Court Clears Way For Convention Center Expansion On Site Of Proposed Hotel Project

The city’s desire for a contiguous convention center expansion on the waterfront got a boost yesterday, when Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil rejected a legal challenge by attorney Cory Briggs to block it. The lawsuit contended the California Coastal Commission had violated the law by approving the convention center’s $520M expansion plan three years ago, but the judge ruled it had complied with the California Coastal Act and state environmental laws in approving the project, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.

He recognized the effort by the San Diego Navy Broadway Complex Coalition, which Briggs represents, to protect public access to the coast and the city’s desire to improve San Diego’s appeal as a convention destination. In the ruling, he wrote that the coastal commission “exhaustively addressed the issue of coastal access, and in particular working to make the (waterfront) promenade more inviting. Throughout the process, the commission addressed the need to increase the public recreational experience along the waterfront.”

Meanwhile, a competing project by The Robert Green Co has plans to build a $300M convention center hotel, Fifth Avenue Landing, on the site of the planned convention center expansion. This project already has the blessing of the Port of San Diego and is undergoing environmental and coastal commission review.

CEO Robert Green said when the court had deemed financing for the project illegal, the San Diego Convention Center Corp defaulted on its agreement to acquire the leasehold for the property, which is on state tidelands managed by the Port. As a result, Green teamed up with leaseholders Art Engel of Flagship Cruises and Ray Carpenter of RE Stait Construction and presented their proposal to the Port.

Green's project would provide public access to the waterfront and low-cost lodging for visitors, a luxury hotel and conference space. Above is a rendering of Fifth Avenue Landing with the San Diego Convention Center in the foreground.

San Diego mayor Kevin Falconer said the ruling removed one of the biggest hurdles to expanding the convention center, which would create jobs, grow the city’s tourism industry and enable the convention center to host large events like Comic-Con. A ballot initiative proposed earlier this month would raise the hotel tax to fund the convention center expansion. [SDUT]