Urban Plaza Breaks Ground

SAN DIEGO-Local government officials and Westfield executives broke ground recently on an urban-plaza project adjacent to Horton Plaza Park downtown here. The $14.7-million project involves the demolition of an existing structure that will make way for a 1-acre park, officials tell GlobeSt.com. The project is the result of a unique public-private partnership between the City of San Diego, Civic San Diego and Westfield and is intended to create a new central gathering space and restore the existing park and fountain, which have fallen into disrepair.

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 historic 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.