San Diego Gets its Own Public Square at Long Last—or Does It?

In its last redevelopment project deal, before California's Governor Brown pulled the plug on redevelopment, the City of San Diego reached an agreement with Westfield Co. to demolish a former anchor building in its Horton Plaza Shopping Center to make room for a plaza in the center of its downtown. Westfield was looking for a way to integrate the mall into its surrounds and the city lacked a central plaza or square in its downtown.  Additionally, Westfield sought relief from a parking revenue sharing commitment to the city left over from the original mall development agreement.  A deal was struck between the city and Westfield. Downtown would get a central plaza. Westfield would operate, maintain, and program the plaza. In exchange it would no longer have to share parking revenue with the city and it would have what could be one of downtown's premier attractions at its door front. However, the end of redevelopment put the deal in jeopardy. The state had to approve the project as one having sufficiently advanced before the Governor's repeal of redevelopment. 

After some delay, the state approved the project, and after a slow and halting construction process, Horton Plaza Park finally opened last week. The design team was led by the same firm that designed Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Walker Macy. To those familiar with Portland's Square, they will instantly recognize several of the same key elements in San Diego's new square. Reviews thus far have been mixed, with perhaps the strongest criticism leveled at one of the first events which blocked off the square from public access and view, leading San Diegans to wonder whether this P3 (public-private partnership) would result in a not-so-public square.  

However, one thing most San Diegans agree with is that the downtown needs a central plaza. Additionally, Horton Plaza Park contains a rarity in its downtown: a public restroom—or is it, given the P3 operation of the plaza.

Details and photos of the plaza are in the source article.