California's Best And Worst Mid-Sized City Downtowns - Page 6

CrazyAboutCities · October 12th, 2009, 07:50 PM

When I lived in San Diego, its downtown had few high rises at that time and added so many new buildings since early 1990s. It is amazing to see how much San Diego have been grown since then. I would love to see downtown San Diego to start build taller than 500' and it would nice to have few supertalls too. I fail to see why can't San Diego to increase the height limitation since planes are not fly over them only pass by.

Westsidelife · October 13th, 2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshuaSantos

In terms of fun, you can't even compare downtown San Diego with LA... San Diego wins hands down. It's a better designed downtown filled with vibrancy.

More fun and vibrant? Yes. Better designed? That's debatable.

SDfan · October 14th, 2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krudmonk

Their flight path goes by downtown, not over it.

The flight path goes over Little Italy, which is in downtown. So it does go over downtown

SDfan · October 14th, 2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyAboutCities

When I lived in San Diego, its downtown had few high rises at that time and added so many new buildings since early 1990s. It is amazing to see how much San Diego have been grown since then. I would love to see downtown San Diego to start build taller than 500' and it would nice to have few supertalls too. I fail to see why can't San Diego to increase the height limitation since planes are not fly over them only pass by.

From my own knowledge, there needs to be an emergency turn path of some sort and since the airport is so close to the city, anything over 500' would come into conflict with that emergency plan. In all honesty, that doesn't make much sense for the East Village at least. Core-Culumbia, fine. But to restirct the entire downtown area is ridiculous. I just wish we had someone, or some developer who would ask for a variance. They could start the request now since the economy is down and by the time it picks up, guess whos building a new tallest in SD?...All I'm asking for is at least is 750'. Supertalls would be a stretch, but 750' is the average for a city with some distinction...

CrazyAboutCities · October 14th, 2009, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDfan

From my own knowledge, there needs to be an emergency turn path of some sort and since the airport is so close to the city, anything over 500' would come into conflict with that emergency plan. In all honesty, that doesn't make much sense for the East Village at least. Core-Culumbia, fine. But to restirct the entire downtown area is ridiculous. I just wish we had someone, or some developer who would ask for a variance. They could start the request now since the economy is down and by the time it picks up, guess whos building a new tallest in SD?...All I'm asking for is at least is 750'. Supertalls would be a stretch, but 750' is the average for a city with some distinction...

Yeah. 750' towers would be great too. Some people in San Diego should push city councils to make some changes with downtown height restriction to make it happen.

krudmonk · October 15th, 2009, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDfan

The flight path goes over Little Italy, which is in downtown. So it does go over downtown

You're splitting hairs. The buildings out the window show that the planes go past them, not over them. That's my point, not the neighborhood boundaries.

SDfan · October 16th, 2009, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krudmonk

You're splitting hairs. The buildings out the window show that the planes go past them, not over them. That's my point, not the neighborhood boundaries.

Tomato vs Tomato I suppose.

SDfan · October 16th, 2009, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyAboutCities

Yeah. 750' towers would be great too. Some people in San Diego should push city councils to make some changes with downtown height restriction to make it happen.

What's sad is that the actual downtown plan allows for buildings as high as 750'. Its just the FAA has final juristiction. Quite sad indeed.

CrazyAboutCities · October 16th, 2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDfan

What's sad is that the actual downtown plan allows for buildings as high as 750'. Its just the FAA has final juristiction. Quite sad indeed.

Yeah. San Diego is not alone on this case with FAA. Seattle, Las Vegas, and some US cities have similar problems with FAA about height.

bayviews · October 28th, 2009, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OettingerCroat

i love downtown Walnut Creek. is that midsized? 72,000 ppl?

Walnut Creek is really a suburb rather than a city. It's very upscale & has the nicest retail center in the East Bay, with most of the most exclusive retailers represented

Sadly though, Walnut Creek's retail rise came primarily at the expense of downtown Oakland.

Bob24 · October 29th, 2009, 04:14 AM

San Diego doesn't need taller buildings. Taller buildings would only block views, reduce sunlight, and detract from what makes San Diego's downtown so unique. Which is to say, San Diego is a big city with a small town feel.

CrazyAboutCities · October 29th, 2009, 09:27 PM

If you don't like taller buildings... What are you doing here? This website is fan site for skyscrapers lovers.

krudmonk · October 29th, 2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyAboutCities

If you don't like taller buildings... What are you doing here? This website is fan site for skyscrapers lovers.

He said "taller," not "tall." Sit down and have a drink or something, guy.

SDfan · October 30th, 2009, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob24

San Diego doesn't need taller buildings. Taller buildings would only block views, reduce sunlight, and detract from what makes San Diego's downtown so unique. Which is to say, San Diego is a big city with a small town feel.

I really don't like this mentality. San Diego is never going to grow into its own with people who want to keep its "small town feel". What I find funny is that I never get this feeling walking the actual city. Maybe if you're in a hamlet in Del Mar, or off in a country club in Rancho Bernardo, but this small town thinking needs to end because it doesn't exist today.

Pretty much old transplants from the midwest like to talk about San Diego's "small town feel". They are the same people who stop projects and progress that would enhance the city's economy, culture, and relevance to the world.

Three million people live in this region, and if we keep clinging to "small town feel" we're not going to be able to support them and the next million to follow.

No personal offence, I just get annoyed with this outdated argument against progress (ie taller building, etc...).

QuarterMileSidewalk · October 30th, 2009, 07:23 AM

Would it be even remotely feasible for San Diego to build an artificial, offshore airport like Hong Kong's, so Lindbergh can be closed and the FAA limits over downtown lifted? Not that that's the only reason to build an airport. Can't use Miramar, can't use Brown Field, can't use North Island, Lindy's too small, why not use the continental shelf? Faultlines?

JoshuaSantos · October 30th, 2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuarterMileSidewalk

Would it be even remotely feasible for San Diego to build an artificial, offshore airport like Hong Kong's...

My guess is no =)

JJC80 · October 30th, 2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyAboutCities

That is not in downtown Bakersfield. That is in Stockdale (Bakersfield suburbs).

That is the Stockdale Tower on California avenue just west of highway 99. Not too far from downtown (a few miles west) but certainly not in downtown.

CrazyAboutCities · October 31st, 2009, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJC80

That is the Stockdale Tower on California avenue just west of highway 99. Not too far from downtown (a few miles west) but certainly not in downtown.

I know that. That's what I tried to say.

Imperfect Ending · October 31st, 2009, 06:00 AM

Pasadena eh

bayviews · November 5th, 2009, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuarterMileSidewalk

Would it be even remotely feasible for San Diego to build an artificial, offshore airport like Hong Kong's, so Lindbergh can be closed and the FAA limits over downtown lifted? Not that that's the only reason to build an airport. Can't use Miramar, can't use Brown Field, can't use North Island, Lindy's too small, why not use the continental shelf? Faultlines?

Offshore airports are far beyond whats remotley possible in the US, this isn't China!

I'm sure there's plenty of space in eastern San Diego County to build a new airport, if they really wanted it. But given San Diego's location in the far southwest corner, its never been a big airline destination, like Denver or Dallas, which have built new airports in recent decadeas. Probably wouldn't be worth the many billions required to build a new airport.

October 31st, 2009, 06:00 AM	#119
Imperfect Ending Or is it? Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: In Portland, Oregon with Leo Posts: 10,444 Likes (Received): 24	Pasadena eh __________________ Las Vegas \| Los Angeles \| San Diego \| San Francisco West Coast Road Trip \| Road Trip Part 2 ︷︸︸︷︸︷︷︸︷︸

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October 12th, 2009, 07:50 PM	#101
CrazyAboutCities Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 8,332 Likes (Received): 17	When I lived in San Diego, its downtown had few high rises at that time and added so many new buildings since early 1990s. It is amazing to see how much San Diego have been grown since then. I would love to see downtown San Diego to start build taller than 500' and it would nice to have few supertalls too. I fail to see why can't San Diego to increase the height limitation since planes are not fly over them only pass by.

October 29th, 2009, 04:14 AM	#111
Bob24 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5 Likes (Received): 0	San Diego doesn't need taller buildings. Taller buildings would only block views, reduce sunlight, and detract from what makes San Diego's downtown so unique. Which is to say, San Diego is a big city with a small town feel.

October 29th, 2009, 09:27 PM	#112
CrazyAboutCities Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 8,332 Likes (Received): 17	If you don't like taller buildings... What are you doing here? This website is fan site for skyscrapers lovers.

October 30th, 2009, 07:23 AM	#115
QuarterMileSidewalk Laissez-Faire Forever! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fontana, California Posts: 261 Likes (Received): 0	Would it be even remotely feasible for San Diego to build an artificial, offshore airport like Hong Kong's, so Lindbergh can be closed and the FAA limits over downtown lifted? Not that that's the only reason to build an airport. Can't use Miramar, can't use Brown Field, can't use North Island, Lindy's too small, why not use the continental shelf? Faultlines?