CCDC Throws Support Behind Two East Village Square Projects

SAN DIEGO-The area immediately surrounding Petco Park may soon get two new, mixed-use developments, as the Centre City Development Corp.’s board of directors has recently thrown its support behind a pair of projects proposed by East Village Square LLC. In a vote of four in favor and zero opposed for both developments, the CCDC board has recommended that the San Diego Redevelopment Agency approve a Disposition and Development Agreement for the two projects. The development that is slated to break ground earlier is a project that will be headed up by Bosa Development. Pending approval by the redevelopment agency, Bosa plans to break ground on this residential and retail complex in late 2004. Slated to rise on the block bounded by Seventh and Eighth avenues and J and K streets, the complex will stand to the north of Petco Park’s left field scoreboard. Design plans, which have been drawn up by Perkins & Co., call for a 23-story building that will house 178 condo units; approximately 30,000 sf of street-level retail space; and 300 parking spaces. Construction of the project will entail the rehabilitation of the historic Kvass Construction building and the reconstruction of the historic Station A building. The CCDC board of directors has also recommended design review approval of the project.The other proposed project that recently received a recommendation by the CCDC is DiamondView Tower, which Cisterra Partners LLC plans to build just beyond the right field fence of Petco Park, on the block bounded by Ninth and Tenth avenues and J and K streets. Scheduled for an early 2005 groundbreaking, this development is on track to be one of the largest office facilities to rise in Downtown San Diego in more than a decade. Designed by Carrier Johnson Architects, it will consist of 247,000 sf of office space; 75,000 sf of retail space; and 320 parking spaces. “The board recognized the project as bringing an important mixed-use element to the Sports and Entertainment District of East Village, and agreed to allow the building to display three high-rise signs of up to 150 sf each,” according to CCDC’s summary of the board meeting. As a part of its recent vote, the CCDC board has recommended design review approval of the project.