Phase I Project Description

Monday, 21 December 2009

NEVP Phase 1 will increase and enhance the public’s access to San Diego Bay through a wide esplanade and waterfront promenade.  Through its groves of jacaranda trees and world-class public art, the public will feel welcomed into this area, which is the first leg of a signature linear public park that will eventually run the entire 1.2 mile length of the North Embarcadero.  From the City, NEVP Phase 1 will frame views of the Bay down West Broadway and C Street.  The project will also capture and treat storm water to improve the water quality of San Diego Bay.  Through the contribution of construction and tenant jobs, along with laying the foundation for adjacent redevelopment, NEVP Phase 1 will provide a significant economic benefit to the region and to the State of California.

The first phase of the NEVP includes:

• Relocating Harbor Drive to the east and improving the waterfront esplanade from the B Street Pier to the former Navy Pier;
• Improving West Broadway from Harbor Drive to the railroad tracks; and
• Adding a third left turn lane from southbound Harbor Drive to eastbound Grape Street.  

The proposed Phase 1 improvements are shown in the figure below (click to enlarge).



Features of Phase 1 include:

• A linear park, or esplanade, over 100-feet wide between the Harbor Drive roadway and the Bay, designed to be fully accessible.
• A continuous 30-foot wide promenade adjacent to the Bay, with signature paving, for mixed pedestrian and bicycle use.
• Wide landscaped median in West Broadway and a public plaza at the foot of the street.
• Formal gardens featuring groves of jacarandas.
• Open shade pavilions over colored glass information center, café and service kiosks, all with unique architecture inspired by world-renowned artist, Pae White.
• Public restroom also inspired by Pae White through the public art program.
• Storm water drainage system which will provide biological or structural water treatment within a “water quality band” in the esplanade.
• Street furniture.
• Energy-efficient lighting.
• Signage to assist pedestrian and vehicle wayfinding.

Project Funding
Funding for design of the project has been shared equally between the Port and the City’s Redevelopment Agency, acting through Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC).  That commitment was made in the 2007 agreement between the Port, the City of San Diego and the City’s Redevelopment Agency acting through CCDC which created the NEVP Joint Powers Authority (JPA).

Construction of Phase 1 is estimated to cost $28.6 million.  A draft Amendment to the JPA Agreement proposes that the two entities again equally share this cost.  In it, the Port agrees to maintain the project in the future, and the Redevelopment Agency agrees to offset its share of future maintenance costs via a capital contribution.

The Port had planned to use lease revenue from the redevelopment of Lane Field to pay for its share of NEVP improvements.  Because of delays in the Lane Field project, those funds are not currently available to the Port, so the Amendment includes provisions for the Redevelopment Agency to advance the balance of the Port’s share of Phase 1 costs, to be repaid at a future date.

The Board of Port Commissioners approved the draft Amendment and the CCDC Board recommended it for approval in July 2009.  The City Council and Redevelopment Agency have deferred consideration of the Amendment until a Coastal Development Permit is issued for the project.

Project Status
On July 7, 2009, the Board of Port Commissioners conducted public hearings and found that the proposed Phase 1 project is within the scope of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Master Environmental Impact Report, and authorized issuance of a Coastal Development Permit.  Prior to issuance of the permit, the California Coastal Commission and other individuals appealed the permit.   The JPA member agencies are currently working to obtain a Coastal Development Permit from the California Coastal Commission.