Elected officials hail progress of North Embarcadero’s redevelopment

Dave Schwab | Downtown News

Public officials drove a golf cart through a red ribbon on May 20, symbolically marking the halfway point in the first phase of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan (NEVP) to turn Downtown’s waterfront into a public mecca.

With construction begun on Jan. 5, 2012, the project is set to beautify North Harbor Drive from Navy Pier to B Street Pier, and West Broadway between Pacific Highway and North Harbor Drive, by improving roadway, creating public gathering spaces and installing new landscaping.

Bob Nelson, vice chair of the Board of Port Commissioners, presided over the dedication ceremony conducted mid-street on Harbor Drive, celebrating progress on the plan’s first phase of reclaiming more of the waterfront for public use.

The ceremony was attended by Mayor Bob Filner, Council President Todd Gloria, City Councilmember Kevin Faulconer and Jeff Graham, president of Civic San Diego, the city’s nonprofit redevelopment corporation.

“This marks the turning point for this project that’s going to bring this waterfront the acclaim internationally that it well deserves,” Nelson said, adding, “This complex project has not always been an easy one to keep moving forward.”

Hailing the NEVP as a collaborative effort, Nelson said traffic lanes will be moved approximately 60 feet to the east between the Navy and B Street piers, allowing construction of a 105-foot wide waterfront promenade to begin.

“We’re going to create pedestrian walkways, pathways, public art, cafes and places to enjoy and reflect,” Nelson said. “You’re going to see a beautiful line of palm trees running all the way up Broadway for several blocks and a grove of jacarandas that will be greeting visitors.”

Nelson also thanked waterfront businesses impacted by construction, noting their patience is going to be rewarded “with a workable, attractive and extremely appealing waterfront.”

Mayor Filner cited members of the public and preservation groups for participating in the NEVP.

“They spoke up, they demanded things,” Filner said, adding that public officials “… have followed through to make sure there was more space dedicated to the public for openness and parkland, paying attention to the amenities that will truly make it a front porch.”

Filner said the NEVP’s first phase is will be done in 2014.

“Just in time for our Centennial celebration in Balboa Park,” he said, noting both the North Embarcadero and the park “will be a showplace for the world.”

“We’re not done yet,” Council President Gloria pointed out to those assembled. “We want to celebrate every single milestone.”

Gloria said “returning public spaces to the public” is a goal being pursued citywide.

“This is one infrastructure project that all of us can get behind and get excited about,” Gloria said. “This project, a collaboration between our Port District, Civic San Diego, the City and the public, is emblematic of the cooperation that is so necessary in the 21st century.”

Jeff Graham of Civic San Diego said that with the advent of the NEVP, San Diego is joining the ranks of other great cities in the world, like New York, Toronto and Barecelona, in “reuniting their urban waterfronts with city cores and their residents.”

Graham said the redevelopment project is a team effort to “create a more inviting experience for our region’s residents and visitors, with parks, promenades, public art and drought-tolerant landscaping.”

The North Embarcadero redevelopment, Graham said, should act as a “catalyst” for future developments in the area, since the public’s investment in “quality urban spaces” generally draws private investment.

Councilmember Faulconer, who until recently had the waterfront in his council district, said the Embarcadero “is truly coming to life.” He applauded the City’s commitment to seeing this project through and creating “a front porch that will be world class” for residents of San Diego.

“Today my message is, we have to keep going,” Faulconer said, adding that once NEVP’s first phase is completed, “… we will be able to see all the possibilities. And that, from the very beginning, has been what this is all about.”

Upon completion, the NEVP will include new ticket kiosks, a cafe, a public restroom and a visitor information center, among other publicly accessible attractions.

For more information about the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, visit the Port of San Diego’s webpage at portofsandiego.org.

Dave Schwab came to San Diego 30 years ago with a journalism degree from Michigan State University. He has worked for numerous dailies and weeklies and now freelances for a variety of regional publications. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, hiking, sports and spending time with friends. He can be reached at [email protected]