Port of San Diego Moves Forward On Seaport Village and Old Police Headquarters Projects

Friday, 16 December 2011
Contact: John Gilmore (619) 686-6222, (619) 686-7206

Seaport Village, the longtime San Diego waterfront complex that features an eclectic mix of Victorian and Spanish-style shops and restaurants, may be getting a makeover.

Nearby, the former home of the San Diego Police Department, now known as the Old Police Headquarters, is poised for restoration and reuse.

Both downtown waterfront-area projects were reviewed by the Board of Port Commissioners at its monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 13, 2011. Commissioners decided that each of the projects can move forward if certain conditions are met.

The Board approved a $40 million financing plan to renovate the Old Police Headquarters, located on West Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway. Terramar Retail Centers, which leases the Old Police Headquarters from the Port of San Diego, is scheduled to return to the Board of Port Commissioners at its January 10 meeting to discuss amendments to its lease.

Once a new lease is approved, Terramar must begin construction within two months and complete the work within 15 months. Terramar is recruiting tenants for the Old Police Headquarters and plans to open new restaurants and retail shops at the historic headquarters once the renovation is completed. The structure, which has been closed since 1987, is listed on the National Resister of Historic Places.

Terramar also leases and manages Seaport Village, the waterfront shopping and dining complex that has drawn tourists and residents for more 30 years. Terramar is working with the Port of San Diego to remake Seaport Village, a plan that may include a small hotel, the construction of an iconic building with retail uses, as well as new restaurants at the complex located at the foot of Kettner Boulevard.

The projects will create new attractions for locals and tourists and enliven the downtown waterfront.

The developer has yet to provide a cost for the Seaport Village makeover.

For the Seaport Village plan to move forward, the developer must meet several conditions including:

• Extending city streets to better connect Seaport Village and the city, improving bicycle access and creating signature entryways at Pacific Highway and Kettner.
• Including a mix of waterfront dining experiences that ensure a variety of nightlife activities, including music and other entertainment.
• Providing adequate parking for Seaport Village and Old Police Headquarters visitors.

The Board of Port Commissioners agreed that the proposed redevelopment plan is consistent with the Port's vision for the future use of the Seaport Village site.

The lease revenues, from Terramar and other tenants, are applied by the Port to pay for its operations, including maintenance on its 17 public parks and to pay for other improvements in the Port's five member cities.

The Port of San Diego was created by the state Legislature in 1962. Since then, it has invested $1.7 billion in public improvements in its five member cities: Imperial Beach, San Diego, Coronado, Chula Vista and National City.

The Port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, two cruise ship terminals, 17 public parks, the Harbor Police Department and the leases of more than 600 tenant and sub tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.