CCDC Gives Go-Ahead for New High-Rise

Revised plans for construction of a $65-million, 19-story office building in downtown San Diego were approved Friday by the Centre City Development Corp.

The privately financed project is being developed by Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, a national firm based in Boston. The downtown project is the company’s first in San Diego.

CCDC, the city’s redevelopment arm, had originally approved the project, set for a block bounded by B, C, India and Columbia streets, several weeks ago. But city officials, primarily the Planning Department and Planning Commission, said they wanted the building redesigned to include more retail space on the ground floor, and they returned the plans to CCDC.

Gary Toeller, vice president for Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, told the CCDC Board of Directors Friday that the revised plans place more retail space at street level. But because the retail market in the area is weak right now, Toeller said it’s very likely the space will remain vacant for some time.

Gerald Trimble, executive vice president of CCDC, said that although the retail market is weak, it is important to set aside space now. The Cabot, Cabot & Forbes project, which goes to the Planning Commission on Jan. 16 for approval, is similar to old-style downtown buildings, such as the San Diego Trust & Savings Bank and the original Bank of America structures. The high-rise’s facade will be made of stone and glass. The front of the building, which faces C Street, will have a large, landscaped plaza.

Toeller said construction on the project is expected to begin next year and end in 1988.