Kevin Faulconer, the mayor of San Diego, and Hasan Ikhrata, the San Diego Association of Governments' (SANDAG) new executive director, have big plans for creating a transit hub that would connect the airport with public transportation.
The officials are looking at the Naval Base Point Loma, Old Town Complex, more often recognized as the site of the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). This 71-acre property is adjacent to both the freeway and the airport, making it the ideal spot for this development. Projects like this are complex and challenging, so officials might considering using brochure printing to illustrate its benefits to the city.
The plans, which are still very much in flux, would put the SPAWAR property together with the Old Town Transit Center, which is already in use. The combined property would comprise 120 acres, and offer a mixed-use development. All current rail options would come through this nexus, as would any rail links developed in future. The hub would also have a people mover connecting the rail system to the two terminals at San Diego International Airport. The transportation hub would be the beginning of an even bigger project that would include office spaces and housing units.
Presently, there are a number of obstacles to the idea, including the fact that several other potential buyers are looking at the SPAWAR property, which is ideally located only 3.5 miles from San Diego International, and 2.5 miles from the city's downtown.
