Port of San Diego Moves Forward with North Embarcadero Visionary Plan by Approving the Lane Field Project

On February 13, 2007 the Board of Port Commissioners approved the conceptual plan for a development at the former Lane Field site. The development proposed by Lane Field San Diego Developers, LLC, includes two new hotels and retail and restaurant space. As part of the project, the developers will make North Embarcadero Visionary Plan improvements to the Lane Field North site.

The Lane Field North site will include a 250-room upscale hotel with approximately 25,000 square feet of restaurants and retail. It will be operated by Woodfin Suites Hotels. On Lane Field South, a 550-room hotel that will be run by InterContinental will be constructed. Approximately 37,000 square feet of retail and restaurants will be included. A two-story, below-grade parking structure will accommodate over 1,600 spaces for the hotels, stores and restaurants.

The proposed project will add about two acres of green space to the area and improve view corridors and transportation. A plaza and garden will be developed on C Street and another plaza will be located on Broadway.

Both the Lane Field north and south developments will occur concurrently and construction is expected to begin as early as March 2008. In addition, the Port of San Diego plans to issue a Request for Proposals for construction to begin on the first phase of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan. The first phase will span from Broadway to B Street on Harbor Drive and includes a reconfiguration of Harbor Drive to create a 100-foot-wide esplanade. The proposed cost of the first phase is $20 million.

Board of Port Commissioners Chair Sylvia Rios and Port of San Diego President and CEO Bruce Hollingsworth are presented with a $1 million check from Lane Field San Diego Developers, LLC, to commemorate the approval of an Option Agreement to develop the former Lane Field area. With Bruce Hollingsworth and Chairwoman Rios are from left to right: Rob Lankford, President of Lankford & Associates, Inc.; Sam Hardage, President of Hardage Suite Hotels, LLC; and Craig Clark, President of C.W. Clark, Inc.

Also in this issue…

Port Unveils Monumental Sculpture

Board members travel to Sacramento to Participate in Legislative Workshop on the Working Waterfront Industry

Federal Maritime Administration Official Visits Port of San Diego

Port Unveils Monumental Sculpture

Board of Port Commissioners Chairwoman Sylvia Rios and her husband, Tony, in front of J. Seward Johnson's iconic sculpture, "Unconditional Surrender" that was dedicated on February 10, 2007.

With a celebrity nurse on hand, entertainment by a singing group resembling the Andrews Sisters and several Pearl Harbor survivors in the audience, the Port of San Diego unveiled the latest sculpture in its public art collection on February 10 at the G Street Mole park.

“Unconditional Surrender” a 25-foot tall, 6,000-pound artwork featuring a sailor kissing a nurse was created by world-renowned sculptor J. Seward Johnson. It is a three-dimensional depiction of the famous moment caught on film during celebrations in Times Square, New York on August 14, 1945, the day World War II ended. The name of the sculpture reflects the news that Japan had agreed to surrender, thus ending the war. The sculpture was displayed in New York as part of the 60th anniversary of Victory Over Japan Day (V-J Day) observances in 2005, and was then on display in Sarasota, Florida through the summer of 2006.

Edith Shain, the nurse memorialized in the famous photograph and in the sculpture, was the special guest of the event and came dressed in her original nurse’s uniform. Surrounded by well-wishers, she signed her autograph on copies of the photograph and on the event’s program and invitations. Other guests included Woody Derby of the Pearl Harbor Survivors’ Group and other World War II veterans who shared colorful and moving stories with the crowd.

“Unconditional Surrender” is on loan to the Port for one year from The Sculpture Foundation, a Santa Monica-based charitable organization dedicated to programs that expose individuals and communities to the sculptural arts.

Board members travel to Sacramento to Participate in Legislative Workshop on the Working Waterfront Industry

On January 30, myself, Vice Chair Michael Bixler and Commissioner Robert “Dukie” Valderrama traveled to the State Capitol for a special legislative workshop sponsored by the California Association of Port Authorities to stress the significant contributions of the working waterfront industry. State Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny and California Assemblymember Lori Saldana were present to hear an informational presentation on the working waterfront. The workshop included two panels comprised of authorities on issues facing this industry and included representatives from the Port of Redwood City, the Port of San Francisco and a representative from BNSF Railroad. The Port of San Diego participated in a panel discussion with John Pasha, Co-chair of the Working Waterfront Group and Peter Zschiesche from the San Diego Labor Council.

The goal of the workshop was to raise awareness of issues facing the working waterfront. The Working Waterfront Group is calling for state legislators to work with the Port of San Diego and local municipalities to create a unified vision for protecting maritime industrial land along San Diego Bay.

Federal Maritime Administration Official Visits Port of San Diego

On February 7, the Honorable Sean T. Connaughton, Administrator of the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD), visited the Port of San Diego and was given a tour of the Port’s maritime facilities. Mr. Connaughton also toured NASSCO and Pasha Automotive Services as part of the tour. He was in town to speak at a conference addressing new technological strategies aimed at reducing air pollution related to global trade and international transportation. The Port of San Diego was a sponsor of the conference, titled “Clean Ships Conference: Advanced Technology for Clean Air,” which was held at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort.

MARAD has selected the Port of San Diego as one of only seven strategic ports in the United States. The Port received this designation by cooperating with the military on several load-out operations at the National City Marine Terminal. The load-outs have been on a regular basis since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. In addition, last year, the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal began handling unloading operations for the military.

MARAD serves as an advocate for the United States maritime industry to promote America’s growth and international competitiveness in a safe and healthy environment. Its mission is to strengthen the United States maritime transportation system, including infrastructure, industry and labor to meet economic and security needs of the nation.

Sean T. Connaughton, Administrator of the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD), toured the Port of San Diego's Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal and other Port maritime facilities while visiting the city to address a maritime industry conference about reducing air pollution related to global trade. At right is Ron Popham, Senior Director of Maritime for the Port of San Diego.