San Diego selects Tailgate Park developers

San Diego’s mayor says that the Padres Development team — including partners Tishman Speyer and Ascendant Capital Partners – have won the competitive bidding process to transform Tailgate Park into what the city describes in a statement as a “vibrant, mixed-use destination called East Village Quarter.”

The development will take place in an underutilized four-block area near Petco Park, San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer said in a Sept. 23 statement.

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.  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,” Faulconer said in a statement. “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 have proposed a mixed-use development includes housing, public space, retail and office space “designed to attract innovation economy companies to Downtown San Diego,” the city’s statement says.

Additionally, the team’s vision includes the creation of a 1,600-space parking structure – adding an additional 600 spaces to the current number.

From Aug. 26  to Sept. 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.