Overview and Background

Monday, 21 December 2009

The North Embarcadero Visionary Plan (NEVP) comprises a set of public infrastructure improvements for the area bordered by Market Street on the south, Laurel Street to the north, the railroad right of way to the east and the San Diego Bulkhead line (the bayward edge of land) to the west, in downtown San Diego. The NEVP will shape the future of San Diego by joining downtown and the bay. The plan will benefit the entire region, enhancing the bay's appeal as a hub of activity.

The Visionary Plan (1998)

In 1997, the Port, Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC), City of San Diego, San Diego County and the U.S. Navy began meeting to plan the redevelopment of the North Embarcadero. The agencies created the North Embarcadero Alliance, and contracted with Sasaki Associates, Inc. to develop a vision for the revitalization of San Diego's downtown waterfront from Lindbergh Field on the north to Seaport Village on the south. The five member agencies endorsed the North Embarcadero Alliance Visionary Plan (Visionary Plan) in December 1998.

Master Environment Impact Report (2000)

Elements of the Visionary Plan were incorporated into the NEVP Master Environmental Impact Report (MEIR), which was certified by the Board of Port Commissioners on April 25, 2000. Following the certification of the MEIR, the California Coastal Commission approved the incorporation of elements of the Visionary Plan into the Port Master Plan and the City of San Diego's Local Coastal Program on March 14, 2001.

Schematic Design (2005)

In 2003, the Port and the City of San Diego's Redevelopment Agency (acting through CCDC) formed a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) which embarked on an effort with consultant firm Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn Architects (EEK) to develop a Schematic Design for NEVP, encompassing the property spanning a one mile long and ¼ of a mile wide area bounded by Market Street on the south, Laurel Street to the north, the railroad right-of-way to the east and the San Diego Bulkhead line to the west.

The Schematic Design for the NEVP won the unanimous support of both the Board of Port Commissioners and CCDC's Board of Directors at a special joint meeting held November 11, 2005. Both Boards also adopted the first phase of the project, which included the realignment of Harbor Drive from West Broadway to B Street and widening of the adjacent bayside esplanade. For an overview of the NEVP as envisioned in the Schematic Design, play the following video:

Joint Powers Authority [JPA] (2007 to Present)

In 2007, a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) was created by the Port, the City of San Diego and the City's Redevelopment Agency acting through CCDC to implement the first phase of the NEVP. The JPA sets the framework for financing the project and provides that each entity will use its best efforts to procure available funding from sources such as lease revenues, capital development programs, grants and federal and state funds. The three JPA Board members are Kevin Faulconer, San Diego City council member; Stephen P. Cushman, Chairman, Board of Port Commissioners, and Fred Maas, Chair, CCDC.

Phase 1 Final Design (2007 - Present)

On behalf of the JPA, CCDC entered into a small professional services agreement with Project Design Consultants (PDC) in October 2007 and a larger agreement in May 2008 to perform the final design and preparation of construction documents for Phase 1, including West Broadway.

A series of public and stakeholder workshops were conducted from October 2007 to April 2008 to review and validate the Schematic Design. Throughout 2008 and early 2009, JPA Board meetings were conducted receive public input to Phase 1 design concepts.

A Uniform Control Plan was approved by the JPA Board on January 22, 2009 and amended on March 26, 2009. The plan establishes the core design principles and unifying design elements of the interface between publicly funded improvements (NEVP Phase 1) and improvements that private developers will be responsible to build, but will be available to the public.

The Uniform Control Plan particularly pertains to Broadway Hall, as shown. The street section and median will be constructed by the JPA, however adjacent plaza areas will be constructed by future private developments.