SAN DIEGO, Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayor Jerry Sanders, Council President Pro Tem
Kevin L. Faulconer, Mayor-Elect Bob
Filner, former Governor Pete Wilson
and Westfield executives today
joined hundreds of guests to break ground on a world-class urban
plaza adjacent to the historic Horton Plaza
Park in downtown San Diego.
This project is the result of a unique public-private partnership
between the City of San Diego,
Civic San Diego and Westfield that
will create a new central gathering space and restore the existing
park and fountain, which have fallen into disrepair.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121129/LA20799)
"Today we embark on a project that will create an iconic
multi-use space for visitors and residents from throughout
San Diego County," said San Diego
City Council President Pro Tem Kevin L.
Faulconer, who represents the downtown community. "It has
been apparent for quite some time that Horton Plaza Park needed a makeover. The square
must be restored to meet the needs of downtown's growing population
and reclaim its historic role as a regional destination for San
Diegans and future generations. Along with other new attractions
such as the waterfront park, the urban plaza will be a beloved
downtown amenity for years to come."
During the groundbreaking ceremony, speakers celebrated the
past, present and future of both Horton
Plaza Park, which once served as a place where people
gathered to celebrate the Fourth of
July and hear presidents speak, and the Horton Plaza
shopping center, which sparked the original redevelopment of
downtown in the early 1980s.
This dynamic history was acknowledged at the groundbreaking
through the unveiling of a plaque to honor former San Diego Mayor and California Governor Pete Wilson and others who played a significant
role not only in the new urban plaza, but also in the original
development and revitalization of downtown. Known as "Horton's
Heroes," honorees included Mayor Jerry
Sanders; the San Diego City Council; downtown San Diego founder Alonzo Horton; fountain designer Irving Gill; Hahn Company representatives
Ernest Hahn and John Gilchrist, who helped develop the Horton
Plaza shopping center; Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC)
representatives Frank Alessi,
Pamela Hamilton and Gerald Trimble; former San Diego City
Councilmember Leon Williams; and Westfield, owner of the Horton Plaza shopping
center.
In addition, downtown stakeholders were on-hand to dedicate a
time capsule representing the community's culture in 2012, as well
as Horton Plaza's long history. Several items were placed in the
vessel, which will be buried at the new urban plaza and unearthed
by future generations of San Diegans in 50 years.
"The construction of this world-class facility represents the
next phase of a long tradition that has made downtown San Diego the vibrant destination it is
today," said Mayor Jerry Sanders.
"The project will provide an economic boost to the surrounding
area, continue the redevelopment that began four decades ago and
ensure that Horton Plaza Park
remains an exciting part of San
Diego's bright future."
The San Diego City Council unanimously voted in favor of the new
urban plaza in January 2011. As part
of the approved plan, Westfield
agreed to demolish the former Robinsons-May/Planet Hollywood
building at the Horton Plaza shopping center, transfer ownership of
that land to the City, and maintain and actively program the park
for 25 years. The project will also restore and beautify the
existing park and fountain adjacent to the property.
"Westfield is proud to partner
with the City on a project that will honor the storied history of
the Horton Plaza area as a catalyst for economic growth and success
in downtown," said Jerry Engen,
Senior Vice President of Development for The Westfield Group in
San Diego. "We are committed to
helping create, maintain and activate a world-class urban plaza
that will provide residents and visitors alike with the opportunity
to enjoy more than 200 events each year that will celebrate our
diverse cultural, spiritual and community traditions."
Demolition of the former Robinsons-May/Planet Hollywood building
began at the groundbreaking ceremony and will continue over the
next few months. Construction of the new urban plaza, which was
designed through a robust public process, is expected to begin in
April 2013, with project completion
scheduled for spring 2014.
About Westfield: The
Westfield Group (ASX: WDC) is an Australian-based company with
interests in 105 shopping centers in Australia, New
Zealand, Brazil, the
United Kingdom and the United States. In the U.S., Westfield has a portfolio of 47 shopping
centers that are home to more than 7,900 specialty stores and
comprise approximately 56 million square feet of leasable space in
California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New
Jersey, New York,
North Carolina, Ohio and Washington.
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Contact:
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Chris
Wahl
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858-361-4750
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SOURCE Westfield