Two of San Diego's biggest redevelopment projects are considering the same type of public subsidy to make the projects viable.

Why it matters: Regional leaders seem increasingly willing to cover infrastructure costs as part of private developments on public lands.

State of play: The San Diego City Council last week agreed to explore using a subsidy — called an enhanced infrastructure financing district (EIFD) — to help fund Midway Rising, which would include a new sports arena and thousands of homes in the Midway District.

• And last year, the Port of San Diego signaled its support for letting the developers who are rebuilding Seaport Village pursue the same type of subsidy, among other public revenue sources.

How it works: The state created EIFDs in 2014 to pay for public improvements through increases in tax revenue brought about by economic development.

• Local governments create a district, freezing the property tax revenue generated in the area at that point. They continue to collect that amount each year going forward.
• Any new revenue above that level is then diverted into a separate fund to pay for infrastructure and amenities, or to repay loans used for those investments.
• EIFDs function as scaled-back replacements to the redevelopment program the state killed in 2011, which San Diego relied on for many downtown revitalization projects.

The latest: Midway Rising and the city could strike a deal to develop roughly 50 acres of city-owned property around Pechanga Arena by the end of this year.

• The Council's decision last week to explore an EIFD could determine how much revenue one would generate and what improvements it would fund.
• 1HWY1, the developer selected in 2016 by the Port of San Diego to rebuild Seaport Village, said in late 2022 it needed $550 million in public funds to make the project possible.
• Yehudi Gaffen, CEO of 1HWY1, told Axios this week that his team is still pursuing an EIFD to provide infrastructure and public amenities amid rising construction costs on a property that's proving to be complicated for the developer.

Flashback

💼 Take your career to the next level and see who's hiring.

1. Veterinarian - Urgent Care Medical Director at Thrive Pet Healthcare.
2. Director, Clinical Resource Management at Palomar Health.
3. Virtual Chief Information Officer at Summit 7.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Use code FIRST50 for $50 off your first job post.

Petco Park is the second-best ballpark in the MLB for the 2024 season, per the USA Today Readers' Choice rankings released yesterday.

Why it matters: The recognition for the San Diego Padres' iconic stadium offers a bit of redemption from the sixth-place ranking by USA Today Network baseball reporters and editors earlier this month.

The downtown ballpark, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this season, can turn practically anyone into a baseball fan with its downtown skyline views, robust food and beer selection and Gallagher Square (currently undergoing a $20 million renovation).

The latest: The remodeled Gallagher Square is on schedule to be unveiled at the sold-out Padres FanFest on Sunday, a Padres spokesperson confirmed to Axios, though construction is still ongoing.

• It will feature a larger gathering space and a tiered, amphitheater-style seating area on turf with a new video board at the Sycuan stage to watch the action.
• A new elevated viewing deck will showcase the Tony Gwynn statue and fans' engraved bricks, plus concessions.
• There will also be a new playground, upgraded and relocated kids' ball field, and off-leash dog park.

Get tickets to the Padres' opening homestand against the San Francisco Giants next week.

📩 Tell us: What do you think makes Petco Park special?

• Reply directly to this email to share your favorite things about the ballpark or memorable moments at a Padres game.

What they're saying

🏢 A real estate consultant concluded that if the city of San Diego took better advantage of hybrid work, it could employ nearly 200 additional downtown workers and still occupy nearly 30% less office space than it currently uses. (Union-Tribune)

🚨 Federal Emergency Management Agency officials say that, so far, they have handed out $14.4 million in relief funds to victims of the Jan. 22 flood. (Voice of San Diego)

⛽ Gas prices in San Diego County on Wednesday reached their highest point since Nov. 30. (City News Service)

✋ A Metropolitan Transit System staffer is suing the agency, alleging her bosses retaliated against her for refusing to go along with the agency's response to sexual harassment allegations against former County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher. (CBS 8)

Voting for the 33rd San Diego Music Awards is open one more week.

Why it matters: The San Diego Music Awards give a boost to local musicians and serve as the primary fundraiser for the San Diego Music Foundation's Guitars for Schools program.

• That program, launched to offset cuts to school music programs, has served more than 91,000 students in 121 schools.

How it works: Industry professionals from the San Diego Music Academy determine a list of nominees each year, then open voting to the public within each category.

• Public voting is open through March 27 at 5pm.

By the numbers: The San Diego Music Awards recognizes winners in 25 categories, covering folk, country, Americana, jazz, blues, R&B, funk, soul, rock, pop, indie, world, hip-hop and rap.

Past winners include Eddie Vedder, blink-182, Jewel, Jason Mraz, P.O.D., Switchfoot and Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek.

You may have heard the names of some of these nominees for Artist of the Year:

• Band of Gringos (rock)
• Cattle Decapitation (rock)
• Daring Greatly (rock)
• Earl Thomas and the Gospel Ambassadors featuring Sister Lola (blues)
• Earthless (rock)
• Sandollar (reggae)
• Thee Sacred Souls (soul)

What's next: The San Diego Music Awards ceremony will be April 30 at 7pm at Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay.

• Tickets start at $40 and are on sale now.

Remind someone to vote