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Liberty Station: Civic Priority S.D. Got Right

Lori Fleet-Martin

For nearly 75 years, the historic Naval Training Center in Point Loma was the “Cradle of the Navy” in San Diego. Inside its storied gates, nearly 2 million Navy recruits matured and received the knowledge and skills required for the challenges of military duty. For many, it continues to hold the memories of generations of naval recruits whose lives were transformed at NTC.

Due to a sweeping national base closure movement, NTC was shuttered in 1997. NTC has been designated a national historic property for its architectural significance and its impact to the region. It is a San Diego treasure.

In 2000, in planning for the old NTC’s civic future, the City of San Diego set aside 26 historic Navy buildings to be developed as a new hub for arts and culture in San Diego. A new mission to transform this extraordinary asset into a cultural asset began under the leadership of the nonprofit NTC Foundation.

Now, what was an unprecedented opportunity has grown into an unqualified success.

The 10-year milestone since the opening of the first newly renovated historic Navy building in the Arts District is a good time to reflect on the path toward achievement.

Filling the Leadership Roles

We acknowledge the arts, civic, philanthropic, community, and business leaders whose innovative leadership and support steered the ship in the right directions through uncharted waters, a Great Recession, and the challenges of adapting Navy buildings for arts uses.

Visionaries like former Mayor Susan Golding, master developer Corky McMillin Cos. and founding board leadership under chair Murray Galinson should be applauded for their perseverance, commitment and drive to preserve these historic buildings and grounds, honor the legacy of NTC San Diego and those who served and give these new buildings a new mission as Arts District Liberty Station.

The transformation of this Navy base is a model of what can be achieved.

Just as exploration and growth were pillars of naval training, they have become the key ingredients of NTC’s new mission. Arts District Liberty Station is now a hub for life and culture in San Diego, and provides a home and jobs to hundreds in our creative community as an economic driver for Point Loma.

It is a sweeping and unique destination filled with nearly 120 galleries, museums, artists, studios, makers and creators and unique dining experiences across the 100 parklike acres.

Many of the 38 renovated historic buildings are now bursting with authenticity, creativity, heritage and innovation. An increasing number of public art installations across the campus add contemporary contrast to the 1920s and 1940s Spanish colonial architecture and create a new sense of place that reflect the cultural vibrancy of the San Diego-Baja border region.

Renovations Still Needed

Just as San Diegans have pride in our hometown sports team, our world famous zoo and our gorgeous beaches, Liberty Station has become an international destination and a source of local bragging rights as a military base conversion that San Diego did right.

Liberty Station now serves the community in the way that NTC once served the country.

But the job is not done. Ten of the historic buildings are still in need of renovation.

Exciting plans are already underway for a boutique arts hotel within four of the Barracks buildings, and a much-hoped for 300-seat first-class performance venue in the former Base Exchange to meet the needs of San Diego’s growing dance, music, film and theater groups.

Ensuring the positive impact of a fully built out Arts District is our civic responsibility. The successful reinvention of this community asset shows what can be done.

“Bravo Zulu”

In the Navy, when the Bravo and Zulu nautical flags are hoisted together, it means “Well Done.”

On Oct. 13, we will say “Bravo Zulu” to San Diego arts, civic, business and philanthropic leaders who helped turned a former Naval Training Center into a landmark cultural destination and community gathering place for San Diego. We invite you to join us join us as we look to the future and can say “Mission Accomplished” on this conversion from Navy base to thriving Arts District.

Jessie J. Knight Jr. is Bravo Zulu co-chair. Lori Fleet-Martin is chair of the NTC Foundation.

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