SAN DIEGO—With Seaport Village's current lease expiring in about a year, the Port of San Diego wanted to be sure to put the best possible manager/operator in place for the interim period between the end of the current lease and the redevelopment of the Central Embarcadero, manager of real estate development Penny Maus tells GlobeSt.com. The Port recently opened a competitive selection process for a third party to manage and operate Seaport Village on an interim basis after the current lease expires on September 30, 2018.

The intent of the Request for Proposals (RFP) solicitation, known as the Waterfront Retail Opportunity, is to ensure the shopping and dining complex remains a vibrant and prosperous waterfront destination for residents and visitors until the Port's planned redevelopment of the Central Embarcadero. Interested parties can download the RFP on PlanetBids.

Seaport Village is located between Downtown San Diego and San Diego Bay. The approximately 14-acre site currently includes approximately 70 specialty retailers and eateries, as well as on-site parking.

We spoke with Maus about the decision to solicit an RFP for this assignment and what's important in managing waterfront urban locations like Seaport Village.

GlobeSt.com: Why did the Port decide to solicit an RFP for this assignment?

Maus: With the current lease expiring in about a year, we want to be sure to put the best possible manager/operator in place for the interim period between the end of the current lease and the redevelopment of the Central Embarcadero, which includes Seaport Village. The best way to do that is through a competitive bidding process. Our primary goal is to keep Seaport Village open for business and thriving for the benefit of the public and the businesses that operate within it.

GlobeSt.com: Why is it important to find the right management company for projects like this?

Maus: As mentioned above, it's really important that Seaport Village remain a prosperous and treasured destination until the redevelopment of the Central Embarcadero. This is a unique opportunity involving a waterfront property that borders the western edge of Downtown San Diego, with breathtaking views and inescapable foot traffic. We are taking this proactive step to seek an interim manager/operator that will work with us to develop a retention plan for the businesses that currently operate at Seaport Village beyond the expiration of the current lease as well as work with us and 1HWY1, the team selected to redevelop the Central Embarcadero, on a transition plan for construction.

GlobeSt.com: What do you look for and what is most important in managing waterfront, urban locations like Seaport Village?

Maus: The Port's dynamic waterfront has some of the best real estate in the country. When we are attracting new business to the Port, we are always looking for tenants, or in this case manager/operators, that are best in class. The Waterfront Retail Opportunity RFP itself outlines some requirements that are specific to this solicitation and, in this case, we are looking for an experienced, high-caliber property manager/operator that has experience in specialty retail management and operation, with centers that are comparable in size and gross annual revenue.

Collecting no tax dollars, the Port reinvests its revenues, like those that will be generated from Seaport Village, back into our communities and local economy to provide prosperity and a remarkable way of life for all.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about this assignment?

Maus: Next Monday, Sept. 11, at 1 p.m., the Port will be hosting an Information Exchange Meeting for interested parties to attend. We'll provide an overview of the opportunity, discuss the requirements and process for submitting a proposal and answer questions attendees may have. For more details, and to download the RFP, readers can visit portofsandiego.org/seaportvillageRFP.

Instant Insights /

Why the Port of San Diego is Seeking Seaport Village Mgmt.

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