Month: July 2017

It was a rocky road for development projects that came before the Project Review Committee last Wednesday night. The panel – a sub-committee of the OB Planning Board – was to review four projects, but no one showed to present two of them, a third was handed back to the developer owner with significant design suggestions, and the fourth was so complex it was punted to the full board to deal with.

No one showed up during the meeting at the OB Rec Center representing either the 5018 Narragansett project or the controversial Abbott- Muir condos (although one person did for this project did show after the meeting had been adjourned). This means these projects will probably be kicked to the bottom of the pile – a long list of development projects making their way to the OB Planning Board’s agenda.

6 “Green Streets” Planned for Downtown

By Michael-Leonard Creditor / UrbDeZine

The idea for grand pedestrian routes through downtown San Diego is not new.

In 1908, John Nolen famously had vision of a Promenade from Balboa Park to San Diego Bay along what is now Cedar Street.

Just imagine how that would be today if it had been implemented 100 years ago, with the beautiful County Administration Building at the bottom of the gentle hill from Park to Bay. Sometimes I think ‘so many opportunities lost’ should be San Diego’s motto.

But, in the fertile minds of planners, this idea hasn’t died. Now, they are being called Green Streets, and six are planned for downtown.

By South OB Girl

Last Friday July 14th saw the official opening of Botanica Home and Garden at 1909 Cable St. The shop is right on the busy stretch of sidewalk between Newport Ave and Santa Monica Ave and was the location of the long standing former tenant the Loan Ranger Pawn Shop.

Owner of Botanica Home and Garden, Caitlin Brooks, has always had a love of plants. She has previously worked at garden centers and nurseries, and she has now turned her love for plants into a business.

If you’ve never donated to the OB Rag, the online newspaper for Ocean Beach and Point Loma, now is the time to do it.

If you have donated to the OB Rag in the past, consider contributing again.

Our Summer Fund Raising campaign has only 2 days left and we’re at 2/3rds of our campaign goal of $1,000.

How to Support Us>>>>>> INSIDE

Millennials. So many of us see them as lazy, naïve, un-motivated “Me-Me-Me” kinds of human beings who somehow threaten to bring the world to an apocalyptic end – all while taking a selfie.

But from all I’ve ever seen, it’s the Millennials, the 20-year-olds and 30-year-olds — and to think of it, the 40-year-olds — of any time who are at the forefront of societal change.

I mean, Thomas Jefferson was thinking, “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” when he was 33.

The “No Target in OB” campaign is heating up in Ocean Beach.

T-shirts with the slogan are now available at the James Gang at 1931 Bacon Street.

Meanwhile, the online Petition against the Target Express has over 1800 signatures.

By South OB Girl

After the OB Planning Board monthly land use meeting Wednesday night, I ended up at Culture for a brew.

Per usual, as often happens when I wander out, a number of interesting things happened.

I befriended the cutest little French bull dog, Frida, who settled into my lap despite just meeting her and despite being a total stranger to her.

And then a familiar looking pooch Nacho wandered in, a sweet-natured pit bull Nacho. Within minutes the conversation shifted from discussion about dogs to discussion about the planning board.

Now’s the time to support your local and independent press – the OB Rag – the online newspaper for Ocean Beach and Point Loma. Especially these days in the Time of Trump.

Trump has called the free press, “the enemy of the people.” So, now is when the people – our readers – need to respond.

We’re half way to our summer fundraising goal of $1,000 – we’ve received $520 up to now from supporters and readers since Friday when we started this campaign. Help us to achieve the remainder this week.

By Frank Gormlie

A good friend and I were discussing the whole Trump debacle the other night with all its Russian connections. At some point, he admitted he was exasperated about a certain and perhaps common progressive ambiguity with Russia and blurted out:

“I know we’re supposed to be against Russian of course and all of its meddling in our election, but – in some sense, Trump is right, the US has intervened in other countries and manipulated their elections, too.”

He rattled off a litany of countries and nations where the US has interfered – Iraq, Chile, Guatemala, Ghana, Iran, … it was a long list.

By South OB Girl

Love this photo. Editor Dude ran it in this article the other day.

Sea wall building in action — and an example of what most (but for some reason not all) coastal property owners are required to do. Adding up to at least six figures or even millions of dollars paid by the property owner. A man-made structure designed to look like a natural cliff. Inside is the structure and engineering of a small sky scraper. Rebar and concrete designed with erosion in mind, to be sturdy enough for the power of the sea.

Editor: The following is an opinion piece by Michael Winn who is a strong proponent of creating a town council for Point Loma, and as such does not represent the views of the OB Rag staff.

By Michael Winn

The Peninsula Community Planning Board reviews project proposals and votes based on findings about whether a project before it meets code requirements. The Planning Board’s vote isn’t binding on the City Planning Commission, the Planning Board has no authority — it’s advisory.

The dry cleaning business still stands – as the rest of the building was demolished. The site is being prepped for the Ocean Beach Plaza.