Gaylord Pullout a Big Disappointment

The recent news that Gaylord Entertainment is pulling out of the biggest project planned for the Chula Vista waterfront is a disappointment to the Port of San Diego. Port staff and staff from the City of Chula Vista worked very hard for almost four years on the proposed development of a 1,500 to 2,000 - room hotel and 400,000-square foot convention center on the bayfront.

In July 2006, the Board of Port Commissioners adopted a four-party letter of intent between the Port, Gaylord Entertainment, the City of Chula Vista and the Redevelopment Agency of Chula Vista that would help guide negotiations for a hotel and convention center development on the Chula Vista waterfront. Since then, the Port had been in negotiations with the developer and things appeared to be going well. We were very close to reaching an agreement on the project.

The Gaylord proposal had the potential of generating $1.3 billion in economic impact to the region. The construction alone would have supported about 13,000 jobs.

The Gaylord hotel and convention center were planned to be the cornerstone for the 550-acre Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan. As envisioned, the plan would transform the waterfront of Chula Vista with parkland, open space, commercial, retail, hotel, residential and recreational uses.

We look forward to hearing from the Mayor and City Council of Chula Vista as to their vision for this site. It is important for us to support their ideas, as we do for all of the Port's member cities.

Gaylord Entertainment would have been a spectacular addition to this project. Unfortunately, the complicated regulatory and legal requirements, infrastructure costs and prolonged planning took a toll on the company's plans. We are sorry to see them pull out but we must look ahead to future options. Staff from the Port's Land Use Planning and Environmental departments are assessing the impact of Gaylord's withdrawal from the project and we are determining the next steps in planning for the bayfront development. The waterfront area of Chula Vista is a rare jewel. I am confident that other prospects will surface and we can continue with the original plans.

A rendering of the proposed hotel that was part of the Gaylord hotel/convention center project.

Also in this issue…

Port honored with Alonzo Award for Urban Trees 5

San Diego Foundation Presents Port with $3.5 Million Ruocco Foundation Donation

Harbor Police Officers Honored for Life Saving Actions

Holiday Events Around the Bay

Spotlight on Tenants: Loews Coronado Bay Resort

Thanks to Maritime Supporters

Port honored with Alonzo Award for Urban Trees 5

The Port was honored for the public art project "Urban Trees 5" at the 46th Annual Alonzo Awards, presented in November by the Downtown San Diego Partnership. Named after Alonzo Horton, who many consider the founder of downtown San Diego, the awards honor people, projects and programs that have contributed to the revitalization and renewal of downtown.

The Alonzo selection committee recognized the Port and the "Urban Trees 5" project for providing visitors to the North Embarcadero area with a unique public art experience.

Originating in 2003, the "Urban Trees" project was created to enliven the embarcadero area and to give artists an opportunity to exhibit their art in a unique public place. Since then, the project has received international attention and has become a popular attraction on the waterfront. The Port's Public Art Committee selects the designs to be made into life-sized artworks that would be displayed on the waterfront for one year. Afterward, the sculptures are returned to the artists. Many of the former urban trees have been sold to private collectors and to businesses. To find out more about Urban Trees, visit the public art page on the Port of San Diego website.

Urban tree "Californiascope" by Harmon Nelson, Vicki Leon and Steve Riggs is admired by visitors on the bayfront. The Port was awarded an Alonzo Award for its "Urban Trees 5" project.

San Diego Foundation Presents Port with $3.5 Million Ruocco Foundation Donation

The San Diego Foundation presented the Port of San Diego with a $3.5 million donation from the Lloyd and Ilse Ruocco Fund for a waterfront park to be built at the former Harbor Seafood Mart site near Seaport Village in San Diego. The Port entered into a donation agreement with the San Diego Foundation which will provide $2.5 million for design and enhancements to the park. The remaining balance will remain in a separate fund for long-term maintenance of the park.

The Port planned on building a park at the Old Police Headquarters as part of the South Embarcadero redevelopment. The park was originally designed for an area right next to the Old Police Headquarters, but to do so would require partial demolition of the building. Since the building has been designated as historic, the Port moved the park site to where the former Harbor Seafood Mart was located.

Money to build the park was allocated in the Port's 2009-2013 Capital Development Program. However, the money set aside was for a "basic" park - meaning only grass, minimal trees, standard concrete walkways and standard lighting. The Ruocco donation will allow the park to be designed as an outstanding urban park with design upgrades such as water features, garden areas, upgraded hardscape, benches and lighting. Public Art is also part of the plan.

Dennis Otsuji of ONA Associates, Inc., will design the park. ONA Associates is a local firm that designed projects at the Stephen Birch Aquarium and NTC/Liberty Station.

Harbor Police Officers Honored for Life Saving Actions

For the seventh time in two years, Harbor Police officers were awarded with life saving commendations at a Board of Port Commissioners meeting. At the November 4 Board meeting, Officers Pedro Arce, Eric Mitchell and Raul Munoz were honored for their actions which ultimately helped save the life of a citizen on August 30, 2008.

On that evening, the three officers responded to a radio call involving an unconscious man in San Diego Bay. When they arrived, they found a Good Samaritan in the water, trying to keep another man from drowning. The officers pulled the unconscious man from the water and performed cardio pulmonary resuscitation until paramedics with the San Diego Fire Department arrived and took over.

The officers received life saving commendation certificates and life saving shirt bar pins to wear on their uniforms. Officer Arce's pin features two crosses which represent the two lives he has saved since beginning his Harbor Police service two years ago.

The San Diego Harbor Police is the law enforcement arm of the Port of San Diego. The department provides law enforcement, marine fire-fighting services, airport services, public safety and homeland security throughout the tidelands and San Diego Bay. Harbor Police officers patrol San Diego International Airport under contract with the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.

Harbor Police officers Pedro Arce, Eric Mitchell and Raul Munoz were honored for life saving actions at the Nov. 4 Board of Port Commissioners meeting.

Holiday Events Around the Bay

December is delightful around San Diego Bay with several events occurring that celebrate the holidays. Two of the largest crowd gatherers are the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights and the Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade.

The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights will be on two Sundays, December 14 and December 21. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. on both evenings and starts out at the south end of Shelter Island. After Shelter Island, the parade proceeds past Harbor Island, the North Embarcadero area, Seaport Village, Embarcadero Marina Parks North and South and then across the bay to Coronado.

Ideal viewing can be found at Shelter Island, Harbor Island, Spanish Landing, the North Embarcadero, Seaport Village, the G Street Mole, Embarcadero Marina Parks North and South, Coronado Tidelands Park and the Coronado Ferry Landing. For boaters wanting to get an up close look, the best spot would be just off of Cesar Chavez Park, since that is where the vessels turn as they move toward Coronado. More information on the parade can be found at San Diego Parade of Lights.

The Big Bay Balloon Parade takes over Harbor Drive at 9 a.m. on December 29. More than 20 giant balloons, 16 marching bands, and 22 specialty units promise a morning of entertainment. Come down early and watch the world famous Wiener Dog races at 8:30. If you're feeling a little full from holiday goodies, you can run off some of those calories in the Bumble Bee 5k which starts at 8:45. Cox Communications will air the parade live and it will be recast on the USA network on January 2 at 9 a.m.

In addition to the two popular parades, the Port is proud to host the exhibit "Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet" in Embarcadero Marina Park North. The exhibit features about 19 molded fiberglass globes that are designed by artists to convey ideas for conserving energy and combating climate change. Each globe is mounted on a base and stands more than seven feet tall. The globes are five feet in diameter. The exhibit is sponsored by Chicago-based Cool Globes, Inc. The globes will be on exhibit in the park until March 2009.

For more events around San Diego Bay in December, visit The Big Bay.

"Hands Across the Ocean" by the environmental artist Wyland, is one of the San Diego Cool Globes on exhibit at Embarcadero Marina Park North. Photo courtesy of Cool Globes.

Spotlight on Tenants: Loews Coronado Bay Resort

Tucked away on the southern tip of Coronado lies one of the best kept secrets of vacationers - the Loews Coronado Bay Resort. Just a short drive from the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, the Loews Coronado Bay Resort offers a tranquil escape. A Port of San Diego tenant since 1991, Loews sits on a 15-acre peninsula that is surrounded by San Diego Bay on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Each of the 440 rooms has a view of the bay, the marina, or the resort's garden.

The resort features three pools, two restaurants and luxurious spa facilities. Currently it is promoting some great specials that will entice area residents to make a quick getaway over the bridge. Right now, Loews is offering a $50 food and beverage credit to guests who stay for two nights. If you increase your stay to three nights, the credit is $75 toward food and beverage. Guests staying for four nights receive a $100 food and beverage credit. Use your credits to enjoy delectable seared scallops, lobster risotto or the veal rack ribeye at the acclaimed Mistral restaurant. You can also relax with your coffee at the dockside Market Café or wind down with cocktails in the Cays lounge. For more special offers, visit Loews Hotels.

In addition to providing an enticing escape from the holiday hubbub, Loews Coronado Bay Resort is providing expert help for those who need hints for paring wine and food. The hotel's "Wine Line" offers advice from Sommelier Kevin Brady and is available through December 31, 2008. Send your wine questions to Kevin.

Views of the Loews Coronado Bay Resort. Photos courtesy of Loews Hotels

Thanks to Maritime Supporters

On behalf of the Board of Port Commissioners and the Port of San Diego, thank you to all of the citizens, Port tenants, waterfront workers and volunteers who helped raise awareness of the important role of San Diego's maritime industry. Your hard work and effort helped lead to the defeat of Proposition B, which was overwhelmingly rejected by voters in the November 4, 2008 election.

The Port of San Diego was prohibited by state law from campaigning against this initiative, which threatened the vital maritime industry. Since we couldn't campaign, we focused on communicating our opposition to the initiative and to educate the public on the importance of the maritime industry to our region. We conducted bus tours and boat tours that demonstrated the many industries that are linked to the Port's Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.

A broad coalition of groups and individuals helped voters recognize the threat that Proposition B posed to this industry. The defeat of Proposition B is a victory not only for the Port of San Diego, but for the entire region, the State of California and other ports throughout the United States.

A special thanks goes out to the San Diego Port Tenants Association for its crucial role in organizing the coalition that worked so hard to oppose the initiative. The Port of San Diego is proud of your incredible success.