The Chargers on Thursday presented a joint-use stadium-convention center plan for the East Village in downtown San Diego to the California Coastal Commission. The Chargers’ plan is an alternative to San Diego’s current convention center expansion plan that may be considered by the CCC later this year. The Chargers also announced that international investment firm Colony Capital was partnering with the team to pursue the alternative plan for downtown San Diego, as well as for the Qualcomm and Sports Arena sites (Chargers). In San Diego, Susan Shroder notes the idea of a combined project "has been rejected by backers of the current convention center expansion proposal as not meeting the need for contiguous space for large meetings." Chargers Special Counsel Mark Fabiani said that the team and Colony Capital, "along with the team’s architectural firm, Populous, decided that the joint-use plan is more cost effective and environmentally sensitive than a convention center expansion." He also said that the East Village proposal "would improve three San Diego neighborhoods -- including the Qualcomm and Sports Arena sites -- and improve the city’s tax base" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/6).
DO THE MESS AROUND? In San Diego, Nick Canepa writes Fabiani and the Chargers "now are more hopeful than they’ve been in years," as they have found a "powerful business partner completely onboard the franchise’s cruise." Colony Capital is "one of the most respected real estate investment firms in the world," and they "aren’t going to mess around" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/6). Also in San Diego, Matthew Hall writes reaction to the proposal "was immediate and divided." It is an "old idea -- and one that [was] met with opposition two years ago -- but there are two new wrinkles." There is an "election for a new mayor of San Diego in November and two, the California Coastal Commission will hold a hearing on the existing convention center plans in October." There was "no discussion of how the proposal would be financed" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/6).
