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Plaza de Panama Project Hiatus Creates New Focus for Balboa Park
March/April 2019
 Save Our Heritage Organisation applauds San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer's decision to put the Plaza de Panama project on hold and instead to focus public investment in the park on restoring the historic Palisades area.
In the midst of the City's 2019 budget shortfall and the required financial approval by the new City Council, the project's proponents realized this massive undertaking could no longer be a City priority, especially when the park suffers from more than $150 million in deferred maintenance.
SOHO has maintained the 2016 project estimate of $60 million was vastly insufficient, and we weren't far off when we predicted the 2019 construction and administration project bids would exceed $120 million. For San Diegans and Balboa Park lovers all over the world, this welcome decision retains the National Historic Landmark status of the Cabrillo Bridge and the park's 1915 historic core. Parking will remain free within the beloved "people's park."
This was not the first time San Diegans rallied en masse to protect the city's jewel. It has needed our protection since 1872, when George Marston, a visionary civic leader, first fought to save the park's lands. Subsequent organizations, preservationists, and residents took up the battle flags for the next 100-plus years. We are gratified to know that Balboa Park's historic landscapes, iconic architecture, and magnificent Cabrillo Bridge will remain a unified landmark, as intended.
SOHO heartily supports the new focus on the historic Palisades area. The Committee of One Hundred has been at the forefront of this restoration effort in an area of the park that has long been neglected and underutilized, and could be one of its most beautiful attractions.
Supporters of SOHO's Plaza de Panama litigation and educational campaign encompass a remarkable breadth of individuals and groups, locally and from across the country. They include other top environmental and preservation organizations, and a number of Balboa Park entities and institutions.
We sincerely thank SOHO members, donors, and the thousands of supporters who have stayed strong for almost nine years of successful advocacy efforts, pushing the project out until cooler heads and economics prevailed.
We are grateful to Dr. Irwin Jacobs and the City for making the right decision at this critical juncture.
SOHO still has work to do, however, as we must maintain ongoing legal efforts to ensure this project is never revived.
You can continue to help preserve and protect historic Balboa Park now by donating to our legal fund HERE. Thank you!
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