Down With Harbor Square
The San Diego Planning Commission could not have been much clearer Jan. 31 in rejecting the proposed development of the parking lots on two sides of the County Administration Center.
By their comments, as well as their unanimous vote, the planning commissioners told the Board of Supervisors in unmistakable terms that they do not want an office building and a hotel dwarfing one of the most attractive government buildings in California.
Commissioners also expressed skepticism about the Harbor Square project’s designation as a world trade center. One commissioner suggested it was more like a “neighborhood trade center.”
The planning commission’s rebuff of the county was entirely justified, in our view.
The proposal to build hotel and office space on this prime waterfront site has never made much sense.
If the supervisors remain intent on trying to generate some income from the admittedly underused site, they should rethink the project completely and come up with a new plan that offers development with a more public emphasis.
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