With a vision of bringing life to an underutilized four-block area near Petco Park in the East Village, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer today announced that the Padres Development Team – including partners Tishman Speyer and Ascendant Capital Partners – have won the competitive bidding process to transform Tailgate Park into a vibrant, mixed-use destination called East Village Quarter.
Across from Petco Park, Mayor Faulconer was joined by Padres President Erik Greupner, Tishman Speyer Senior Managing Director Paul DeMartini, Ascendant Capital Partners CEO Russell Gimelstob and community supporters for the announcement.
The decision comes after a Selection Committee of City of San Diego staff and external experts at Civic San Diego and Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL) reviewed and scored the two top bids to the Request for Proposals (RFP) to redevelop the four blocks between K Street and Imperial Avenue and 12th Avenue and 14th Street in Downtown San Diego’s East Village neighborhood. Scoring categories included responsiveness to the RFP, financial models and developer experience. The RFP process followed a public Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process in spring 2020.
“What the Padres have done over the years to create an atmosphere of fun, excitement and energy at Petco Park is incredible, and now, with Tishman Speyer and Ascendant Capital Partners, they’ll be able to expand their footprint and the positive impact they have on the surrounding community even further,” Mayor Faulconer said. “Block by block we’re breathing new life into the East Village and making it a vibrant district for San Diegans and visitors alike to enjoy.”
The Padres Development Team is comprised of local and international leaders that specialize in sports, transit-centered and mixed-use development, urban design and finance. The team’s initial vision for the site is a vibrant and exciting destination that includes housing, public space, retail and office space that is designed to attract innovation economy companies to Downtown San Diego.
Additionally, the team’s vision includes the creation of a 1,600-space parking structure – 600 more parking spaces than currently exist on the site today – that protects the long-term parking needs of San Diegans attending Padres games and other events at the City-owned Petco Park.
“The Padres have helped revitalize East Village through the construction and continuous improvement of Petco Park. We are excited to partner with our development team to further revitalize East Village through our vision for this site, which will enhance the game day experience for our fans and transform the Ballpark District,” Greupner said. “We look forward to creating a world-class destination that includes jobs, housing and recreation in addition to meeting the long-term parking needs of Padres fans and others attending events at the ballpark.”
Tishman Speyer President & CEO Rob Speyer said, “San Diego is one of America’s favorite places to live, work and discover, and that is exactly what this project is about. East Village Quarter represents an extraordinary opportunity for Tishman Speyer to partner with the Padres and Ascendant Capital Partners to create a dynamic, inclusive, mixed-use environment that will provide vital housing and substantial open space in an urban setting. It will also host the city’s best office facilities, where innovative companies and their employees can thrive. We’re very excited about working together with the Padres and Ascendant Capital Partners in this great city to bring this compelling vision to life.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the Padres and Tishman Speyer to design a new neighborhood from the ground up that will attract the world’s most innovative companies and create a dynamic, 24/7 residential ecosystem in the heart of Downtown San Diego,” Gimelstob of Ascendant Capital Partners said.
From August 26 - September 4, the City held a virtual open house to solicit public input on two development proposals and community priorities for the development. The open house website received more than 12,000 views and 1,156 community feedback responses on what they’d like to see on the property and the most desired aspects of each proposal. Highest priorities for the community included open space and amenities, retail, parking, events and active pedestrian and public space.
Mayor Faulconer also directed the immediate release of documents related to the selection process to provide full transparency as the City moves forward with the process. The documents include:
- Memorandum from Erik Caldwell, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, notifying Mayor Faulconer of the intent to award the Padres Development Team of their selection
- RFP Summary Scoring Matrix
- Summary of Community Feedback
The next steps for the project include taking the Selection Committee’s recommendation for the City to enter into an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with the Padres for consideration to the City Council’s Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee and subsequently to the City Council.
What others are saying:
“The Padres are strong community champions who have proven their commitment to San Diego by significantly investing in the ballpark, community programs and surrounding neighborhoods. Now backed by a powerhouse development team, the Padres will continue their partnership with the City and transform East Village Quarter into a mixed-use development that prioritizes jobs and housing and will enhance Downtown.”– Councilmember Chris Ward, City of San Diego, District 3
“The Building Trades and Padres have a decades-long history of collaboration and respect. We look forward to continuing this partnership by building out East Village Quarter with a skilled and trained workforce and creating job opportunities for the next generation of construction workers.” – Carol Kim, San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council
"When Petco Park was completed in 2004, it spurred a complete revitalization of Downtown San Diego. We have an opportunity to continue that success by transforming Tailgate Park into an urban district that will create jobs, add housing, and further improve the area. We congratulate the Padres Development Team for being chosen to lead this opportunity given their experience, success, and deep understanding of the needs of both the ballpark and community." – Jerry Sanders, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
“The East Village Quarter property has long been planned for redevelopment and it's full of opportunity for housing, jobs and recreation. The Padres Development Team’s vision incorporates all those important elements and will further enhance the whole experience for ballpark games and events. We look forward to working with this proven and qualified team, the City and community to transform this site into a vibrant, urban destination.” – Betsy Brennan, Downtown San Diego Partnership
“The Padres and their project partners have all been actively involved in our community and helped shape the vibrant neighborhood that East Village is today. Based on their local track record, this team will develop the East Village Quarter property in a way that will benefit all San Diegans and attract new opportunities to our region.” – Diane Peabody Straw, East Village Association
