2 weeks Ago By Danielle Dawson
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A recently released draft environmental report on the "Midway Rising" project — the ambitious overhaul of San Diego's Sports Arena area into a large-scale, mixed-use space — lays out new specifics about what the development could look like.The long-awaited makeover of the site is poised to become the largest affordable housing project in California history, with 2,000 income-restricted units and up to 2,254 market-rate apartments on top of a new 16,000-seat arena, extensive commercial space, parks and more.For the affordable units, city staff have said rent prices could range from about $900 for a one-bedroom to $3,000 for a three-bedroom unit, depending on income level.
All of these units would be reserved for households making 80% of the city's average income or below.Katsuya Ko opening soon in Westfield UTCThe environmental impact report, which was released by the state last month to allow for public comment, offers additional details about the city's plans to bring the project to life — from plans for the space to how it plans to pursue construction.According to the report, the roughly 49-acre site — bounded by Kurtz Street to the northeast, Hancock Street to the northwest, and Sports Arena Boulevard to the south — would be divided based on three public spaces: "The Square," "The Plaza" and "The Green.
"Midway Rising project site overview. (City of San Diego Midway Rising project environmental impact report draft)"The Square" and "The Green" would be the bookends of the site, serving as public hubs for the entertainment center and residential space respectively. "The Plaza" would run between the two, serving as a Spanish Paseo-style pedestrian corridor with shopping and dining.
Concepts of each of these spaces incorporate multi-use lawns and plazas, spaces for family-friendly activities, dining and retail patios, and public art, among other things. These areas will also largely be contiguous, split only by two new streets planned for the residential area.The new roads, named Frontier Drive and Kemper Street, will serve as entrance points for the residential and business district.
These two-lane roads will also give people access to street and structured parking for both residents and the greater public, the report says.Example of parking structure. (City of San Diego Midway Rising project environmental impact report draft)Each of the buildings inside the development will have a maximum height of about 105 feet, except for the arena would be about 165 feet tall, per the report.
These buildings will also be used as an architectural screen for the parking structures, wrapping around the garages' exterior.However, only 7,040 parking spots will be available in these structures: 4,550 for residents, 2,100 for the entertainment center, and 390 for those shopping or dining. When events that draw out more than 7,500 people are happening at the arena, the city says it plans to utilize off-site, overflow parking.
The city said in the report limiting the parking on site was an intentional choice to encourage alternative forms of transportation to and from the development, given its close proximity to the Old Town Transit Center, located right on the other side of the Interstate 5.Outside the project's main boundaries, the city said it also plans to make a number of changes to off-site roads, like Sports Arena Boulevard and Rosecrans Street, to support this goal of making the area less car-centric and more friendly for public transit, pedestrians and bicyclists.According to the report, the city plans to reduce the six-lane Sports Arena Boulevard, which will abut the residential and commercial buildings, to four-lanes to create a dedicated bus and right-turn only lane, as well as expand the sidewalk into a protected, multi-use promenade.
Similar road work to create designated lanes for buses, bikes and right turns is also planned for Rosecrans and Kurtz streets.North Park street to be renamed after beloved diner owner, Lucky WongAs for details about the potential construction of the project, the report says crews will take a phased approach. The phasing could start with the entertainment center while the existing Sports Arena remains operational before moving to the residential and commercial buildings nearby, according to the report.
The second phase would then shift to the demolition of the Sports Arena and construction of buildings to the west of what would become Frontier Drive.That said, construction is still contingent on securing financing for the project. The city has explored creating a special tax district that would allow a segment of property taxes from that area to go towards the project and grants based on certain aspects of the project, like the affordable housing, but neither of these options have been solidified.
Some funding may come from billionaire Stan Kroenke, who joined the Midway Rising development team as a chief investor in 2023, although the extent of his involvement remains unclear.As for the environmental report, with the draft released, the public now has the ability to provide feedback on the project through May 8. More information on how to provide input can be found on the city of San Diego's website.
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