Back in 1997, five agencies (CCDC, The City of San Diego, The County of San Diego, The San Diego Unified Port District and the United States Navy) came together to come up with a plan for the redevelopment of San Diego’s bay front.
In 2003, the Joint Powers Authority planned with designers Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn to create improvements for the waterfront. The one-mile long, ¼-mile wide project from Laurel Street to Market Street, will create 6 1/2 acres of new gardens with 1,770 new trees and will be completed in 10 phases.
Final design plans for Phase 1 of the improved North Embarcadero park between B Street and Broadway have been approved and is moving forward. According to Deputy Mayor Michael Zucchet, CCDC Chair Hal Sadler and Port Commissioner Sylvia Rios the project is to improve the area with a formal garden, green hedges, a wider bay front walk and seating.
The design highlights enhanced landscaping and construction materials, the reduction of Harbor Drive by 1 lane down to three to accommodate a 100-foot public boardwalk along the bay and a variety of landscaped places.
Financing for the $228 million project will be shared by the City of San Diego, CCDC, and the Port. For more information visit www.portofsandiego.org.
