Plaza de Panama - a project that needs to be STOPPED

The Plaza de Panama Committee, funded by Dr. Irwin Jacobs, proposes building a bypass bridge on the South side of the Western Entrance to Balboa Park, a complete redesign of the Alcazar Garden Parking Lot, a "ditch" containing a thoroughfare to enter a 3 story underground parking garage where the Organ Pavilion Parking Lot is presently located, and relandscaping the Promenade, Plaza de Panama, El Prado West, and Plaza de California. This requires 140,000 cubic yards of earth removal and enables the increase of Average Daily Trips (ADTs) from the present level of 7,000 to

15,000 or more within 15 years.

For a look at how prior bad decisions have affected Balboa Park (before the EIR process became a requirement) and why laws have been made to try and protect the Park, visit Richard Amero's history.

The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was released May 4, 2012. This project is similar to Elective Cosmetic Surgery for a patient that is on LIfe Support.

See the Legler-Benbough Foundation study on the "Soul of San Diego." www.benbough.org/soulofsandiegoreport.pdf).

The Plaza de Panama Committee project should not be approved and moved forward based upon the following:
The $40 million investment in a bypass road, Alcazar meadow parking lot reconfiguring, additional roadway through the Park, and underground parking garage has a poor return for the Public.

1. A shuttle system could be implemented around the exterior of the Park at a cost of approximately $15,000/week = $780,000 per year connecting exterior lots and drop-off points with the Community, Santa Fe Depot, and the Trolley System. Cost is based upon published UT San Diego article on the proposed Bayfront shuttle for San Diego’s “front porch.” At $1 million a year, the $40 million proposed cost would provide for 40 years of free shuttles that enable the public to visit Balboa Park while reducing traffic, Green House Gases, and negative impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods.
2. An internal public light electric vehicle system, such as outlined at www.SanDiego2015.com, could be implemented internal to Balboa Park. Investment requirement for the City could be $0 if Balboa Park were to be marketed as a Sustainability Showcase Destination and vehicles designed to operate within the controlled environment of Balboa Park were built and implemented on a public/private partnership with transportation and technology companies.
3. The National Historic Landmark District designation and protection for the Historic Core of Balboa Park is endangered by the project
4. The project does nothing to restore the Alcazar Meadow, the Water Building, the California Gardens, and other features of the 1915 and 1935 Expositions to the National Historic Landmark District, and actually encourages the destruction of the District by introducing a bypass bridge, road, and parking garage as non-compatible features.
5. The project encourages the growth of traffic through the surrounding neighborhoods and the Park from the present-day 7,000 to over 12,000 Average Daily Trips. As historical data shows, the present-day 7000 ADT is above the projections made in prior years.
6. The Balboa Park Master Plan is outdated and needs to be revised based upon economic, social, and environmental changes – as well as technology changes.
7. The project plan area negatively impacts pedestrian flow between the International Cottages and the Organ Pavilion Promenade.
8. The $40 million investment returns only an addition of 273 parking spaces, of which 100 will be leased to a private valet company, resulting in a net gain of 173 parking spaces in a paid parking garage that requires removal of over 140,000 cubic yards of earth.
9. Application of 140,000 cubic yards of earth to the Arizona Landfill negatively impacts any potential environmental remediation of that site. The site, a capped landfill that is not contained, continues to leach into the Balboa Park aquifer and surrounding environment.
10. The project irrevocably (without any way to change back) the characteristics and nature of Balboa Park without benefitting future generations.  

This project does nothing to enhance the visitor experience to Balboa Park and actually detracts from the overall experience.

The Plaza de Panama Committee appears to be self-serving for the Hotel/Motel Tourism Industry, The Prado Restaurant and Japanese Tea Garden Concessionaire, The Museums leasing Public buildings, and select private industry interests.

This project does not project Innovation and Sustainability as a message to the World and will paint San Diego as a backward city with nice weather. It initiates a destructive trend toward the future of Balboa Park.

I urge you to not support moving this project forward.

Would you have Breast Enhancement Surgery when what is really needed is stem cell therapy and new organs to restore health? The proposed project does nothing to address the major issues and stop the deterioration of this Urban Jewel. The project significantly impacts areas of the National Historic Landmark District and removes the option of returning them to their original use within the NHLD designation. It benefits private institutions within Balboa Park and not the general Public. It tears up the Heart of the Park at the cost of irreparable harm to the National Historic Landmark District and does nothing to remove private vehicles from a public park.

The Balboa Park Committee (Advisory) voted in favor of the project 5/3/2012, the Park and Recreation Board (Advisory), the Natural Resources & Culture Committee (City Council), and the San Diego City Council (final vote) are now in process without any consideration for the Environmental Impact Report.

See the Calendar for dates, times, and locations.

Opposition to the Project as pushed forward has been most vocal on the Public's behalf from Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO San Diego.) Their documentation and comments surrounding the Plaza de Panama Project can be found here.

San Diego 2015 suggests that the short and long term vision for Balboa Park include the following. Unfortunately for the Public, the Private Interests bulldozing over the Public Interest will not accede to these ideas!

Close Cabrillo Bridge to private vehicles. Re-stripe and configure the Western Mesa roadways to enable additional parking while redirecting major park visitor private auto traffic to offsite parking areas with access to Balboa Park through an integrated internal and external transportation system.

The "Lewis Plan" brought forward under SOHO's sponsorship does nothing to remove private vehicles from Balboa Park's interior. HOWEVER, combining the circulation system that is proposed by Mr. Lewis for use by modern "Electriquettes" and an Inspirational Building at Inspiration Point that removes private autos from the National Historic Landmark District makes sense.

Build an "Inspirational Building" at Inspiration Point Parking Lot (SouthEast Parking Lot remaining from Navy Hospital) to house Park & Recreation Offices, Balboa Park Conservation Offices, Dining/Restaurant overlooking the City and Bay, multi-purpose roof - and other uses within the Balboa Park Charter, and creation of an internal and external transportation system to enhance the visitor experience. A structure at Lower Inspiration Point that becomes a destination and displays innovative building technologies would be a much better use than the present parking lot and site for Circus Vargas. It is outside of the National Historic Landmark District boundary within Balboa Park.

Replace use of private vehicles within the Heart of Balboa Park with automated small electric vehicles that recharge through induction (no wires) or are hydrogen fuel cell driven. A fleet of these vehicles updating the "electriquette" concept of 1915 to 2015 would enable manufacturers to demonstrate new technologies in a controlled environment. Here is a close-up view of the 1915 version. New vehicles could be configured in a number of ways to accomodate wheelchairs, scooters, light freight, etc. to meet the needs of the public users, including grouping together as trams. Create a pilot project for the technologies that cars will need to meet transportation needs into the future! The return of "electriquettes" are within the National Historic Landmark District guidelines, enhancing the visitor experience while using modern vehicles that recreate much the same experience of touring the grounds as in 1915. The "tram" configuration would recreate the 1935 Exposition transportation concept. Hydrogen fuel cells are expected to be in vehicles by 2015! Visit the technology page for more.

Build a much lighter bridge connecting the north side of the western entrance with Old Globe Way. Provide access for light electric vehicles to the Zoo Parking Lot via Zoo Place alongside Spanish Village. There is an existing parkade with a large door between the Museum of Man Administration Building and the Museum of Man/California Building through which electriquettes and light vehicles could pass through to deliver passengers on an alternate route when the Plaza de California and West El Prado are busy with pedestrians. The views would not be affected, and

Turn the Arizona Landfill into an Energy Station for Balboa Park! Instead of dumping over 140,000 cubic yards of dirt torn from the Heart of the Park for a garage onto the Arizona Landfill/Dump, install solar panels, a hydrogen production plant, and methane conversion plant to produce energy for hydrogen fuel cells to use in Balboa Park vehicles could be placed here, using water from the aquifer under Balboa Park as the source for hydrogen and oxygen. Chula Vista had a pilot project several years ago, and new technologies using catalysts lower the energy threshold requirements.

Return the Palisades (Pan Pacific Plaza Parking Lot), the Alcazar Lot, the Organ Pavilion Lot, El Prado West, Plaza de California, Plaza de Panama, (and the private auto roadways connecting them) to their historic uses within the National Historic Landmark District guidelines. Balboa Park is, first and foremost, a Public Park for which automobiles were never envisioned when it was dedicated. The rise of the automobile replaced buggies, horses, streetcars, and trains - with development modified to favor the auto. If it is possible to return these asphalt areas to historic uses while enhancing the Public's use of the Park as outlined on San Diego 2015's web pages, why not?!?

Implement hydrogen fuel cell buses and transportation around the outside of Balboa Park that ties into the interior transportation system.  Emeryville, CA recently dedicated a hydrogen fueling station for these types of buses.

How to Fund Balboa Park?

Pave Balboa Park's Plazas and Transform the Streets into Walkways with the Dreams of the World, Plazas of Imagination, Inspiration, and Innovation!

Balboa Park is a Public Park developed for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition along the idea of a Spanish Dream City on a Hill. Paving does not affect the National Historic Landmark District designation, as long as it enhances the visitor experience.
Why not raise funds for Balboa Park by enabling the Public to support the Park through paving donations?
No NAMES on the Pavers - Inscribe the donor's Dream for a better future (or the Dream that created a better life for them or their family,) either in a picture or a limited number of characters (perhaps matched by Twitter?).  Instead of their name, have a Quick Read (QR) code and number that links to an online database, where the donor can tell the story behind their Dream - and their name(s), if they so desire. Their descendants could add to the Dream online into the future and support maintainenance.

Use a titanium-dioxide based compound for the pavers, which cleans the air when exposed to sunlight - and has self cleaning properties.

Use honeycomb shaped (hexagonal) pavers that interlock and are permeable. This shape, found throughout nature, has been used for pavers and tiles throughout the ages. These pavers could be combined with other shapes to create interest.

Arrange these pavers to create designs that are visible from the air, similar to the geoglyphs of the Incans in Peru or the Nazca lines in Chile. The geoglyphs were inspired by nature, and are visible from the air. Today's technology enables viewing via the internet, and tomorrow's technology may include transportation for the public above the Park.

Create a funding source that benefits Balboa Park as a whole for future generations... and creates a reason for people to visit, cherish, and maintain Balboa Park into the future.

How much will each paver cost, and what is the investment that a donor would need to make?  While there should be a minimum donation requirement to cover the paver cost, everyone should have the opportunity to become part of the Dream for Balboa Park. Smaller donations may result in a smaller paver that is further away from the Heart. Larger donations may be reflected by having their paver located closer to the Heart. Our World is made from Our Dreams - shouldn't yours be written down for future generations?

In addition to the Public participation, there is an opportunity for major sponsorships of events throughout the Region and within Balboa Park during 2015.

The 1935 California Pacific Exposition

One of the challenges facing the Public, with the City as Stewards for this urban park, is how much they wish to restore Balboa Park within the National Historic District guidelines. The Plaza de Panama Committee project restores the Plaza de Panama and Plaza de California to historic uses at the cost of forever changing the look and feel of the Heart of the Park through building a bypass bridge, a new road, and an underground parking structure.

San Diego 2015 - Celebrating 100 Years of Creativity

What is Proposed for the Region?

There are many projects underway within the San Diego Region. This area will be built out as they are identified.

The San Diego North County Economic Development Corporation is investigating ways that the North County will prosper: www.sdnedc.org/prosperity-on-purpose

What is Proposed for the City of San Diego?

Within Balboa Park the Institutions that lease their facilities from the City of San Diego are planning on special exhibits for 2015. As of April 2012, no theme has been set for overall coordination.

What is Proposed for Balboa Park as the "Hub" and Beneficiary?

Upgrades to existing buildings.

"Streets of Dreams"

Intra-Park transportation that could operate independently or as "trams"/platoons.

Integrated and sustainable buildings outside of the National Historic Landmark District.

Restoration of buildings and landscapes within the National Historic Landmark District.

Events that benefit the Park and tenants within the Park.

What are some of the Sustainable Technologies that could be highlighted and companies that might be sponsors/partners?

Please visit the "Technologies for 2015" page for preliminary information.

Transportation Technologies

What are some transportation technologies that companies may want to collaborate on and bring to the market through a pilot project for Balboa Park and the San Diego 2015 Centennial Celebration? Robot cars have been around for almost 20 years, with testing done for high speed driving on the Interstate 15 HOV Lanes near Marine Corp Air Station Miramar. Why not introduce the technologies within a controlled environment that is visited by over 12 million people from around the world every year?

Here are some links and descriptions:

Building Technologies

What are some building technologies that companies may want to collaborate on and bring to market through pilot projects within Balboa Park or elsewhere within the San Diego Region?