DEADLINE IS MONDAY FOR INPUT ON S.D. SPORTS ARENA AREA

Two developers have contrasting plans for blighted region

Monday night at midnight is the deadline for members of the public to offer their opinions on rival development proposals for San Diego’s 48acre sports arena property.

City officials say they are seeking public feedback because the proposal they choose is likely to determine the long-term future of the area, which could become a thriving entertainment district with dense housing projects.

They have created a special city website, sandiego.gov/sportsareneopenhouse.

The website features two comprehensive proposals unveiled July 10. They differ in the amount of housing they envision, how tall the buildings would be, plans for renovating the arena and how much public park space they would provide. A city “selection committee” will choose one of the proposals in coming weeks based on public feedback and other criteria, such as the experience of the developers and their financial capabilities.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s staff would then negotiate a comprehensive lease and development agreement with the winning developer, either Brookfield Properties or Toll Brothers.

The Toll Brothers proposal is focused more on outdoor recreation and includes a much longer list of amenities than the Brookfield plan.

It would feature a 12-acre public park, a 12,000-seat modular soccer stadium, a 3,500seat music venue, a hotel and a large fitness building. The proposal envisions spending $125 million to renovate the 54-yearold sports arena.

It also would include 1,400 housing units, 185,000 square feet of office buildings and 106,500 square feet of retail space.

The Brookfield proposal includes 5 acres of public parks, 2,100 housing units and 590,000 square feet of retail space. The plan doesn’t include office buildings, a hotel or additional entertainment venues beyond the sports arena.

Brookfield’s proposal does not include a significant renovation of the arena, which has remained one of the most booked venues in the world despite its age and lack of some modern features.

The Toll Brothers plan creates room for its added features by proposing 700 fewer housing units than Brookfield and envisioning them as part of buildings that would be 85 to 90 feet in height, compared to the 65-foot-tall buildings Brookfield is proposing.

A proposed November ballot measure would lift the city’s coastal 30-foot height limit for the sports arena site and 850 adjacent acres, known as the Midway District.

Both proposals envision voters approving that ballot measure, which needs support from a simple majority of voters to pass.

david.garrick@sduniontribune.com