Originally published Jan 17, 2014
This is what’s coming to the corner of Sunset Cliffs Bvld and Voltaire Street: Sunset Plaza – brought to you by World Oil.
Former Dover Plumbing Building Readied for Demolition
It appears that World Oil is moving on its property at Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and Voltaire Street. Preparations are being made for the eventual construction of Sunset Plaza.
The old fence was removed. And for a moment, a day, the corner lot stood bare to the world once again.
It used to be the site of a “guerrilla garden” – the Voltaire Park, brought to you by OBGO.
Right now, preparations are being made to get the former Dover Plumbing building ready for take-down.
The building is expected to be demolished by the end of February. 
A worker was seen on the roof of the building wearing protective gear doing hazmat work.
A new fence was put up around the lot at the corner – the future site of Sunset Plaza.
And you know there will be a Starbucks.
I bet the cost of the building will be less than the OB public bathroom or the entryway project!
oh my, lets hope they build a community friendly garden around the exterior.
if nothing else, the mural my son and i painted in the alley between Voltaire and Lotus may get less graffiti ~ “OB City of Dreams”
Excited for this blighted lot to be gone and the redesign looks far better than the first proposal.
World Oil could have built this 15 years ago. Instead they pushed and pushed for a gas station. Against the will of the community, against the city planners. When people got sick of the blighted lot years ago and built a park, they bulldozed it and left it blighted for another decade. You suck World Oil Corporation!
Would have been a great location for a 24hr bowling alley. ;-)
John,You are correct about the bowling alley but wrong location. They need to build a combo bowling alley/grocery store at the old appletree. This way you can knock out a grocery list in between frames.
You got me there, the old Apple Tree would be great.
It would be even better to fulfill a business idea I’ve pondered…
A combination laundromat and fitness center- with all the lifecycles, stair steppers, treadmills, etc, hooked up to generators that would power the washers and dryers.
Only don’t tell the customers, they might get a little peeved you’re milking them coming and going.
Parking spaces look to be all underground or invisible from the picture.
Pretty sure they’re hiding on one or both sides of the building out of view.
anything there would be better than the fence and the weeds…….
Something tells me that building will look dated five years after it’s completed. Why do all architects subscribe to that Dwell magazine look? When will they realize that not every new multi-use building has to look like a contemporary box?
It would take a creative mind to think outside the box!
You would think a designer would take advantage of the entryway and busy corner and do a WOW……..
You are right. It will be outdated in no time.
I guess it’s better than the fence that used to be there …..
I believe the old AppleTree site should(could) be converted into a concert hall. Think about it. It’s the perfect size, it has plenty of parking. Basically a Fourth &B with a parking lot. I bet the sound would sound great. It would make OB San Diego’s destination for national acts that are looking for venue bigger than House of Blues. Well its just a thought.
Peace
Looks like the old Dover building is down!
meh. I think the empty lot exemplified what OB was about more than this design. Looks like any other city building/ multi use complex that was renovated in PB, MB etc..
A box built out to the sidewalk, no real character, no flora no artistic value. It seems borderline Bauhaus which does nothing to captivate (my) imagination. cold and industrial.
After all of the incredible ideas I have heard tossed around for what that lot in the entryway of OB COULD have been, this is what they came up with? Pretty lame design, but that’s just like, my opinion man.
Kevin – A lot of people agree with you. But we’re in this stage of corporate capitalism that does not allow the local citizenry to have much of a say in what buildings look like and represent.
I hope they have added a parking garage to the building! We already have enough trouble parking!!!!!
Is this where the recycling center used to be?
Marisa, yes, it’s a very controversial lot with loads of history. Perhaps we should run that earlier article. Thanks for the idea.
Why is an empty lot considered “blighted?” Doesn’t there have to be something there in order to have blight?
For years there was trash and weeds surrounded by an ugly chain linked fence……..blight.
For years there was a really nice community garden. What’s wrong with an empty lot?
Wow. I never thought I’d see the day. The architect really nailed it. It looks like it will be a great place that reflects the true culture and feel of OB… sarcasm.
Leslie Burnside
Voit has a listing for leasing…..in the link it says Sunset Cliffs has +/-24,000 cars per day..WOW WEE
http://voit.reapplications.com/filecabinet/Property/202616/Sunset%20Plaza_Flyer.pdf
All they are building is a shell the future teanants will need to out fit the 1st and 2nd floors. See the link. So no local small business tenants. Parking will be the old Dover site. Probably Starbucks and Dominos.
Just what we need, another un-unique, non descript box building.. (but maybe slightly better than the weed lot with a metal fence..)