Peninsula News reports that demolition of the existing structure at Rosecrans and Talbot could begin any day. That would definitely signal that the city is proceeding with allowing the 4-story, 56-unit mixed-use apartment complex to be built.The news, an online publication of the Point Loma Association, stated “demolition could began any day,” and quoted Eric Law, of the Peninsula Community Planning Board, as saying, ” … the developer is just waiting for final approvals to begin clearing the property and start construction. This could come at any time now.”
If this building is allowed to proceed, it would violate a host of laws and relations and embed a significant departure from “normal” procedures and cordial relationships between city government and the residents and neighbors of Point Loma. It would violate the 30-foot height limit and any trust between the neighborhood in question and Mayor Gloria and city councilmember Campbell. Just for starters.
This project and the way the city dealt with the neighborhood and its volunteer community planning group are outrageous. Some in the Peninsula have concluded the only recourse is a legal one. This means the community has to protect itself from the city with legal means. That is also outrageous.
Here is the Peninsula News report:
Over the past six months Peninsula people have begged the City to not grant a building permit for redevelopment of a small plot of land at Rosecrans and Talbot. They believe what’s proposed is not a good fit for the neighborhood. They are especially upset that the City refuses to consider their concerns. After totally ignoring constituents input, demolition could began any day. Not decades away.
Eric Law, from our Community Planning Board, provides this update.
“The City said that the project is proceeding ministerially — without public review — based upon its categorization by the City as a Complete Communities Housing project. We asked to appeal the ruling by the City that the project could be categorized as a Complete Community Housing project, and were told there was no appeal to their bureaucratic decision making.
I asked for the city department to tell me which of the Asst. City Attorneys provide oversight for the Planning and Development Services departments and have received no reply. I reiterated that request to our Planning Department representative and he has not responded either.
I am proceeding with the assumption that the City Attorney may provide some relief from the bureaucratic decision making process so that the people have a voice in the future of their neighborhood. However, I have little faith that they will. Short of that, the only recourse is to seek injunctive relief from the courts.
The plan set I reviewed at the city offices nearly two months ago are actual building plans (266 pages!), not a plan set submitted for city approval. This indicates that the developer is just waiting for final approvals to begin clearing the property and start construction. This could come at any time now.”
Again. Another example of the City trying to ram developers’ wishes down the throats of the citizenry without the citizens’ knowledge, input and/or consent. Again.
No dense housing without representation.
The transit trojan horse is one of the most cynical and nefarious long term plans to completely undermine local citizens control and input into how their neighborhoods are shaped into the future and in the present that I’ve ever seen. This proposed building has not gone under any environmental or local review because of this scandalous and shameful subterfuge forced upon us the people, known as “complete communities.” The city of San Diego and it’s leaders simply Do Not Care what any local citizen or group or planning board has to say.
A massive four-story monstrosity jammed into the corner of a school and historic street that doesn’t have a structure over two stories? No review of the effects on traffic, environmental, quality of life, neighborhood character… The answer is NO. We are being bullied by a faceless bureaucratic labyrinth of deceit. This is happening across all of San Diego, everyone can see it. Local citizens must have a say and local laws and reviews must be honored.
Protect San Diego!
We’ve had a similar experience here in Stockton, CA. Although the city granted a permit to continue the demolition, the local citizens were outraged due to the loss of a historical building and cultural heritage that began in the early 1900s. Years later, urban planning allowed huge economic benefits, which increased property value.