San Diego Business Journal

A proposal is on the table to expand the San Diego Convention Center by more than 400,000 square feet at an estimated cost of $520 million

Several large local projects that began as a twinkle in the eyes of their developers are now coming to fruition after many years of planning, during which the endeavors encountered financing questions and other perils of rocky economies that often put builders’ dreams into holding patterns.

They include Sudberry Properties’ 230-acre Civita residential community in Mission Valley; the $956 million Palomar Medical Center West in Escondido; a $180 million renovation under way at Westfield Group’s Westfield UTC mall; and the South Bay Expressway, recently acquired by regional planners in a $351 million deal and deemed crucial to supporting future South County growth.

Many other developments on the horizon have been envisioned in extensive detail, but are awaiting their turn as funding and related matters are hashed out. The roster is topped by high-profile projects such as the proposed $520 million expansion of the San Diego Convention Center, and a proposed new downtown stadium for the San Diego Chargers, originally estimated at $800 million.

The Escondido hospital, in various phases of construction for the past five years, is expected to get its occupancy certificate by this April, and will be open for patients by late summer.

Wendy Cohen, director of facilities construction for Palomar Pomerado Health, said leaders of the public health care district acted on a dual vision for the project. They wanted to ensure that the massive 11-story, 750,000-square-foot building blended in with surrounding green hillsides, but also to use greenery in the hospital’s design and construction to aid patient care, with its rooftop garden and plant-filled terraces throughout the hospital.

“The aim was to fill the building with natural elements and natural lighting to promote a healing environment for the patients and staff,” Cohen said. “The hospital planners pretty much stuck with their original vision and didn’t waver from it.”

Creating Shopping Hubs

Much like its chief retail center competitor, Simon Property Group, which last year completed an extensive refurbishing of its Fashion Valley mall, Australia-based Westfield Group is investing millions of dollars to transform its San Diego County shopping centers into places where time-strapped, budget-conscious consumers do more than just shop.

Westfield officials say they want their properties to be relaxing places where people spend time socializing, checking out the latest movies, going to the gym and accomplishing other tasks on their busy to-do lists.

The UTC mall by year’s end will sport a 14-screen luxury movie theater, new restaurants, a children’s play area and family lounge, and an expanded version of 24 Hour Fitness. The mall’s promenades, dining areas and more than 70 store facades are being updated.

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