Known as San Diego’s “crown jewel,” Balboa Park is experiencing a number of changes that city officials are deeming the “Balboa Park Renaissance.” A number of projects are nearing completion, while others are in their earliest stages of development. Mayor Todd Gloria led a tour on Thursday, Nov. 18 to show off the park’s facelift and get people excited for the future of Balboa Park.
Gloria started his tour showcasing the revamping of the San Diego Automotive Museum, Municipal Gym, and the Comic-Con Museum, expected to open soon for Comic-Con Special Edition. The projects are led by the Balboa Park Committee of 100, which is a nonprofit support group for the area.
The next stop was the House of Pacific Relations International cottages, a section of the park that’s dedicated to showcasing different traditions from a number of cultures. There were nine new additions, completed in August, representing traditions from Chamorros, India, Mexico, Palestine, and others countries that were not previously represented.
The highlight of the tour to some, however, was the Botanical Building, located next to the iconic Lily Pond. The building currently sits as a structure, but construction is expected to begin in January. The building will be completely rebuilt and represent its original 1915 grandeur structure.
A number of other renovations and spending projects are on their way to Balboa Park, including a complete reimagining of the Children’s Zoo, a $4 million rehabilitation of the Bud Kearns pool, and a landscaping project at the Natural History Museum that will include native plants. Some projects are close to completion while others are in the early stages of development.
Balboa Park’s facelift is great news for investors seeking downtown San Diego real estate for sale. Prior to the renovations, the park was already an area appreciated by residents and tourists alike. At the completion of these renovations, Gloria hopes that the park will live up to its many expectations.