As plans to redevelop San Diego’s famous waterfront continue to take shape, the Port of San Diego is seeking input from the public on the scenic site that one local fondly referred to as the “doorstep to San Diego.”
The Port of San Diego held an open house Wednesday night so that port commissioners could hear from residents about what they want to see developed along the Embarcadero.
The Port is currently pursuing the redevelopment of the Central Embarcadero, a prime, 70-acre site of land and water nestled between downtown San Diego and the San Diego Bayfront. The area includes the local landmark, Seaport Village, Santa Monica Seafood (formerly Chesapeake Fish) and the areas between the Manchester Grand Hyatt and the USS Midway Museum.
“The whole area is really important,” Peter Flournoy, a University Heights resident, told NBC 7. “It’s like the doorstep to San Diego.”
Flournoy works with commercial fishermen at Tuna Harbor, an area along the Embarcadaro that is home to the open-air Dockside Market on the weekends.
For Flournoy, the development of the “working waterfront” is important, and he wants to stay informed on the port’s plans. Open meetings like Wednesday’s gathering help him do just that.
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“The plan is evolving, and this is good because they are trying to get the public in and look at it and be part of the way it’s going to eventually look,” Flournoy told NBC 7.
La Jolla resident Tamara Kahn said she heard the port was holding an open forum on the topic and wanted to also give her opinion.
"I’m very interested in contributing to the plan," Kahn said. "I want to see open space."
Kahn said she hopes the port’s plan addresses issues like climate action, rising sea levels, and parking in the area.
The port’s redevelopment project will shape the area for the next 50 years.
It excludes The Headquarters at Seaport and The Fish Market Restaurant due to long-term leases on those properties but does include a much-talked-about $1.6 million proposal to replace Seaport Village.
That proposal – dubbed “1HWY1” – includes the addition of a 500-foot-tall observation tower, a 180,000-square-foot aquarium with a butterfly exhibit and a 75,000-square-foot Educational Center. The plan also features 1,933 hotel rooms, retail and office space, and 2,200 parking spaces.
According to the port’s website, more than 70 percent of the Seaport Village proposal includes public spaces like parks, promenades, plazas and other amenities.
The proposal is still undergoing review.
In addition to public meetings, the Port of San Diego has also been seeking input from the public via a month-long online survey.
