Marriott drops San Diego hotel plan

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- The Marriott Corp. has dropped out of a proposed downtown San Diego project, say developers.

Their plans would have resulted in the West Coast's largest hotel, including 1,929 rooms at Ballpark Village near Petco Park stadium, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Saturday.

Property owner JMI Realty reportedly blamed "current turbulence and uncertainty in the capital markets," plus delays in city approval for Marriott's decision. Marriott couldn't be reached for comment.

City officials were giving the project additional scrutiny because one of Ballpark Village's development partners is Lennar Corp, reported the Union-Tribune. All projects for the past three years involving Lennar are receiving attention after recent revelations that the former president of lead developer Centre City Development Corp., Nancy Graham, had an undisclosed business relationship with them.

The Marriott plan had received mixed reviews from community members with some appreciating its potential vibrancy in the area and others objecting that it would block views of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge and increase parking problems without helping local merchants.

Marriott wanted to do the hotel "their way or no way," said Caryl Iseman, president of the East Village Community Action Network, adding, "It's a primo site, and something else will go there."