Broadway, between Seventh and Eighth avenues

Under review before Civic San Diego is a proposal to build two mixed-use towers downtown — one 21 stories and one 41 — on a blighted block along Broadway. The project, temporarily called “Broadway Block,” will occupy the full block bounded by C Street, Broadway, and Seventh and Eighth avenues.

Broadway Block preliminary design

Joseph Wong Design Associates

“Broadway Block Owner, LLC” is the applicant of record. The actual owner is real estate and investment company Zephyr Partners of Encinitas, which has built luxury residential properties in San Diego.

The project consists of 600 dwelling units, 960 parking spaces, and 22,000 square feet of commercial space. The towers will be about 440 and 220 feet tall. A seventh-level sky garden is planned, and also a 30th-level deck. Project architect is Joseph Wong Design Associates. The cost is estimated at more than $250 million.

Wahrenbrock's, we knew you too well (sniff)

On the north side of Broadway, between Seventh and Eighth avenues, businesses include Super Discount Food, a hair salon, two tattoo/piercing parlors, a rundown apartment building, and the long-closed Wahrenbrock's Book House. Other businesses in the block are mostly vacant now, some tagged with graffiti. On the west side of Seventh Avenue are Alexander Salazar Fine Art, Krisp Beverages + Natural Foods, and an Avis car rental outlet.

The project's notice of application to CivicSD indicates preliminary design review meetings are tentatively scheduled for June 8 and June 10 at the CivicSD offices at 401 B Street. Both of those are subcommittee meetings, to be followed by “a series of design review meetings with CivicSD and the Downtown Community Planning Council.” The final review takes place at a public hearing before the CivicSD board.

Gary Smith, president of San Diego Downtown Residents Group, said he had not yet seen the plans. "But full block, high rise is what works downtown, and more desirable than five-story monolithic blocks," Smith said.

The art gallery's Alexander Salazar said, "I have been waiting for six years now for something amazing to happen in this neighborhood. It is a sign of progress and future success for any business in the area."