The old police headquarters opens anew
Morgan M. Hurley | Downtown Editor
The historic San Diego Police Headquarters campus, originally built in the mid-1930s and located at 789 W. Harbor Dr. at Kettner Blvd. in the Marina District Downtown, has sat empty and in disrepair since 1987. That was the year a new high-rise office-style headquarters building was unveiled and the fleet of police cars, motorcycles and officers moved east to 14th and Broadway.
The police headquarters campus was originally designed with several architectural styles, including Spanish Revival, Mediterranean Revival, Pueblo Revival and even Classical Revivial. It opened to great fanfare in 1939, according to a recent Terramar fact sheet, and it stayed in operation for over 50 years. The area was considered a “remote” location at the time, but that southwest corner of the Marina District is anything but remote today.
Once vacated in 1987, the property soon became a very public eyesore, but that didn’t stop it from attaining its spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998, making it only the second police building in California to do so. Unfortunately, historic status meant it wasn’t going anywhere, and the property continued to decay next to one of San Diego’s largest local visitor magnets, Seaport Village.
Thanks to Terramar Retail Centers, a local developer that also oversees Seaport Village and other shopping destinations in the region, the newly transformed property will soon be filled with bustling people, lavish indoor and al fresco dining, shopping options galore and calls for “venti-caramel-lattes,” once the new “The Headquarters at Seaport District”—a 100,000-square-foot open-air restaurant and retail center—opens Nov. 17.
Although the property is undergoing a much-needed facelift—to the tune of $40 million—while it is brought up to code, the historic designation is keeping much of the façade and the original architecture in place. In addition, much of the temporary jail building will also remain and become an on site museum, allowing the curious to wander around and see what it was like to be locked up in decades past. Still in place and in working, although creaky condition, are two floors of jail cells, with flat metal bunks visible through the metal horizontal cell bars.
Under the guidance of David Marshall, president of Heritage Architecture & Planning, Terramar used great care to determine which historic aspects to preserve, reuse and reinvent. For example, every terra cotta roof tile — all 27,500 of them — has been removed, cleaned and replaced. Many of the original windows, light fixtures and skylights have been retained, as well as other heavy wooden doors and ironwork throughout the property. The courtyard consists of 15,000 square feet of area and each paver has been removed, numbered and replaced in the exact same spot. Workers have diligently removed and replaced all the stucco between each tile to keep its authentic feel.
“The Headquarters is rich in architectural detail and history which gives us a wonderful platform on which to build. We are reinventing this property as a centerpiece for downtown, offering fine dining from top chefs along with a blend of national and local boutiques in a beautiful setting,” said Steve Bowers, CEO of Terramar Retail Centers in an Oct. 2012 press release.
“This distinctive collection opening at The Headquarters realizes of our vision for the re- creation of this historic landmark,” Bowers said in a more recent press release. “The Headquarters blends creative, locally owned and inspired shops and dining with top national retailers and restaurants creating an entirely new retail experience at this special San Diego location.”
Just announced is the full list of tenants, which includes several high-end restaurants, a half-dozen fashion and accessory stores, specialty food and dessert stores, art galleries, and various other miscellaneous vendors. “The Headquarters is so much more than a place to shop. We have created a relaxed environment along the gorgeous waterfront where residents will meet friends, family and visitors will enjoy a one-of-a-kind, truly San Diego destination,” Bowers said.
The restaurants chosen all offer up their own unique style and fare. Pizzeria Mozza got its feet wet in Hollywood and now calls San Diego home. TerraMar says Pizzeria Mozza has been praised for its “creative, authentic Italian menu.” They took over the former chief of police’s office and have converted it into a private dining room. They’ll have an open kitchen design and spill out onto the central patio from the northwest side of the property.
Puesto has already made its mark in La Jolla, and will bring a sustainable twist on Mexican food, with all-natural and organic ingredients. The restaurant will consist of 4,500-sq. ft. of space in the middle of the property with patio dining overlooking the courtyard. Across the courtyard will be Season’s 52 Fresh Grill, another La Jolla transplant, which will offer healthy cuisine (nothing over 467 calories on the menu) in an upscale environment. This 9,900-square-foot space is decorated with lots of wood and warm tones and will also have outdoor seating, along with a fire pit and an expanded bar area.
If it is traditional steak and fresh seafood you are searching for, Eddie V’s will do the trick and will offer up an old-Hollywood feel. This is the only two-story restaurant and live music venue on the property, serving up live jazz with fine dining and cocktails. It will exist in 7,500 square-feet of space in the old courthouse section on the southwest side. The last large-scale restaurant to call Headquarters Seaport home is one that needs no introduction: the Cheesecake Factory.
Something unique that is getting lots of attention is the “Simply Local Emporium,” a marketplace with plans to host up to 50 different vendors and local artists.
The new landscape design around the outside of the building will be the first thing shoppers, diners and passersby will see, and all the original fountains will be back in business along with a couple new ones.
To watch for grand opening details and learn more about the latest destination property to open Downtown, visit theheadquarters.com.
Headquarters Locales
Restaurants
The Cheesecake Factory | thecheesecakefactory.com
Eddie V’s | eddiev.com
Pizzeria Mozza | pizzeriamozza.com
Seasons 52 | seasons52.com
Puesto | eatpuesto.com
Food and desserts
Bruxie | Sandwiches
Gelato Paradiso
Dallmann Fine Chocolate Boutique
Starbucks
Venissimo Cheese
Fashion and accessory
Kitson
Life is Good
lolo by the Sea | LA designers
Sunglass Hut
Urban Beach House
Madison | Leather goods
Art Galleries
Artonage
Specialty retail
preFab | creative work space
Geppetto’s Toys
Seaside Home | Papery
Simply Local Emporium | 50 merchants
Verde | conscious retail
