Manchester Financial Group announced details Friday of its proposal to the Port of San Diego to transform the Central Embarcadero with new parks, restaurants, an aquarium and a 400-foot sculpture and lookout called the Spinnaker.
The well-known San Diego developer’s Celebration Place proposal includes a 500-room boutique hotel, 2,500-seat performance hall, 250,000 square feet of shopping and dining, an aquarium, commercial fishing and 2,600 parking spaces.
Located on the southern tip would be the 400-foot Spinnaker, a transparent sail constructed of LED fibers, with a viewing area at the top.
“Our vision for Celebration Place is to create a world-class waterfront with multiple parks and activities, a unique baywalk, a bustling commercial harbor, a new icon for San Diego, and a public realm that’s all about honoring the water,” said “Papa Doug” Manchester, chairman of the development firm.
“We believe this is the most important site in San Diego, and our enduring goal will be to beautify the bay front for residents and visitors, ultimately giving the land back to the community as a gift to the people of this region,” he said.
The Manchester proposal is one of six for the 70-acre site, which includes Embarcadero Marina Park North, Ruocco Park and Tuna Harbor, as well as Seaport Village. The port’s board of commissioners will hold a public workshop on Wednesday to hear the proposals.
Another San Diego developer, Oliver McMillan, offered plans for the Embarcadero District, which would include a world-class event venue, a variety of hospitality options, stores and restaurants, a public marketplace, an indoor/outdoor ecological learning center, a performance space for public benefit, and a marina.
All six proposals are now available online.
Manchester is developer of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, the San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina and the Manchester Pacific Gateway project.
