By Delle Willett
Over the years, East Village has been a community with strong ties to education, innovation and creativity. A working-class neighborhood rich with industry, it has evolved into a central provider for social services to all of San Diego. In the ’80s and ’90s, artists flocked to the area to establish opportunities for live/work lofts.
About 12 years ago, when CCDC completed the Downtown Community Plan, a project was conceived to fundamentally transform 14th Street from National Avenue to C Street to be more pedestrian friendly. This project, called the 14th Street Promenade, came to life about three years ago when the planning, design, and communications firm of MIG, under the leadership of principal-in-charge and project manager Rick Barrett, worked on a master plan for more than a year with Civic San Diego.
The city of San Diego’s newly created Urban Division will oversee the implementation of the project along with future pedestrian promenades and other street enhancement projects. The 14th Street Promenade, along with five other promenades, were included in the Downtown San Diego Mobility Plan, approved by the city in 2016. The long-term goal of the plan is to boost safety and fight climate change.
The proposed promenade will be along the east side of 14th Street, with an approximate 26-foot pedestrian area that includes a sidewalk and a strolling trail. There are two travel lanes for cars and parking only on the west side of the street. The west side of the street has standard 14-foot sidewalks.
The master plan is based on three branded, context-driven districts that celebrate the past and bring the future of the neighborhood forward, creating an urban trail that is uniquely East Village. “Where history unites with today’s modern working neighborhood and continues to promote innovation, design, education and art,” reads the MIG design narrative.
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