SAN DIEGO -- A proposed waterfront development on San Diego Bay has generated complaints, lawsuits and concerns about public safety.

The 10News Investigation team heard these complaints and began researching and talking to experts over the past six months. We were spurred on when we learned that the ground underneath the Broadway Navy Complex is similar in some ways to the ground under the Marina District in San Francisco. That area was devastated during the 1989 earthquake.

This report will be considered controversial but there is no controversy when it comes to the extent of damage that can occur when a earthquake hits hard.

"The ground moves 5, 10, 20 feet pulling buildings apart," said Professor Scott Ashford of UCSD School of Engineering.

Some fear the same could happen in San Diego along the downtown waterfront if developers are allowed to build the high rise Navy Broadway Complex.

There are claims that an active earthquake fault may be right under the proposed waterfront project being proposed by developer Doug Manchester.

Here is what we found:

The recently discovered Coronado Fault was active as recently as 500 years ago. It runs under Coronado and San Diego Bay and comes ashore in San Diego near Seaport Village, just south of the proposed complex. Any fault that has had movement in the past 10,000 years is considered an active fault. This Coronado Fault clearly qualifies as active.

"You want to know where it is, what it's capable of and how often it will generate earthquakes that will be a problem to your structure," said Ashford.

A map created in 1859 shows the bay before it was dredged and widened.

More importantly to the 10News investigation, it shows the areas where fill was used to eventually create San Diego's waterfront. Like in San Francisco's Marine District, that fill can cause trouble.

The trouble is liquefaction, which turns the ground into quicksand and can rip foundations wide open.

Geocon are the seismic consultants hired by project developer Manchester. In the Geocon study, it says there geologists "Did not find signs of faulting at the site. It is suitable for the proposed development."

As part of the investigation, 10News had an independent geologist, Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, review the Geocon study.

His 10 page report for the 10News investigation team raises serious issues.

Read Assessment Part I and Assessment Part II.

Read Manchester's response to the seismic concerns.

Johnson said the geology study done for Manchester did not analyze enough data.

Geologist Michael Kennedy said he is also concerned.

Kennedy mapped and named the Coronado fault as part of a Caltrans safety study on the Coronado Bridge in 2001.

Kennedy told 10News "public safety makes it imperative that the exact location of these youthful faults be mapped onshore prior to any development."

Dr. Jeff Babcock at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography is mapping the Coronado fault with 3D technology.

Babcock has not plotted the fault on land yet, but he said he is sure it runs north, under the navy's project and probably where the Port Commission intends to build its new development, as well.

"I would be hard pressed to determine if it's capable of a magnitude seven like the Rose Canyon fault, but we don't know," said Babcock.

10News took these concerns and the geology report to Manchester and the Port Commission, since they're also building in the same area but we have received no responses to our request for an interview. We have offered them copies of the study the 10News I team developed with Dr. Johnson, but no responses yet.

10News then went to the mayor's office. While the mayor was unavailable to talk with us, we did speak to his public information officer.

"It's our understanding Manchester has done a preliminary study, and the navy is satisfied. They've had buildings there for close to 100 years," said mayor's spokesperson Fred Sainz.

Maybe, maybe not. An officer from the US Navy accompanied the 10News Investigative team when we reviewed the 3D maps being developed by Dr. Babcock.

Manchester's attorney sent a letter to the California Coastal Commission, saying Manchester is withdrawing his application for a permit, saying the law doesn't require one for the project.

Read Manchester's letter.

The Coastal Commision said they are required to have a permit.

Read Manchester's response to the Coastal Commission dispute.