Big Changes Could Be Coming to Voltaire Street in Ocean Beach

It appears, that for better or worse, the 4800 block of Voltaire Street in Ocean Beach is destined for some big changes. At least that is one likely development.

Two adjacent properties in the middle of the north half of the block are up for sale – and together they represent at least one-sixth or larger of that side of the block.

The property at Dover Plumbing at 4870 Voltaire is up for sale – and the next door property owned by well-known OBcean Jim Bell will also be up for sale.

Combined, these properties form a significant chunk of Voltaire.

It was just about exactly 6 years ago that Dover owners, Scott Hoff and Craig Skinner, moved onto the site, after having been absent for 5 years from Ocean Beach. This is part of our report from March 2012:

Dover Plumbing, 4870 Voltaire

… Dover Plumbing has returned to Voltaire Street. Opening up in the old Staniforth Electric building – next to Jim Bell’s center – the long-time Peninsula business was on Voltaire for decades when the property was bought by World Oil …. That’s when the plumbing firm moved over to West Point Loma, next to Baron’s market.

I spoke to the new owners, Scott Hoff and Craig Skinner – each of whom had worked at Dover’s for years and years. They had bought out the former owners, Laura and Darin Goodwin -Scott is related to them through marriage. Having reopened on March 1st, Hoff and Skinner are in the process of getting a new paint job for the office. They had bought the property from Ray Staniforth and had to clear up the lot. They have 5 employees, including local OBcean Sherry, who has worked for Dover for many years.

Now half a dozen years later, Dover Plumbing doesn’t need all that space and the business will probably move over to the Midway District area, this reporter was told today by the owner.

Over at Jim Bell’s “center” at 4862 Voltaire, there’s been some bad news of late. Last year Jim Bell – the well-known ecologist – had a stroke and now is in a treatment facility. His daughter has come to town to arrange the sale of his property, we have learned through reliable sources.

Jim Bell’s Center

Jim designed the building for People’s Food Market up the street, has run multiple times for local political office, developed extensive theories and studies of the human impact on the environment, plus has written for the OB Rag.

One or more developers could eye the combo of these properties as a delicious profit center for future condos, mixed use, 2 storied commercial buildings. The current buildings on both these properties would be demolished to make way for whatever proposals the elite developer class has in mind. There may be an attempt to have Bell’s center made into a historic structure, but in this reporter’s opinion, there’s been too many additions and add-ons to the original structure for it to qualify.

The building itself does have some local flavor – part of it was the site of one of the Hodad’s restaurants.