(Mission Valley News, San Diego, CA) – The U-T plans to redevelop its existing Mission Valley headquarters site, creating an estimated $200-million, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use project offering residential, office and retail in twin towers. The project could set the tone for future development in Mission Valley and elsewhere, according to Perry Dealy, president of Dealy Development, team leader for U-T’s redevelopment, launched by hotel developer and U-T publisher Douglas F. Manchester.
“Transit-oriented design is a very key part of the future growth of San Diego County, and this project is a good example of how mixed-use projects can serve as infill for redevelopment,” said Dealy. “We’re really trying to create a wonderful pedestrian experience putting townhomes up against tower buildings. It’s possible to do these things sensitively, allowing the river to flow and the natural habitat to coexist with pedestrians.”
Noting that Manchester had acquired the U-T property because “it’s a great real estate investment,” Dealy pointed out much of the existing site is a giant parking lot next to the San Diego River. “Being a good steward of the land, putting people living, playing and working there is a much better use in this location,” he said. The project envisions 200 residences in one 22-story building, with 235,000 square feet of offices and 6,500 square feet of retail in another 10-story building, which is to include the newspaper’s headquarters. A parking garage with a rooftop swimming pool, gym and tennis courts is also planned as well as a San Diego River trail for biking, walking and running.
Dealy said the project’s residential component will “provide market-rate housing, either condominiums or rentals, for-sale housing.”
“We’re not changing the existing two buildings,” Dealy added of existing onsite facilities housing the U-T newspaper’s headquarters and production machinery. Office space to be created will be strictly Class A, though there are no specific tenants in mind. “We’re open to the marketplace,” said Dealy. “Ideally, you would have one or two big tenants taking up a large part of the building. We’ll go out on the market looking for tenants with contiguous, large floor plans.”
The new office building will be south of U-T’s existing headquarters fronting Interstate 8 and Highway 163, while the residential tower will be adjacent to the San Diego River in the northern part of the project’s master plan.
The project’s going to take some time to build.
“We hope to have the project entitled by the end of 2013,” Dealy said. “It will probably take about a year to get the construction permits and about 18 months to construct, depending on market demand.” Dealy estimated a mid-2016 opening.
Preliminary plans for U-T headquarters redevelopment were laid out by Dealy at the July meeting of Mission Valley Planning Group. His presentation drew mostly positive reviews, such as that from planning group member Gina Cord. “In my opinion, the U-T redevelopment plans are outstandingly favorable and will bring additional class to Mission Valley,” Cord e-mailed. “We need the type of people that can afford to rent Class A office buildings and top-of-the-line condos and stores. I say ‘Bravo.’”
AVRP Studios of San Diego has been chosen as the U-T redevelopment project’s architect. Douglas H. Austin, the firm’s chairman/CEO, said the design of the project’s two new buildings will reflect the personality of their creator, “Papa” Doug Manchester. “He prefers timeless architecture, which is a little more classical. He’s not a fan of super contemporary,” said Austin, who added the building would also be state-of-the-art and ecologically friendly. Noting the look of the two new buildings will be “a cross between classical and modern architecture,” Austin said the grounds will be lush with fountains and other water features. “It will look almost like Versailles,” he said. “It’s going to be great.”
Noting urban planning’s goal today is to create places more pedestrian friendly for people to walk to shopping the trolley and elsewhere, Austin said the U-T headquarters site is ideally situated to achieve that objective.
“You have Interstate 8 and Highway 163 right there, you don’t have to take a lot of surface streets to get there,” he said. Manchester’s vision for what he wants to do is clear, said Austin. “He wants to do something spectacular,” he said. “He’s not shy about going that extra mile to create something really wonderful.”
Preliminary plans for U-T’s redevelopment could include a surprise or two. “We don’t know if we’re doing it for sure, but we’re thinking of creating a new pedestrian crossing across the river,” Dealy said. “We’re also looking at putting a restaurant with convenience parking on the riverfront.” There is a decided advantage to having residential and office in close proximity.
“Where you have office and residential, you have a perfect opportunity to share parking,” Dealy said. “Ninety percent of office parking will be available at peak demand for residents, and about 50 percent of residential parking will be available at peak demand for office. Why spend resources building more parking, or having parking out on the street, when you’ve got this reservoir of office parking available?”
Dealy said the U-T headquarters’ redevelopment, which will create a work-live environment by blending residential, office and retail spaces, will transform Mission Valley. “This is a great opportunity to embrace the river and integrate the whole feel, look and ecology of the environment into our project,” he said.
