UNION-TRIBUNE
July 4, 2006

A downtown committee will preview development plans for a controversial condominium complex next to the historic El Cortez on Thursday.

The meeting of the Centre City Advisory Committee pre-design subcommittee will be held at 5:15 p.m. in the large conference room on the 11th floor of the NBC building at 225 Broadway in San Diego. No decisions will be made at the meeting, although committee members may make suggestions to the developer. The public also will have a chance to speak.

The seven-or eight-story building, proposed by the J. Peter Block Companies at 777 Beech St., includes 84 condominiums, 8,500 square feet of retail and 139 parking spaces along the south side of Beech Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues directly north of El Cortez.

Some residents of El Cortez have said they are concerned the building will obstruct their views and harm the historical integrity of the site.