, the Navy should be
exploring alternative sites for their offices - including
the 32nd Street Naval Station;
- As historic uses of the site have resulted in
much toxic waste, open space uses with some limited structures
in appropriate areas would be most economically viable;
- As none of the uses proposed in the Navy agreement
need a waterfront location;
- As the Navy process has been one of secrecy
and non-disclosure; and
- As the current schedule for development of the
site is being fast tracked to avoid a third extension of the
agreement or Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) of the site;
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Based
on these considerations, the Navy Broadway Complex Coalition
has formed to say: STOP
- EVALUATE - ENGAGE - CREATE.
We are asking the Navy, the City of San Diego, Centre City
Development Corporation, the Port of San Diego, and our
Congressional delegation to work with the public to facilitate
a new and better vision for the future of this site that
will be a legacy for all, including:
- The reevaluation of the intent of the 1992
plan is necessary in light of current conditions and future
plans for Centre City.
- The planning process must be opened to engage
wide pubic input; after-the-fact managed input restricted
to issues of the 1992 plan is not acceptable.
- We must visualize what can and should be created
and developed on this premier site to meet the needs of
a growing downtown, the region, residents, and visitors.
- We must celebrate the waterfront as San Diego's
unique inspirational resource, and;
- We must create a lasting gift to the people
of San Diego that recognizes the importance of the site,
acknowledges and preserves views and access to San Diego
Bay, instills civic pride, and provides a visionary civic
space for citizens and visitors alike.
A quarter-million people regularly use downtown; including
residents, workers, shoppers, sports fans, and tourists.
Downtown San Diego lacks the amenities to be a great downtown
center, especially with respect to parks and open space.
The 1992 plan proposes something ordinary for this special
site. There is not a need for more ordinary structures like
hotels, office buildings and shops. The Broadway Complex
should be primarily park and open space with little “institutionalization”
of space. This is the last opportunity for a waterfront
park/public commons; a place to gather, celebrate and share,
a place which has been planned for decades by visionary
planners but has never materialized.
Open space is not just an amenity; it is a necessity for
a vibrant, healthy and productive city. It generates vitality,
economic opportunity and civic pride for the residents of
today and for future generations. The Broadway Complex is
public land; it and we deserve a world-class civic space
- not a development the marches to and walls off the bay.
It will yield value that cannot be calculated at present.
Please let your elected officials at all levels know what
you want for this site. We will be organizing public workshops
to plan the ideal use of the area and will invite you to
attend and contribute to the vision for this most critical
site on our waterfront. Will it be a wall of ordinary buildings
which could be located elsewhere, or will it be a great
public space with civic, cultural and open space needed
for our future? You can be part of the decision: Let
your elected officials know what you want for the Broadway
Complex. It is not too late!
This effort cannot be successful without your support in
any way you can get involved. Write letters to your local,
state and federal representatives, contact our office to
see how you can volunteer and send contributions for the
Navy Broadway Complex Coalition to 5252 Balboa Ave #207,
San Diego 92117. For more information call (619) 232-7196.
With enough public will we can make our vision for this
bayfront site a reality!
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