The Ocean Beach Project Review Committee has one project on its plate at its upcoming meeting – the demolition of an existing house and the construction of two 2-story condos on Froude Street in southern OB.
Fairly usual fare – but for one thing. This lot has a collection of the most palm trees of different varieties of any of OB or this side of Point Loma. And they – or most of them – would have to be cut down for the construction.
The Project Review Committee is a sub-committee of the OB Planning Board and gives each project an initial review and usually then sends on a recommendation to the full Board. The Committee meets Wednesday, August 15 at the OB Rec Center, 4726 Santa Monica Avenue, at 6pm.
View of house to be demolished from Froude.
1750 Froude Project
The owners of 1750 Froude have filed a Coastal Development Permit for the demolition of the existing large one-story house and garage so they can build two 2-story condos on the lot.
As mentioned, this lot at the corner of Froude and Del Monte Ave has a huge oasis with the best collection of palms around town. But they would be chopped down and uprooted necessarily for the construction of two condos with a total of 5641 square feet. Plus the owners wish to dig out the lot in order to install a 690 square foot subterranean garage.
View of 1750 Froude via Google Maps 3D.
This reporter has not seen the plans yet, but common sense dictates that the trees would have to be removed for such a large construction project. Or most of them, at any rate.
View of lot from Del Monte.
This is indeed sad. I used to live on that street and looking at the palms on this lot was always a treasure; the site was one of the best green acres and was indeed an oasis.
But what can a community do to save trees on a private lot? Nothing.
Although the community could apply persuasive pressure via their representatives on the Planning Board on the owners to save the trees – some how.
Here’s the official agenda: 
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
SOLD: $1,200,000
Sold on 07/07/17
Other than the Washingtonia filifera, the California fan palm, palms aren’t native to San Diego, anyway.
Just because a tree is “non-native” is not an excuse to cut it down.
Not sure who’s cutting them down. Seems like they’d suggested “resettling” some.
We got rid of all our palms and they all went to new homes.
We opted for all Cal-natives.