A photographic tour of Downtown San Diego
Modern Cities' Ennis Davis takes readers on a photographic tour of Downtown San Diego.
Gaslamp Quarter
The 16.5 block Gaslamp Quarter dates back to 1867 when developer Alonzo Horton arrived in the area and purchased 800 acres for the development of what has become San Diego’s city center. Once considered a blighted area of downtown, the Gaslamp Quarter is considered by many to San Diego’s most vibrant neighborhood. Featuring more than 100 dining and entertainment venues, the Gaslamp Quarter is recognized as a major American urban tourist district.
Little Italy
Once the epicenter of San Diego’s tuna fishing fleet and canning industry, this historical community is one of the largest Italian neighborhoods in the United States and one of the city’s most active in the central business district. Largely gentrified, this scenic neighborhood contains several Italian restaurants, retail shops, home design stores, galleries and residential units. Little Italy is located just north-west of the Core District.
Marina
Situated as the southwest section of downtown, the Marina District is a waterfront community that was once a major industrial district in San Diego’s urban core. Home to many high-rise hotels and residential buildings, the district is anchored by Seaport Village. Built by Morris Taubman in 1980 on the site of a former railyard, Seaport Village is a popular waterfront entertainment and dining complex featuring 90,000 square feet of space.
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Davis is a certified senior planner and graduate of Florida A&M University. He is the author of the award winning books “Reclaiming Jacksonville,” “Cohen Brothers: The Big Store” and “Images of Modern America: Jacksonville.” Davis has served with various organizations committed to improving urban communities, including the American Planning Association and the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. A 2013 Next City Vanguard, Davis is the co-founder of Metro Jacksonville.com and ModernCities.com — two websites dedicated to promoting fiscally sustainable communities — and Transform Jax, a tactical urbanist group. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com