The San Diego Unified Port District launched its plan this week to redevelop a 70-acre site on the downtown waterfront into a world-class, mixed-use development. The Port's 24-page RFP calls for exceptional architecture, a variety of shops, restaurants, a hotel and public areas with strong connections to the water’s edge. The developer would need to find ways to better link the site to the downtown city grid, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The site includes the 13.2-acre Seaport Village (above), a collection of more than 50 shops and 17 restaurants operated by Carlsbad-based Terramar Retail Centers (which will lose that lease in 2018 after failing to reach an agreement with the port). It also includes Terramar's The Headquarters in the redeveloped San Diego Police Department building; G Street Mole, home to the Fish Market Restaurant and American Tunaboat Association; the Chesapeake Fish Co; and Tuna Harbor, the commercial fishing docks. The port board has mandated that existing commercial fishing facilities be retained.

The Port’s main priority is increasing development potential and ground rent. The port collects $2.5M annually in rent for Seaport Village. The Save Seaport Village grassroots campaign is seeking to support existing tenants. Port chairman Marshall Merrifield says it would be unfair to bidders to carve out a portion of the village to retain certain tenants, but encouraged them to propose their own plan or partner with a developer. Potential developers must submit proposals by May 2. [SDUT]