Focus Plan: A Visionary Plan by the East Village People
Oct. 16, 2016
“We have only one chance to get it right. Whatever goes into that large area of East Village will be there forever.” …Rob Quigley
The large area architect Rob Quigley is referencing is a very valuable East Village parcel of 15 developable acres, mostly public with the remainder occupied by the MTS bus yard between Petco Park and Barrio Logan. It is the land the Chargers have chosen for a new stadium and annex to the San Diego Convention Center (the so-called “Convadium”), a proposal designated on the November ballot as Measure C.
After this plan was presented to the public, a group of civic-minded citizens, objecting to the Stadium being built in this particular spot, gathered together in workshops at NewSchool to discuss alternative ideas. What should be developed on this land? How can the area benefit the community and the public? How can it generate income and jobs? How can it connect with neighborhoods around it? Can it create more housing and attract millennials and innovators?
By the third workshop this group of architects and urban planners, residents and business owners, economists and activists (now called the “East Village People”), came up with an alternative plan. It is called the East Village Focus Plan and is the topic of our session today with Architect Rob Quigley, FAIA, acting as spokesperson for the East Village People.
Quigley is best known for his design of the Central Library located in East Village: the City opened “the state-of-the-art and award-winning San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common” in September 2013. That accomplishment was a natural development in a distinguished career. Rob has been an innovative leader in the architectural community since 1978. He designed sustainable projects before the word “sustainable” became a requirement on an architect’s check list. Rob started his practice by designing low-cost housing and since then has won many awards for all types of projects—civic, residential, commercial, and mixed-use retail/industrial. He introduced Single Resident Occupancy housing (SRO’s) in downtown San Diego and his buildings are recognized for the creative and cost-saving use of concrete and industrial materials.
Since the Central Library’s completion, Quigley and his wife, Kathleen Hallahan, have moved their residence and office to a building he designed just a block from the library. His latest project is a mixed-use building next to the library. As a resident and investor in East Village, Rob has a personal interest in the future of the area. But he also has a clear-eyed vision of the highest-and-best use for this final piece of San Diego’s urban puzzle.