Marina Disrtict Downtown San Diego
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The Marina district in downtown San Diego is arguably the most beautiful and desirable neighborhood in San Diego though it has not always been so. Before the downtown San Diego redevelopment began in the 1980s, this was an area comprised of warehouses and empty lots, somewhere one would not want to visit after dark. Located on the waterfront of San Diego Bay with views of Point Loma and North Island Naval Air Base, and between is the glittering bay with the Pacific Ocean at the horizon. It is often said about any neighborhood it is location, location, location, and this is most accurate when describing the Marina district.
The Marina neighborhood stretches from the San Diego Bay in the west and spreads east toward the Horton Plaza and the Gaslamp Quarter in the middle of downtown San Diego bustling business area, the Core District, with its skyline view of high-rise buildings, most erected since the beginning of the renovation of downtown San Diego in the 1980s. Along the waterfront newly built high-rise condominiums cast mirror images of themselves in the glittering San Diego Bay. Eastward from the San Diego Bay one will find tree lined, quiet streets bordering condominium homes, quaint breakfast and lunch cafes and several world class eating establishments as well as downtown San Diego's best boutiques.
The Marina neighborhood is also home to the attractive Pantoja Park, perfect for walking the dog or just strolling around, enjoying the ambiance of the neighborhood. The Children's Museum, surrounded by its own park, has its home here. The Martin Luther King's Promenade and Seaport Village further add to the charm of theMarina district, making it most unique and desirable among the various San Diego downtown areas.
Some of the rich, cultural history of downtown San Diego is found in this area of the city. The San Diego Chinese Mission Building is but one example. It recognizes the impact Asian cultures have had on San Diego, exhibiting the rich contributions made by the early immigration of Chinese and Asian peoples to this area. The Old Police Headquarter is here, presently going through a full renovation; this is a building filled with San Diego history.
When you visit the Marina district you are within walking distance of the lovely Seaport Village, dotted with small shops filled with interesting merchandise, both souvenirs for the visitors and tourists, as well as mementoes from other countries which bring back neighborhood residents time and again. Some of San Diego's best eating establishments are located here, right on the San Diego Bay, looking across to North Island with a great view of the San Diego Bay Bridge. This is a well-known local landmark which was erected in the late 1960s, spanning the San Diego Bay, connecting downtown San Diego with North Island. North Island has one of the finest and most famous hotels/restaurants in the world, the Hotel Del Coronado. This is where the film "Some Like it Hot" was made back in the 1960s, starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis.
The Marina neighborhood residents have a variety of choices and opportunities of lifestyles. With San Diego's temperate climate, outdoor activities are great all year around. Some of the most attractive and luxuries condominiums in downtown San Diego are to be found here, both on the waterfront and along the streets stretching eastward toward the business district, also known as the Core District. Because the Marina district has very few commercial storefronts businesses, it is quieter than East Village or the Gaslamp Quarter, which gives the Marina district a more relaxed and intimate neighborhood feeling.
Over the next few years, 756 residential units, 750 hotel rooms, over 29,600 square feet of retail, and 480 parking spaces are to be developed in this district, and an expansion project is being planned for Seaport Village. These projects will enhance the quality and charm of this most popular San Diego neighborhood.
