{"id":233172,"date":"2015-11-13T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-11-13T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/new-owner-reveals-plans-for-u-t-property\/"},"modified":"2015-11-13T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2015-11-13T08:00:00","slug":"new-owner-reveals-plans-for-u-t-property","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/new-owner-reveals-plans-for-u-t-property\/","title":{"rendered":"New owner reveals plans for U-T property"},"content":{"rendered":"

Por Ken Williams | Editor<\/p>\n

Casey Brown, the new owner of the 13-acre San Diego Union-Tribune property, says he has loved the iconic newspaper building since he was a child.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first time I saw it, I was in the third grade,\u201d said Brown, a La Jolla native. \u201cIt was a field trip to tour the newspaper.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little did Brown know that one day \u2014 long after he went on to be known as \u201cTouchdown Brown\u201d as a halfback and fullback with a penchant for scoring short-yardage touchdowns for the San Diego State Aztecs (1982-85) \u2014 that he would become the owner of one of the most recognizable buildings in America\u2019s Finest City.<\/p>\n

Brown gave an exclusive interview to Mission Valley News about what he intends to do with the U-T property and whether his purchase will change the plans to build luxury apartments along the San Diego River.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The iconic Union-Tribune building in Mission Valley has a new owner.
(Foto por Ken Williams)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last month, Brown\u2019s new firm, Casey Brown Co., purchased the land for $52 million from developer Doug Manchester, the former owner and publisher of the U-T. Brown previously was founder and president of BBL Commercial Real Estate.<\/p>\n

The 170,000-square-feet, five-story newspaper building, designed by architect Frank Hope, is a familiar landmark that can be seen by drivers on Interstate 8 and state Route 163. \u201cIt has great bones,\u201d Brown said. \u201cArchitecturally, it remains a very current building, even though it was built in 1973. The iconic nature draws me to the building.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Brown doesn\u2019t envision doing much to the exterior of the newspaper building. \u201cCertainly there will be some exterior work, but no structural changes,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll be cleaning up the landscaping.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for the Union-Tribune newspaper operation, which is now owned by Tribune Publishing, Brown all but confirmed that the U-T will be relocating to Downtown. \u201cI will be sorry to see them go, but happy for Downtown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

With the newspaper\u2019s impending departure from the office building and other tenants expected to leave as well, big changes are in store for the interior.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will demo most of the office space to shell condition,\u201d Brown said. \u201cWe want to appeal to more current tenants with office space that matches their needs. We will be turning the building into a Class A corporate campus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brown said modern offices are amenity-based and focus more on lifestyle and health, outdoor break areas, interior common spaces and presentation areas that are shared by tenants, and a collaborative environment that ditches stuffy old conference rooms for \u201chuddle rooms,\u201d or creative spaces. He promises a less formal environment, an open layout, high ceilings, and a contemporary look and feel.<\/p>\n

Next door, connected by a skybridge on the third floor of the newspaper building, is the 190,000-square-feet, three-story structure that housed the U-T\u2019s presses and distribution center. Brown said the presses are being dismantled and removed. The press building is zoned for light industrial, and Brown said he and his team are still coming up with ideas on what to do in that space. He said he likes the skybridge, and has no plans to remove it, because future tenants may want to occupy space in both buildings. Brown\u2019s challenge is to figure out what \u201clight industrial\u201d means and what tenant types could use the space. He suggested it might work for biotech industries, for example.<\/p>\n

Renovation on the two buildings is expected to begin in February or March 2016, Brown said. As far as the 200-unit luxury apartment project, he is unsure when the groundbreaking will occur.<\/p>\n

\"Casey<\/a>
Casey Brown is the new owner of the 13-acre Union-Tribune property. (Courtesy of Casey Brown Co.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThere is no timetable yet,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are excited we got unanimous approval from the City Council.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brown said he was mostly happy with the plans announced for the luxury apartment complex, which will face the San Diego River. He is enthusiastic about the changes \u2014 between the U-T property and the massive renovation next door at the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center \u2014 that will transform the river into an asset.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m thrilled we\u2019re opening up the river,\u201d Brown said. \u201cMission Valley has always turned its back on the river. We want to be a pioneer on this.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the Mission Valley News has reported [read \u201cU-T project will change riverfront\u201d at bit.ly\/1RDZUXC<\/a>], the luxury apartments will feature a promenade along the river for walkers, hikers, bicyclists and commuters who can catch the trolley or a bus at the nearby Fashion Valley Transit Center. Amenities will include public art, benches, lighting, \u201clook-out\u201d points and public restrooms at a 0.82-acre park along the riverfront.<\/p>\n

Between the two renovations, the riverfront will be vastly improved from Fashion Valley Road to Avenida del Rio \u2014 the Fashion Valley mall entrance off Camino de la Reina.<\/p>\n

Brown addressed concerns of some residents who feared the loss of mature trees along the river during the construction phase of the luxury apartments. \u201cMost of the mature trees will be preserved,\u201d he said. Some of the non-native eucalyptus trees, which have shallow roots and are considered a fire hazard, may be removed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a dense forest along the river,\u201d Brown said. \u201cThis is a forgotten asset, and it should not be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014Ken Williams is editor of Mission Valley News and Uptown News and can be reached at <\/i>ken@sdcnn.com<\/i><\/span><\/a> o al 619-961-1952. S\u00edguelo en Twitter en <\/i>KenSanDiego<\/i><\/span><\/a>, cuenta de Instagram en <\/i>KenSD<\/i><\/span><\/a> o Facebook en <\/i>KenWilliamsSanDiego<\/i><\/span><\/a>.<\/i><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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