(Photo: Navy Subject Experts at the sparsely attended Navy Broadway Public Hearing. Alison St John/KPBS )
The Navy held a public hearing last night on the proposed Navy Broad way Complex on the downtown waterfront . KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.
The Navy held the hearing because a federal judge ruled it must involve the public more in the environmental impacts of the new development.
The Navy plans to build a high rise headquarters on the bay, to replace its current aging facility. The cost would be covered by leasing out adjacent bay-front land for commercial development.
Turnout at the hearing was sparse.
But Mike Copass, who works downtown was concerned that the headquarters could become a target, belying the Navy’s mission to protect public safety.
Copass : I’d like to see the navy show leadership by fulfilling that mission by moving sensitive and risky installations away from urban areas there’s secure areas in 32 nd street in Miramar that aren’t’ in the middle of an urban area, in fact, upwind.
But Navy Captain Matt Brown says the new building would only replace the existing Navy Region Southwest logistics center, where staff already operate downtown.
Brown : - have been since the 1920s. The new building is designed to meet all federal standards, with today’s environment in minds and safety is an important part of that planning process. So we think it’s a good and appropriate thing that we’re here in downtown San Diego and we look forward to continuing that presence.
San Diego Congresswoman Susan Davis has promised to attend another hearing on the project next week to listen to the public’s concerns. Alison St John, KPBS News.
