Neighbors and other OBceans have been concerned recently about a large pile of dirt that surfaced on the empty lot at the northwest corner of Del Mar and Ebers Street in Ocean Beach.
The lot prior to demolition and clearing.
The lot is where several former buildings were demolished and cleared to make way for a planned 2 house development.
One of the chief concerns expressed of late on some of OB’s social media is whether the developer intended to raise up the grade with all that dirt, in order to then build even higher buildings for even better views.
This maneuvering by a developer at an infamous project in Point Loma – Emerson and Evergreen – of bringing in dirt to raise the elevation and grade has alerted folks in the Peninsula to be on the watch for similar projects.
After visiting the site on a rare OB day of sprinkles and taking photos, I noticed a wide trench on the west side of the lot; a neighbor told me it was for a new retaining wall.
I then called Victor Lund, the general contractor, to ask him that very question: did he plan to raise the grade with the dirt.
Lund, a local businessman, told me it’s not a “trench” but a “bench” in order to provide room for the workers installing the retaining wall. And yes, all that dirt came from the bench.
Once the wall is in, Lund told me, he’ll “re-establish the grade”. He’s building 2 houses, 2 garages and the project will have 2 driveways – one off the alley and another with a curb cut off Ebers a little north of the current one. There will be a small slope to the driveway, he said.
I did press him on the issue, and told him of people’s concerns. He said, “it will be the same grade as the sidewalks,” and there will “no change in the grade” from the one existing previously. He acknowledged that the pile of dirt looks large, but it’s loose, he said, and not compacted.
I asked him whether he’s brought in any new dirt to the lot and he said no. This was confirmed by the neighbor I spoke with.
Hopefully our valid concerns have been abated. Yet neighbors will maintain a watchful eye as the project progresses.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
At least they know the community is watching.
Be careful everyone. Raising the grade has been made obsolete by the DSD allowing builders to place four foot tall planters – or taller – and measure 30 feet from inside the planters. This makes it unnecessary to raise the entire grade of the lot.