Chula Vista Bayfront
Encyclopedia
The Chula Vista Bayfront is a master planned waterfront development on San Diego Bay
within Chula Vista
, California
, United States
. The bayfront is undergoing major development under the project title Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan, one of the largest waterfront planning efforts in the United States.
The Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan obtained inception due to a joint planning effort between the City of Chula Vista, Port of San Diego
, and Pacifica Companies - the private developer with an option to acquire land in the area. The master plan study area includes approximately 550 acres (2.2 km²) of land and water, generally bounded by the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge to the north, San Diego Bay
to the west, Bay Boulevard to the east, and the South Bay Power Plant and switchyard sites to the south. The bayfront has been categorized into three distinctly different sub districts for planning purposes and from north to south they are: the Sweetwater District, the Harbor District, and the Otay District.
regarding an ongoing dispute between labor organizations and Gaylord Entertainment, the Tennessee
-based company that was originally contracted to do the job. The event was attended by many Chula Vista notables, most of whom spoke in favor of Gaylord. To the dismay of Chula Vista and the Port of San Diego the deal fell through. The City of Chula Vista is now in bayfront-redevelopment talks with other local developers, while at the same time attempting to lure Gaylord back to the South Bay
.
Recently passed at the Port of San Diego
and subsequently by the Chula Vista City Council was the term sheet for the land-swap between the Port of San Diego
and Pacifica Companies. Pacifica Companies sought to swap 97 acres (392,545.4 m²) of land just near the Chula Vista Nature Center for 35 acres (141,640.1 m²) of land further south and just east of the marina, due to the land near the Chula Vista Nature Center being environmentally sensitive. Pacifica plans to build a 250-room hotel and a 1,500-unit condominium project on the site.
and the California Coastal Commission
is needed.
.
The Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan was designed by the urban design firm of Cooper, Robertson & Partners
, headquartered in New York City
. For visualization purposes, “before and after” digital renderings of the bayfront were created. Pacifica Companies also developed preliminary architectural concepts for the condominium
homes planned to be located both east of the harbor and south of J Street.
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port adjacent to San Diego, California. It is 12 mi/19 km long, 1 mi/1.6 km–3 mi/4.8 km wide...
within Chula Vista
Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista is the second largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh largest city in Southern California, the fourteenth largest city in the State of California, and the seventy seventh largest city in the U.S....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The bayfront is undergoing major development under the project title Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan, one of the largest waterfront planning efforts in the United States.
History
Efforts to improve or renovate the city's bayfront date back to at least 1970. Before the marina was developed by the Port of San Diego, the bayfront was little more than an inlet of the bay.The Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan obtained inception due to a joint planning effort between the City of Chula Vista, Port of San Diego
Port of San Diego
The Port of San Diego is a self-supporting public benefit corporation established in 1962 by an act of the California State Legislature. In 2007, The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics ranked the Port of San Diego as one of America's top 30 U.S. containership ports bringing in nearly of...
, and Pacifica Companies - the private developer with an option to acquire land in the area. The master plan study area includes approximately 550 acres (2.2 km²) of land and water, generally bounded by the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge to the north, San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port adjacent to San Diego, California. It is 12 mi/19 km long, 1 mi/1.6 km–3 mi/4.8 km wide...
to the west, Bay Boulevard to the east, and the South Bay Power Plant and switchyard sites to the south. The bayfront has been categorized into three distinctly different sub districts for planning purposes and from north to south they are: the Sweetwater District, the Harbor District, and the Otay District.
Development proposals
In July 2007 an emergency press conference was called by Mayor Cheryl CoxCheryl Cox
-Biography:Cox, daughter of retired United States Navy Officer, John Willett. Cox, and her husband of 30 years, San Diego County Supervisor and former Chula Vista Mayor Greg Cox, have two daughters, Elizabeth and Emmie...
regarding an ongoing dispute between labor organizations and Gaylord Entertainment, the Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
-based company that was originally contracted to do the job. The event was attended by many Chula Vista notables, most of whom spoke in favor of Gaylord. To the dismay of Chula Vista and the Port of San Diego the deal fell through. The City of Chula Vista is now in bayfront-redevelopment talks with other local developers, while at the same time attempting to lure Gaylord back to the South Bay
South Bay, San Diego
South Bay is a region in southwestern San Diego County, California consisting of the communities and cities of Bonita, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Lincoln Acres, National City, and South San Diego....
.
Recently passed at the Port of San Diego
Port of San Diego
The Port of San Diego is a self-supporting public benefit corporation established in 1962 by an act of the California State Legislature. In 2007, The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics ranked the Port of San Diego as one of America's top 30 U.S. containership ports bringing in nearly of...
and subsequently by the Chula Vista City Council was the term sheet for the land-swap between the Port of San Diego
Port of San Diego
The Port of San Diego is a self-supporting public benefit corporation established in 1962 by an act of the California State Legislature. In 2007, The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics ranked the Port of San Diego as one of America's top 30 U.S. containership ports bringing in nearly of...
and Pacifica Companies. Pacifica Companies sought to swap 97 acres (392,545.4 m²) of land just near the Chula Vista Nature Center for 35 acres (141,640.1 m²) of land further south and just east of the marina, due to the land near the Chula Vista Nature Center being environmentally sensitive. Pacifica plans to build a 250-room hotel and a 1,500-unit condominium project on the site.
Development
In mid-May of 2010, development was given the go ahead when the Port, Chula Vista City Council, the City's Redevelopment Corporation, and the Chula Vista Planning Commission went through with actions that obtained necessary local approval prior to the consideration of state agencies. The development of the project will create upwards of 2,000 permanent jobs and more than 6,000 temporary construction jobs. Upon completion, the bayfront is estimated to generate $1.3 billion for the regional economy. The last obstacle in a 38-year effort to develop the bayfront, approval from the California State Lands CommissionCalifornia State Lands Commission
The California State Lands Commission is a unit of state government that is responsible for management and protection of natural and cultural resources, as well as public access rights, on some of California's publicly owned lands....
and the California Coastal Commission
California Coastal Commission
The California Coastal Commission is a state agency in the U.S. state of California with quasi-judicial regulatory oversight over land use and public access in the California coastal zone....
is needed.
Design
The land-use plans were shaped by extensive public input and include more than 200 acre (0.809372 km²) for a new signature park, habitat viewing areas, bikeways, pedestrian paths and public plazas. New development will include hotels, conference facilities, waterfront specialty shops, cultural attractions, condominium housing, and employment centers. The plans illustrate an expanded marina with an open water area for active boating and a re-aligned boating channel within San Diego Bay. This plan reflects the similar appearance of many bayfront and oceanfront locations in the northern bay area and CoronadoCoronado, California
Coronado, also known as Coronado Island, is an affluent resort city located in San Diego County, California, 5.2 miles from downtown San Diego. Its population was 24,697 at the 2010 census, up from 24,100 at the 2000 census. U.S. News and World Report lists Coronado as one of the most expensive...
.
The Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan was designed by the urban design firm of Cooper, Robertson & Partners
Cooper, Robertson & Partners
Cooper, Robertson & Partners is an international architecture and urban design firm headquartered in New York City.Founded originally as Alexander Cooper and Associates by Alex Cooper in 1979, the firm has designed a number of significant planned communities, urban infill, and transit-oriented...
, headquartered in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. For visualization purposes, “before and after” digital renderings of the bayfront were created. Pacifica Companies also developed preliminary architectural concepts for the condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
homes planned to be located both east of the harbor and south of J Street.