San Diego civic leaders are moving closer to establishing a joint powers authority to accelerate the long-stalled redevelopment of the city’s four-block municipal complex. According to the Downtown San Diego Partnership and the Prebys Foundation, the proposed Civic Center Redevelopment Authority will be designed to streamline development across downtown properties.
Proposed Governance and Joint Powers Authority Structure
The proposed joint powers authority (JPA) will bring together the City of San Diego, the San Diego Community College District, and the San Diego Unified School District under a shared governance model, according to draft agreements reviewed by project stakeholders. Betsy Brennan, chief executive officer of the Downtown Partnership, stated that the JPA will provide the necessary structure to coordinate decision-making and secure long-term financing strategies for the municipal complex.
As outlined in the draft agreement prepared by the law firm Best Best & Krieger LLP, the agency will be governed by a five-member board. The city will appoint two directors, the community college district will appoint two directors, and the school district will appoint one director, with all members serving four-year terms. The structure mirrors the Transbay Joint Powers Authority located in the San Francisco Bay Area, according to Brennan.
Scope of the Civic Center Redevelopment Area
The designated redevelopment zone encompasses the four-block municipal complex bounded by A Street, C Street, First Avenue, and Third Avenue. This area includes the City Administration Building, the Civic Center Plaza office tower, Golden Hall, the Evan V. Jones Parkade, and the Civic Theatre. Additionally, the boundary extends across the street to include the City Operations Building at 1222 First Ave. and the block at 101 Ash St., as outlined in planning documents from U3 Advisors.
Real estate analyst Gary London noted that the JPA structure could bypass municipal bureaucratic delays, comparing its potential impact to the city’s former redevelopment agency, the Centre City Development Corp. (CCDC). State officials dissolved California’s redevelopment agencies in 2012, halting the tax-increment financing mechanisms previously used to build projects like Petco Park and the San Diego Convention Center.
Project Proposals and Financial Execution
Urban planning consultants U3 Advisors previously crafted a conceptual master plan to transform the municipal blocks into an arts and education hub featuring public spaces, high-rise residential apartments, retail stores, restaurants, and a hotel. Specific proposals are already moving forward through participating agencies.
The San Diego Community College District is actively evaluating the demolition of Golden Hall to construct a museum, an educational facility, and student housing. Brennan noted that while the city owns the underlying land, the community college district possesses the immediate financial resources and readiness to execute the development.
The draft agreement stipulates that the JPA will not force the relocation of City Hall or disrupt ongoing municipal operations until the city establishes adequate replacement facilities or provides written consent. The proposal is scheduled for review by the San Diego Land Use and Housing Committee in September, followed by a formal request for City Council approval before the end of the year.
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