Extraordinary. It’s a word often misused, but one that precisely describes the threshold on which Downtown San Diego stands. Consider: When Horton Plaza sparked Downtown’s redevelopment effort 25 years ago, it was a 15-block district of dilapidation to be converted to retail, with only a short list of believers. Set to ignite Downtown today is a ballpark project. It’s a rather simplistic title for a 26-block undertaking that encompasses hundreds of housing units, hotel rooms and high-tech offices that Zip Code 92101 is uniquely and urbanely suited to host.
    While Horton Plaza was a creature of farsighted business people, urban planners and a visionary developer named Ernest Hahn, the ballpark is even more of a public undertaking. Indeed, early next month San Diego voters will head to the polls and determine whether the public should invest in a portion of this venture. It’s more than a proposal to spark life into the weary warehouse district of East Village. It comes at a time when Downtown San Diego is positioned to take the next step, to move beyond the hype and into the forefront of the world's most progressive and hospitable inner cities.
    With this in mind, we have done something extraordinary with the October issue. Assembled inside as "San Diego 92101, The Special Section" are 19 in-depth articles about many facets of the Centre City, a primer, if you will, on the state of the urban core.
    We start off by acknowledging the contributions of the Three Petes. Governor Wilson, when he was mayor, founded the Centre City Development Corp., and oversaw the sometimes tumultuous establishment of the Horton Plaza, Marina, Columbia and Gaslamp Quarter redevelopment projects. Among CCDC's first board members was Peter Q. Davis, who served two terms in the late '70s and early '80s, and who returned in the early '90s. He has served the inner city longer than any other CCDC director and as its chairman was most responsible for hiring Peter Hall, a real estate development and financing veteran, as CCDC president.
    San Diego business writer John Lamb talks to employers, big and small, who have chosen to locate, or relocate, to the inner city. Lamb also explores the cadre of high-tech firms that many people would not expect to find Downtown. From Seattle, Joe Nabbefeld reports on the tech movement, and new ballpark, in that city's downtown. Elsewhere writer Janet Lowe ascends to the top of San Diego tallest building, One America Plaza, to report on Nicholas- Applegate's leading position in using digital telecom to build its investment empire.
    Expansion of the San Diego Convention Center is finally under way and Lynne Carrier reports on its progress and the numerous subcontractors who are helping make it happen.
    Carrier also reports on how the Gaslamp Quarter, with its 90 dining and clubbing options, has evolved into the hottest concentration of restaurants this side of New Orleans. Food Editor Terryl Gavre's essay on Downtown dining is delicious.
    The status of 7,000 new hotel rooms in the development pipeline is outlined by Claude Walbert, while Dirk Sutro explores the burgeoning residential community, where demand has outstripped supply. Those who live here have a full palette of educational options, from preschools to law school.
     An unprecedented effort at turning the North Embarcadero waterfront into a world-class park is discussed by Sandy Pasqua, who also reports on the Centre City's concentration of culture.
     All public transit leads Downtown, and once you get here, as Jennifer Coburn shows, there's no shortage of fun ways to get around. For the majority who choose to drive, Lora Watters discovers 56,000 parking choices.
    Explore it all. Enjoy your Downtown more often. Vote "yes" on Prop. C. And if you choose to relocate your business to San Diego 92101 — probably the only Central Business District in the nation with its own international airport and six marinas — don’t be surprised when staff morale and productivity improve.