By Lori Weisberg /The San Diego Union-Tribune / October 4, 2024
More than five years after announcing plans to transform the 44-acre Paradise Point Resort & Spa on Mission Bay into a Jimmy Buffett-inspired resort, the ownership is resurrecting its long-stalled renovation project but its ultimate fate rests in the hands of the California Coastal Commission.
While the hotel ownership says it remains committed to reimagining the 6-decade-old resort as a Margaritaville property, it says its first priority is to navigate the approval process with the state coastal agency before it can firmly commit to future branding plans.
An application was submitted over the summer, but the redevelopment plans are not likely to get a hearing before coastal commissioners this year, an agency spokesperson said. …
Margaritaville Holdings is a hospitality company with 40 lodging locations around the world that are meant to evoke a tropical vibe long associated with the late Buffett. Last year, the former Hotel Solamar, also owned by Pebblebrook, was rebranded as the Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter.
The push to revive the $35 million project comes amid still ongoing efforts by Maryland-based Pebblebrook to fully implement a sweeping public access plan designed to address multiple coastal violations dating back years, in some cases predating Pebblebrook’s ownership. Although the resort already has paid a required $1 million fine, it still must install dozens of signs advising visitors about parking and beach access; remove obstructions to walkways; and provide additional EV charging stations, among other things. …
The overarching goal of Paradise Point’s renovation plan, as described in its application to the Coastal Commission, is to extend the life of the 462-room resort and grounds through the 2050 termination of its lease with the city of San Diego.
More specifically, it intends to:
- Upgrade the lobby and food and beverage outlets, including the longstanding Barefoot Bar & Grill, as well as the resort’s signature dining venue, Tidal, and the pool bar and restaurant.
- Renovate the spa and fitness center, as well as meeting space interiors. The hotel also wants to erect a conference tent adjacent to the existing conference center where parking currently exists. To make up for lost parking, Paradise is proposing to remove two tennis courts.
- Build a new floating bridge over the resort’s interior lagoon that would connect the lobby and the Tropics Cantina Bar.
- Replace the existing marina dock on Mission Bay with a new dock that will include an accessible lift.
- Restore existing landscaped areas, add coastal access paths and replace deteriorated pathways, and fence in trash and recycling areas, which the Coastal Commission required in its enforcement action.
More immediately, Paradise Point will start this winter on upgrading the interior of its conference center, for which it already has permission from the Coastal Commission, Martz said.
For the balance of this article, please go here.
