A City Council committee Thursday gave initial authorization to staff to issue $50 million in bonds and award a construction contract for a revived plan to remove vehicle traffic from the center of Balboa Park.
On a pair of 3-0 votes, the Infrastructure Committee advanced the plan that would also lead to construction of a parking garage behind the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Revenue from the garage would pay back the bond proceeds, according to the city’s plans.
The measures still have to go before the full City Council for final approval.
Last month, the council approved the expenditure of $1 million to complete planning and documentation.
The City Council first aproved the project four years ago, but it was overturned by a judge on a technicality. The city later won an appeal, and Mayor Kevin Faulconer recently revived the idea.
Balboa Park cultural institutions are solidly behind the plan, which was brought to the city by Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs.
The plan “is an opportunity to restore our park’s grand plazas and promenades to the beauty envisioned by the early founders,” Jacobs told the committee members.
He said that “marvelous spaces” were “inappropriately” turned into roads many decades ago.
The approved actions will also allow staff to enter into a cooperation agreement with Jacobs’ group and accept funding from them.
An opponent of the plan, David Lundin, told the committee members that there was no evidence of parking shortages in the park or danger for pedestrians. The park suffers from crumbling buildings and aging water pipes, he said.
“If you have $50 to 60 million you want to spend on the park, spend it wisely,” said Lundin, who helped found a group called the Balboa Park Heritage Association.
The approximately $70 million plan caps the city’s contributions at $49 million.
The Plaza de Panama Committee, headed by Jacobs, will be responsible for the rest, plus cost overruns, according to staff.
–City News Service
