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Downtown's Columbia neighborhood encompasses the area between
the waterfront and Union Ash, and F streets. Broadway, downtown's
main street, begins at the Broadway Pier and runs through
the center of this district. Though largely a commercial neighborhood,
Columbia is the site of healthy development of all kinds.
Over 1,800 residential units, 1,009,000 square feet of commercial
space and hundreds of parking spaces are planned for development
by 2006. Columbia is also home to the San Diego Museum of
Contemporary Art, the Federal and County courthouses, and
the State Office Building.
This region was formed from the bordering portions of two
former districts: one zoned for commercial use, and the other
for recreation. Previously, the Core, Columbia and Horton
Plaza districts all comprised the Central Core district, whose
plan emphasized the "highest level intensity governmental,
commercial, office and residential development," according
to the 1992 Centre City Community Plan. Over a decade later,
this vision holds true in Columbia.
The waterfront in this neighborhood is a significant portion
of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, which includes development
of, and along a 100-foot wide boardwalk to provide entertainment,
dining, shopping, and increased access to the natural beauty
of the area. More than $50 million is designated for public
amenities in the project, meant to facilitate enjoyment of
the natural environment, rather than to substitute a commercial
one. The "water first" strategy is fundamental to
the Visionary Plan, which also includes restructured piers
and new activity centers.
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