by Ian Anderson
One block of West Date Street, between Columbia and India, was permanently closed to car traffic on December 1st for the groundbreaking of Piazza Famiglia, a European-style pedestrian plaza projected "to become the new 'heart' of Little Italy" in 2016. Plans for the public square include "classic Italian architectural details and design," including a fountain and paving tiles. It will have space for the stalls of the weekly Mercato farmers' market and host cultural performances and events.
Plans for the 10,000-square-foot plaza came about primarily as a collaboration between property management company HG Fenton and district management corporation the Little Italy Association, with assistance from city officials and Civic San Diego.
Source: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/
