This week, Ryan welcomes Dike Anyiwo, Vice Chair of the Midway Pacific Highway Community Planning Group. The two discuss the history of the Midway District and Dike's perspective on the major changes coming to this often neglected but central community in San Diego. Dike also shares why he chooses to live in the Midway District and what he sees in the future that gets him excited. Recorded on location at Bay City Brewery in the Midway District.
Timestamps:
[2:40] Dike introduces himself. He has lived in the Midway District for about 7 years. He and Ryan are broadcasting from the Bay City Brewery, and note how the area has so much potential for walkability and bikeability due to the proximity to so many attractions such as Old Town, the San Diego bay, and the beaches.
[6:04] In 2018, at the end of an 11 year process, the city of San Diego City Council voted to approve the updated Community Plan and change the Midway District from being warehouse and industrial to more community friendly, and opening up close to 10,000 residential new residential units in the area. After the 2018 Community Plan update, there was also a change to the height limit in the area, which will help revitalize the community with more options and help move the stagnancy that has kept it from a lack of forward momentum in the past.
[14:20] Dike explains the current state of the Sports Arena, and how the State Surplus Land Act works as some sort of carrot for municipalities to develop affordable housing. There were only two bidders for the Sports Arena, and COVID had a real negative impact on the development community showing interest in the site.
[20:11] It is in the Community Plan to keep the Sports Arena, as most San Diegans love it and want to continue attending events there. Dike says that when we talk about redevelopment and rebuilding, we are not looking to replace what is working, but we are looking to augment.
[25:05] The Navwar sites are two parcels that are separated by Pacific Island, one of them is just under 50 acres, and the other one is just over 20 acres. Dike explains why there has been some controversy in the plans and renderings around them and how it compares to the Midway Group's community plan.
[35:42] What does Dike think of those 5 proposals personally? There most certainly is a need for more housing, for climate change and affordable housing.
[37:13] Dike loves living in the Midway District for many reasons. He's central to everything including downtown and the beaches, has a nice place with AC, and loves seeing all the change and developments.
About C-3
In its 60 years of existence, Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 (C-3) has brought together local thought leaders from planning, design, policy, academia, community development, and more to address our region's distinctive and pressing land use challenges. In founding C-3 almost 60 years ago, architect Lloyd Ruocco's vision was to bring together our region's most creative minds from the arts, sciences, academia, and government to share ideas, learn new perspectives, and build fellowship around the idea of creating livable communities.
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