The Port's proposed North Embarcadero Visisionary Plan Initial Study was rejected by the California Coastal Commission and the Port has been required to embark on a full blown EIR study for the project, which must included taking another look at what, if anything, gets built on Broadway Pier. The proposal to build a giant new cruise ship terminal on Broadway Pier has been challenged in court by the Bayfront Complex Coalition on the grounds that the Port allowed its Coastal Development Permit to expire before beginning contruction of the proposed terminal and the fact that a cruise ship teriminal on Broadway Pier would violate the Coastal Commission approved Port Master Plan. An informal public meeting will take place on October 15 where the Port staff may answer some questions on the NEVP project, but because the meeting does not begin at a time certain and no public meeting transcript will be made available, a legal question exists as to whether such a meeting can legally serve as a formal EIR Scoping Hearing under CEQA. All interested parties are encouraged to attend all NEVP related public meeting and voice their concerns of the proposed Broadway Pier cruise ship terminal proposal. The upcoming NEVP EIR must address, as its primary alternative, the original NEVP plan approved by the Coastal Commission in the existing Port Master Plan. The original NEVP concept includes an 80,000 square foot oval Broadway Landing Park at the foot of Broadway, leading out onto an open, public Broadway Pier unobstructed by any structures, and acessible to the public year round. Any new cruise ship terminal would be built on the existing B Street Pier, which is currently used to serve cruise ships. Please make your voice heard in this public debate and help preserve public access to downtown's bayfront.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Onion Award nomination for the Port of San Diego’s Broadway Pier Cruise Ship Terminal project. We at the port want to provide you with some historical information about the project site and the public process that led to the approval of the terminal. We hope you will consider the information in your deliberations. The architectural design is a result of over thirty public forums and meetings to gain input on how we could meet the community needs and serve the cruise industry’s needs with this joint-use facility on the pier. Historically, Broadway Pier has served as a waterfront workhorse since its inception in the early 1900s. At that time, it primarily served as a cargo pier. In the 1960s it became a major passenger and ferry pier. Later, in the 1980s, it was transformed into the region’s first cruise pier. Since it was built it has being a working pier. Recognizing its prominent location at the foot of Broadway, downtown’s ceremonial main street, the port worked with the California Coastal Commission to designate Broadway Pier for both maritime and public use. The dual use is reflected in the port’s Master Plan, a blueprint for the District’s plans for the public space the port administers for the people of California. The innovative design of the building on Broadway Pier is a product of collaboration between government and the public it serves. It reflects the direction and comments received from the mayor of San Diego, community and civic leaders, the city of San Diego, the Centre City Development Corporation, cruise line officials, homeland security officials, businesses adjacent to the pier, tourism and visitor serving businesses, and numerous other stakeholders. The building itself, described by the architect as a shimmering sea blue/green structure reflecting the sky and water, is constructed of metal and glass on a steel frame. It sits more than a city block, or 400 feet, back from North Harbor Drive on the 1,000-foot-long pier. The building will be built with environmentally-sustainable materials, including a 60KV photovoltaic system, and will be the first LEED designed structure among the port’s public buildings. The signature feature will be a major public art work designed by Leni Schwendinger of Light Projects, one of the public artists chosen for the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan. The monumental art work is also reflective of the site and will cast patterns of sand and waves to the concrete below and the over 50-foot lighted pylon and art wall will reflect patterns off its stainless steel and Plexiglas “sea scales”. Colors will change depending on the season, and the art work will provide a welcoming beacon inviting people to visit the site. The first 400 feet of the pier is open and is designed to support major special events and public gatherings on non-cruise ship days. There will be 1.5 acres of open space and when combined with the more than 105-foot-wide promenade planned as part of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, there will be room for parades festivals, gatherings and other events. Within the 52,000-square-foot terminal, there will be a 13,000-square-foot pavilion area looking out to San Diego Bay. Glass doors enclosing the building for cruise operations can be opened to give the pavilion structure the airy space of a major hotel ball room. Public access is provided the full length of the pier, when cruise operations are not occurring via a 20-foot walkway leading to and past the pavilion area. The Port is proud of this building and its design. And more than that, while there will always be detractors, we have met the needs expressed through the extensive public outreach effort. Our goal was to create a sustainable structure that can be used for special events and public events, tie it into the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, retain the cruise industry, provide public open space, and do this with an architecturally pleasing structure that will enhance San Diego’s waterfront. We did that. We are certain that when the project is completed, the public will embrace this facility and all that it will offer to keep San Diego’s waterfront vibrant, thriving and available to our community. Ronald W. Powell Director, Communications and Community Services Port of San Diego 619.400.4789

San Diego has a tendency to give away our good stuff to the 'latest' cash cow (navy hospital in Balboa Park; Navy Broadway Complex - Manchester Grand Hotels; Seaport Village; Convention Center). Now it is the Cruise Ship industry... instead of smartly creating a GREAT place to visit/board on a cruise ship, we put the cruise in the place that could make it a great experience. Ho hum... another example of our near-sighted less-than-great-but-just-fine attitude by San Diegans and our political leadership.

This building, while it's not the most amazing I've ever seen, is sooo much better than what was proposed before. I know that's not a valid argument against it's submission as an Onion but it's certainly worth mentioning. I'm in agreement that the door step from the bay to our downtown should be an extremely grand presentation of great architecture. However, in my opinion, the building itself is not an onion. I would agree that from a planning perspective there should be a different design so maybe it does deserve an Onion. We'll leave that up to the jurors to decide. I also think it's funny that by the month of May the Port is already nominated for an Orchid and an Onion. The Orchid is for Public Art for the Bernard Vernier pieces around the Port lands. -chris gustard 2009 O&O Co-Chair