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Port of San Diego Master Plan update
January/February 2021
 Lacy Pier in the La Playa area of San Diego. Photo by Sandé Lollis |
The Port of San Diego issued a draft Master Plan in 2019, prompting SOHO to include the La Playa Piers on our 2019 Most Endangered List because they are integral to the nautical character, use, and cultural landscape of La Playa and Shelter Island. However, after a large public outcry, the revised October 2020 draft no longer proposes demolition of the piers and instead supports San Diegans' wishes to ensure that all five remain and provide some degree of public access. This is good news, so we await the California Coastal Commission's verdict of the plan that saves the piers.
Other draft plan changes include an overall reduction of hotel rooms, establishing view corridors and increased setbacks in the Embarcadero District, retaining appropriate height limits for new buildings, the Shelter Island nature trail, designating Navy Pier as open space, and the South Bay's Bayshore Bikeway connection. These welcome additions will both enhance the historic and cultural amenities of the Port District, and increase public access to see and enjoy these features.
However, SOHO is encouraging the Port to add a Historic Preservation Element to the draft, as there are many important resources within the Port's jurisdiction across 34 miles of bay-front areas in five cities. A long-overdue architecture, maritime, and cultural landscape survey would benefit our entire region. Attractions such as the Maritime Museum, Shelter Island's Tiki architecture, and the deteriorating Granger Hall (once again on SOHO's 2020 Most Endangered List) support their mission, or could, to provide community amenities and a balanced approach to environmental stewardship, along with mandated coastal access.
Please provide your own comments on this important planning document and support a Historic Preservation Element HERE.
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