A Changing Downtown : 4 Projects May Add 500 Apartments Near Marina

A key feature in the strategy behind the revitalization of downtown San Diego calls for housing in the waterfront marina area. The idea is that if enough people live downtown, in housing ranging from multimillion-dollar condominiums to government-subsidized residential hotels, they will--by sheer numbers and consumer demands--push out industry in the area and create an urban neighborhood.

Given Southern California’s penchant for suburbs, that is no small task and its success is anything but assured.

But on Wednesday, the Centre City Development Corp., the redevelopment agency that has set itself the challenge of building 4,000 residential units in the 20-plus blocks that make up the marina area, took another step toward its goal by announcing plans for four projects that could add up to 500 apartments.

The proposals, all of which will be discussed at the CCDC meeting Friday, call for apartments on the 4th Avenue side of the Horton Plaza garage, a 200-room residential hotel for people with low and moderate incomes, a high-rise and converting warehouse space into loft-style apartments.

The proposals come at a time when the marina area appears on the verge of an explosion of housing and hotels, propelled by the building of the convention center along Harbor Drive, and its expected link-up with downtown and Horton Plaza as First and Front streets are extended across the railroad tracks, making them inviting thoroughfares.