Comments on: Opinion: Carmel Valley ‘Main Street’ project would create much-needed gathering place http://www.delmartimes.net/2011/04/14/opinion-carmel-valley-%e2%80%98main-street-project-would-create-much-needed-gathering-place/ The Latest News from the Community of Del Mar Sun, 19 May 2013 00:11:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Gene Helsel http://www.delmartimes.net/2011/04/14/opinion-carmel-valley-%e2%80%98main-street-project-would-create-much-needed-gathering-place/#comment-105620 Gene Helsel Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:35:47 +0000 http://delmartimes.mscsddev.com/?p=23257#comment-105620 On the surface, Kilroy Realty’s proposed “Main Street” project appears attractive: shops, cafes, restaurants, an office building, hotel and private residences. As with many things, however, the devil is in the details. Kilroy is proposing much more than they are currently entitled to. The current entitlement is for 500,000 SF of office space; Kilroy is proposing 2, 077, 000 SF of building area which includes 535,000 SF of office space housed in a 10 story building (25% taller than any office building in Carmel Valley) and a 7 story building, 270,000 SF of retail, a 150-175 room convention hotel, and 608 residential units. Put into perspective, the proposed 2,077,000 SF project will be approximately 10X denser than the current Del Mar Highlands Town Center (Ralphs’ center). Another comparison is that the rentable area of University Towne Center retail development is 1,066,000 SF. Estimated traffic generated from the Kilroy proposal will be over 30,000 cars per day; the current entitlement is for 6,000 cars per day. Under current conditions, at times this area approaches near gridlock. For more details, visit &lt <a href="http://;http://www.WhatPriceMainStreet.com" rel="nofollow"> <a href="http://;http://www.WhatPriceMainStreet.com</a>" target="_blank">;http://www.WhatPriceMainStreet.com</a></a>. On the surface, Kilroy Realty’s proposed “Main Street” project appears attractive: shops, cafes, restaurants, an office building, hotel and private residences. As with many things, however, the devil is in the details. Kilroy is proposing much more than they are currently entitled to. The current entitlement is for 500,000 SF of office space; Kilroy is proposing 2, 077, 000 SF of building area which includes 535,000 SF of office space housed in a 10 story building (25% taller than any office building in Carmel Valley) and a 7 story building, 270,000 SF of retail, a 150-175 room convention hotel, and 608 residential units. Put into perspective, the proposed 2,077,000 SF project will be approximately 10X denser than the current Del Mar Highlands Town Center (Ralphs’ center). Another comparison is that the rentable area of University Towne Center retail development is 1,066,000 SF.
Estimated traffic generated from the Kilroy proposal will be over 30,000 cars per day; the current entitlement is for 6,000 cars per day. Under current conditions, at times this area approaches near gridlock.
For more details, visit &lt <a href="http://;http://www.WhatPriceMainStreet.com” target=”_blank”>;http://www.WhatPriceMainStreet.com.

]]> By: CarmelValley http://www.delmartimes.net/2011/04/14/opinion-carmel-valley-%e2%80%98main-street-project-would-create-much-needed-gathering-place/#comment-105592 CarmelValley Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:12:57 +0000 http://delmartimes.mscsddev.com/?p=23257#comment-105592 I read Bud Emerson’s piece on this development and he made some very strong points about the negative impact that this current opinion piece does not address. One of the main points was the increase in traffic makes this a terrible plan. The traffic nightmare if this development goes forward will make this a place to avoid, not a place for the community to gather. I read Bud Emerson’s piece on this development and he made some very strong points about the negative impact that this current opinion piece does not address. One of the main points was the increase in traffic makes this a terrible plan. The traffic nightmare if this development goes forward will make this a place to avoid, not a place for the community to gather.

]]> By: Olin Hyde http://www.delmartimes.net/2011/04/14/opinion-carmel-valley-%e2%80%98main-street-project-would-create-much-needed-gathering-place/#comment-105368 Olin Hyde Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:17:57 +0000 http://delmartimes.mscsddev.com/?p=23257#comment-105368 The primary objection to Kilroy Realty's Main Street project in Carmel Valley seems to comes from Donahue Schriber Corp. - the owners of Del Mar Highlands Town Center. Donahue Schriber has turned the Highlands Town Center into one of the most mismanaged shopping malls in Southern California. I looked into opening a restaurant last year at the Town Center and found that 17 out of 70 spaces vacant. I found 3 of the former tenants -- all of whom said that the rents at Highlands were 3x higher than they had found in other shopping centers nearby. Worse, Donahue Schriber shut down the only movie theatre in the area as they proceeded with a construction project to give the Town Center a much UN-needed facelift -- resulting in inconvenience for customers and further loss of business for retailers. It is telling that the Donahue Schriber website uses the Town Center as a case study where they falsely promote a 97 occupancy rate. The objection to Main Street is an objection to much needed competition. The arguments against Main Street are absurd. Rather Main Street will enhance local property values. bring better retail services and make Carmel Valley more of a walking community. The best thing for Carmel Valley is a rapid development of Kilroy's Main Street so that Donahue Schriber will either become more competitive or go out of business. Almost any other owner of the Town Center would be an improvement. The primary objection to Kilroy Realty's Main Street project in Carmel Valley seems to comes from Donahue Schriber Corp. – the owners of Del Mar Highlands Town Center. Donahue Schriber has turned the Highlands Town Center into one of the most mismanaged shopping malls in Southern California. I looked into opening a restaurant last year at the Town Center and found that 17 out of 70 spaces vacant. I found 3 of the former tenants — all of whom said that the rents at Highlands were 3x higher than they had found in other shopping centers nearby. Worse, Donahue Schriber shut down the only movie theatre in the area as they proceeded with a construction project to give the Town Center a much UN-needed facelift — resulting in inconvenience for customers and further loss of business for retailers. It is telling that the Donahue Schriber website uses the Town Center as a case study where they falsely promote a 97 occupancy rate.

The objection to Main Street is an objection to much needed competition. The arguments against Main Street are absurd. Rather Main Street will enhance local property values. bring better retail services and make Carmel Valley more of a walking community. The best thing for Carmel Valley is a rapid development of Kilroy's Main Street so that Donahue Schriber will either become more competitive or go out of business. Almost any other owner of the Town Center would be an improvement.

]]> By: Bob Loblaw http://www.delmartimes.net/2011/04/14/opinion-carmel-valley-%e2%80%98main-street-project-would-create-much-needed-gathering-place/#comment-104031 Bob Loblaw Sat, 23 Apr 2011 08:25:27 +0000 http://delmartimes.mscsddev.com/?p=23257#comment-104031 Bud Emerson is an attention whore who is best ignored. Bud Emerson is an attention whore who is best ignored.

]]> By: CarmelValleyJon http://www.delmartimes.net/2011/04/14/opinion-carmel-valley-%e2%80%98main-street-project-would-create-much-needed-gathering-place/#comment-96354 CarmelValleyJon Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:16:09 +0000 http://delmartimes.mscsddev.com/?p=23257#comment-96354 My hat is off to John Jones for a great piece on the Main Street project. I completely agree with him that this is a perfect opportunity for Carmel Valley to have a nice plaza for families and friends to gather. The mixed-use concept is much better than a high-rise office complex. I also believe the developer has done their due diligence by talking with local residents and listening to what we have to say. They’ve put together a real A-team of planners and architects that will ensure this is a unique, useful space. It seems there are some scare tactics being used by opponents – I’m shocked that they’ve put together an entire website. Makes me wonder where their funding is coming from? My hat is off to John Jones for a great piece on the Main Street project.

I completely agree with him that this is a perfect opportunity for Carmel Valley to have a nice plaza for families and friends to gather. The mixed-use concept is much better than a high-rise office complex. I also believe the developer has done their due diligence by talking with local residents and listening to what we have to say. They’ve put together a real A-team of planners and architects that will ensure this is a unique, useful space.

It seems there are some scare tactics being used by opponents – I’m shocked that they’ve put together an entire website. Makes me wonder where their funding is coming from?

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