Coalition Proposes Alternative Plan to Preserve Property as Community Hub
By Mike James
Ocean Beach, CA — A coalition of Ocean Beach and Point Loma community leaders is fighting to preserve the historic property at 1984 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, part of the area’s iconic “Church Row,” which is at risk of being replaced by a high-density housing development.
The site, formerly home to the Point Loma United Methodist Church and more recently operating as Water’s Edge Church, has served as a vital cultural and social hub for nearly a century.
The property, owned by First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of Mission Valley, has been under scrutiny since the local congregation’s closure on Christmas Eve 2023. Discussions led by FUMC leadership propose selling the property for affordable housing. To explore this plan, FUMC enlisted LeSar Development Consultants to provide recommendations.
Such a project could result in the construction of an 80+ unit, four-story apartment complex under San Diego’s Complete Communities program, potentially bypassing zoning and height restrictions.
An announcement regarding the development is anticipated in early February.
Critics highlight the potential loss of vital programs and services that currently operate on the site, including:
- Ocean Beach Emergency Food Bank: Serving over 500 families weekly for nearly five decades.
- Community Connections: Supporting adults with developmental disabilities.
- Pioneer Programs/Community School of San Diego: One of the few schools dedicated to students with moderate to severe disabilities.
- Ocean Beach Historical Society: Offering free monthly lectures and maintaining an on-site archive dedicated to preserving local history.
- Recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, along with services for veterans and families.
A Vision for the Future
The coalition is exploring an alternative plan to preserve the site as a community hub. Their vision includes maintaining the sanctuary, parish hall, and existing buildings for public use, while welcoming a new congregation, such as Submerge Church, to the space.
Despite repeated outreach, FUMC has declined to meet with local stakeholders to discuss this possibility, prompting frustration among residents and former members of the Point Loma United Methodist Church.
A Storied Legacy
Established in 1928 as the Ocean Beach Community Church, the property has long been a beacon of fellowship and service. Renamed the Water’s Edge Ministry in 2017, it expanded its role as a community center before the congregation’s closure in 2023.
Call to Action
The coalition is urging the Ocean Beach and Point Loma communities, city officials, and stakeholders to support their initiative and prevent irreversible changes to the neighborhood. Residents are encouraged to join efforts to preserve the property’s legacy as a vital community resource.
For more information or to get involved, contact the coalition at connect@obhub.org.
So what happens to the landmark if it gets preserved rather than building affordable housing?
It would be preserved as a historical landmark and be utilized for community purposes instead of becoming a high density money pit for developers and the city. Those of us that grew up here, baptized in that church and continue to utilize the buildings are tired of watching perfectly good buildings being torn down for the money hungry developers who couldn’t care less about the community.
It would become a community hub where following programs and services will continue to have a home:
Ocean Beach Emergency Food Bank: Serving 500+ local families weekly for nearly 50 years.
Community Connections Program – A community-based, nonprofit that offers specialized social communication and behavioral support for adults that have developmental disabilities
Pioneer Programs / Community School of San Diego – One of the only community-based high schools/transition programs supporting students and young adults with mod/severe disabilities through functional education and real-life application of skills with community partners.
Ocean Beach Historical Society: Hosting free monthly lectures and maintaining an archive dedicated to preserving local history.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA): Providing critical support groups for the community.
Living Well San Diego and Veterans Village: Offering outreach and support services for families and veterans.
In the future:
Community groups would have a location for meetings suitable for larger groups.
Provide office space for community groups
The hall would be open to musical events and education.
Rentals for weddings.
Additionally, the sanctuary could welcome a new worshiping congregation, such as Submerge Church, which has expressed interest in relocating to the space.
Couldn’t those activities be done at the proposed affordable housing development? Lots of new developments have community centers and multi-use space on the ground floor. Seems like you could get the affordable housing and keep the various activities you described.
How would that work exactly, Flynn, during the sale process, the demolition and then construction of 80 units and probably 4 stories that go over the 30 foot height limit? That’s a process, say, that would take 2 years. What do these groups and the people they serve do during that time?
Frank I don’t think any of the activities are actually happening at the church yet. The idea proposed is that the church can be designated as a landmark and can serve as a hub for various community organizations.
To answer your question, the community group activities could happen at the new development as well. Seems like something the OB Rag could rally behind. Affordable housing and space for community activities sounds like a win-win for OB.
The property is currently home to these vital programs and services. For many of them the loss of the sanctuary would be disastrous.
Where do you get your info? Secondly, is the 30 foot height limit important to you?
I misread the earlier post. Forgive me I was up late.
FUMC wants to sell the building. If they decide to do that then I am not sure what can be done to preserve the community services operating there. I don’t know if the new owners would be willing to allow community groups to continue using the location but it seems like something to explore if the site gets redeveloped. I understand state law now makes it easier for religious orgs to build affordable housing on their property, so maybe a sale isn’t necessary but if FUMC needs the money then I suspect they’ll sell.
As for the height limit, I wouldn’t say it is as important to me as it may be for you. I love our beautiful coast line, and would rather not see San Diego turn into Miami. That said, I am willing to make certain trade-offs; SD really needs affordable housing and I don’t view the height limit as so sacred that it outweighs the need for affordable housing. I don’t mean that in a facetious way, I just don’t feel as strongly about it as you do.
I guess I would characterize my thinking on this as what good does maintaining the 30 ft height limit do if increasingly only the wealthy can enjoy it? I am OK with going over 30 ft if it allows working people to live near the coast.
Just my opinion!
Thanks, appreciate it, but where do you get the idea that only “the wealthy” enjoy the 30 ft ht limit? 70 to 80 percent of the residents in OB are renters. They do count.
The average income levels in coastal areas is really high! Average home price exceeds a million dollars in coastal areas. Rents in coastal areas are also very high, especially when compared to inland areas.
I just looked at apartments in OB on zillow and there isn’t much at all below 2k a month including for tiny studios.
Maybe renters who have been in OB for a long time pay cheap rent but if you wanna move there now you’re going to shell out a lot of money.
Seems to me like allowing affordable housing to exceed the height limit is a fair trade-off if we are serious about giving working people a shot to live there these days.
Getting one roommate and it’d be $1000 a month which is nothing.
This proposal would end up being one of those “affordable housing” debacles that has the minimum number of affordable units required by law wjich is probably < 10%. I’m vehemently against it.
You’re probably right, Chris Bowd.
Also consider that affordable housing is tied to the median house price and more so Area Median Income of the area, so realistically doesn’t mean you get housing that is more affordable for the average person.
Exactly!
That certainly is something to entertain. Unfortunately the leadership at the FUMC has ignored our request over the past six . months to even meet with us.
Maybe that will change.
What new affordable housing developments are available for seniors to utilize for community purposes?
Everyone really needs a reality check when you talk about “affordable housing” in the same breath as a developer of 80 units in a new building. This is just developer-speak for high end rentals for Middle Class and upwards occupants. There is no way a brand new building with higher property taxes is going to be affordable for anyone by well employed working people. Personally, I think the old church is best suited to serve the people of Ocean Beach, both as a spiritual meeting place and as a community center. Why not rent the chapel to all faiths? And why not work out a deal to cover the property taxes, utilities, and upkeep by the various faith users paying rent or an annual fee? Keep in mind the tower is leasing space to a cell phone company, so there is that income stream too. Heck, even the OB merchants association could lease the space for their meetings and community functions. And why not a pre-school in the space where Sunday school had been taught? I get that the Methodists want out from under the property, but why do they need to sell the land to developers?
Cause it makes them more money? Just answering your question not encouraging the sale to developers
This church property has been the hub for so many good causes. I became an Ocean Beach Historical Society Board member in 2005. We have continued to have around 300 paying members (many non-members also come to our events). It has been an extraordinary location for our monthly programs and Ocean Beach and Point Loma archives.
I taught developmentally challenged students for 22 years, so I understand the importance of having schools and programs for this population. The Pioneer Programs / Community School of San Diego is an incredible resource. They are an important fixture at the church and in the Ocean Beach Community. They are loved by the local residents. Other programs that reside at the church are wanted and needed in OB. Housing should not destroy this building and the many wonderful organizations.
The neighborhood around a different property 4705 Point Loma Ave rallied around an appeal for Historic reasons, which was upheld by the City of San Diego Planning Commission. This very rare City AGENCY support is unusual. The churches are slightly different, but respect for the Historic District of OB is built into the Municipal Code. Kathy Blavatt was there for the appeal; she knows it takes a lot of work to keep these wall-to-wall buildings that are there under the name of “affordable housing” produce outcomes which are contrary to the community we all know as Ocean Beach, for one or two units that are more in rent than what people in older buildings in Ocean Beach pay now.
Frank did you reprint this story? https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/01/16/a-page-from-history-a-time-capsule-of-ocean-beach-churches/. This might be a good place to link it – for context. Thanks.
Dear Frank Gormlie….
I’ve been reading the OB Rag for many decades. I enjoy the concept that every person has an opinions that lead to conversations. Keep up the good work.
I do not want a potential 80 units complex that could be 4 stories. On Sunset Cliffs. Crazy.
I hope a walking protest, on SC, in front of the church is in the works. I would actively attend that. The last protest I attended was the protest for porn at the Strand, in 1980. How would they be able to get around the 30ft limit on the coast? Many people have tried and been shut down. Midway district plans….?? That law has been in place since the 70’s, I believe.
Shar
The decision by the City Planning Commission on 4705 Point Loma Avenue sets precedent which will be helpful for properties like this historic church located in the OB Emerging Cottage District.
We need people to care about the pioneer school students andthe homeless and the disabled residents who live – lived in cottages on church property not STUPID PUBLICITY SEEKING PROTESTSc
The church closed down because not enough people attended. A lot of the other churches on the row are in similar straights.
There aren’t a lot of people going to church in OB. But there sure are a lot of homeless people. Building apartments that are a block away from the bus into town, a block away from the elementary school and a block away from the shopping district sounds ideal.
One of the other churches in the area (or the library!) can hold the meetings and the archives. But social centers and archives isn’t really what this is about. This is about incumbent property owners clinging onto the good life they got. Change is difficult. But necessary.
We need change in OB.
The property owners in this instance is the church which wants to fill up the coffers since attendance is dwindling money on the sale of the building.
Frank: I disagree with your characterization of this as “the church wants to fill up its coffers”.
The church owns property that no longer attracts enough people to support the cost of owning the land and buildings. The church is trying to sell so that the ongoing costs do not drain them dry. Your assertion that they just want to grab the money is rude and disrespectful.
If the community needs a community center for AA meetings, food bank & etc, the community should be willing to gather the funds to purchase the property and fund the desired programs – rather than shame a current owner for their desire to move on.
I support programs that are done on this property, but don’t think it’s cool to slam the group that has done so much good work just because they don’t want to afford that forever.
If you’re so gungho, use your real name. Otherwise, your comments won’t show up. You’re also talking about church leadership that closed the church on Christmas Eve. Nice.
Why doesn’t the community respond by gathering the funds to purchase the property and fund the desired programs? Instead, there is a lot of shade being thrown but not a lot of solutions being proposed. I do have to question what the value of saving the church is if the church itself wants to sell and move on. Wouldn’t affordable housing be a better use of the land? OB could definitely use it!
After a read of some of your comments, Flynn, it appears you’re ready to give up on the 30 foot height limit at the coast. where do you live? And why do you address most of your comments to me? Some of your comments reflect an ignorance of the issues surrounding this church / building / community hub. Why don’t you get off your duff and exercise your beliefs?
Your argument lacks an understanding of the full situation.
First, the community is open to discussing a long-term lease or even purchasing the property. However, despite multiple requests to meet with the leadership of First United Methodist Church, our coalition—comprised of community leaders and former Point Loma United Methodist Church parishioners—has been ignored.
This site is more than just a church. It currently houses the Pioneer School, providing a supportive learning environment for teens with Autism Spectrum Disorders, special needs, and behavioral challenges. It serves over 500 food-insecure families and individuals every week. It preserves Ocean Beach history, with monthly talks and an archive of historic documents, newspapers, and photos. It’s a place where hundreds gather for recovery meetings, supporting one another on their path to healing.
We have a congregation ready to step in—but more importantly, we envision this space as a community hub for all of Ocean Beach, dedicated to strengthening and uplifting our neighborhood. This site has the potential to bring people together for the greater good.
The alternative? A massive, out-of-place development that could permanently alter the character of our neighborhood.
It’s also important to recognize the recent history between First United Methodist Church in Mission Valley and the former Point Loma United Methodist Church. Many former PLUM parishioners feel betrayed by FUMC’s decision. When FUMC faced financial difficulties at their Mission Valley location, they chose to end the Point Loma congregation on Christmas Eve 2023, with the intent to sell the property and boost their treasury—completely disregarding the Point Loma and Ocean Beach communities.
This isn’t just about a building—it’s about the heart of our neighborhood.
8 days later, no real name submitted to administrator (which can be done without public knowledge).
Is this Nancy V, Don or Losing Faith or all?
I think I have to agree with Adam’s point. I don’t know how much change OB needs exactly but building affordable housing close to the bus stop, close to the elementary school, close to Newport where most businesses are, and on land where a church closed down because people stopped attending seems like a no-brainer to me IMHO.
The Rag is an OG activist institution so why not use its influence to get concessions from developers?
If they want to exceed the height limit then push them to get in as many affordable units as possible and get them to build a community center on the ground floor. Surely the Rag can assist the community orgs to find a temporary space while construction is happening. I imagine the Rag could organize something with Sacred Heart Church or the library to allow the community orgs to use their space temporarily.
I understand the height limit is important to you Frank which is why if it’s going to be violated then it should be done for working people.
No need to breach the height limit. It’s reasonable and logical to manage and exist within the rules: see 972 ballot initiative – Proposition D. The height limit is not only a regulatory restriction but a reflection of San Diego’s identity.
Let’s keep OB a naural and classic town, no crazy buildings like the ones in linda vista, San Diego is the most beautiful city on the world but those capitalists wants to destroy the city with that ugly constructions.
If church sells tha Land and buildings The people who come to the Monday distribution would be left totally down and out or close to it
In the wake of the disastrous fires in LA, in which residents fled on foot due to inadequate roads for evacuation, I am firmly against high density projects in the coastal areas of OB, PB, and La Jolla. These areas have very few roads for evacuations. I sat in gridlock on Nimitz this afternoon, and it was a normal Thursday. Yes, we need housing, but let’s not kid ourselves…developers love these coastal areas for financial reasons. I doubt these proposed projects will truly by “affordable” by San Diego standards (the Vela project in PB is one example of developers exploiting loopholes in state laws to avoid really providing affordable units). Let’s be smart and build housing in areas that can support it.
it would be heartless
but probably profitable
its an evil plan by shady
elites to displace ugly
people and make
money imo
-rr
No one anywhere wants housing built in their neighborhood all they do is complain and now we have homeless for good
It’s not a question of just housing — it’s affordable housing we need. The Rag calls upon the city to guarantee more affordable housing in the Midway Rising redevelopment and calls upon the Navy and the city to guarantee affordable housing in the upcoming NAVWAR redevelopment project.
High density is going to burn to death a passel of people in the coming years because it is NOT going to get better when it comes to wildfires. Expect it and, if you are smart, don’t live in them.
This popped up yesterday (cut from ‘Roaming Charges’ on Counterpunch):
+ In 1982, 40 percent of new homes built in the US were starter homes. Last year, according to Census Bureau data, that number had fallen to just 9 percent.
So it’s the greed factor here about building ‘luxury’ ridiculously expensive cubicles?
+ The least affordable home markets in 2024 were Los Angeles, San Francisco and Anaheim, where homebuyers would have to spend over 75% of their income on monthly housing costs, according to Redfin. Pittsburgh, Detroit and St Louis were the most affordable.
+ Trump’s tariff guru, the economist Brad Lighthizer, “has come to believe after nearly half a century working on the issue that free trade is a fiction, believed only by Americans and economists (and, intermittently, by the British).” You don’t say…
And this was also on that page:
+ Who can afford to have kids in a cat food economy? (A cat food economy where the cat food is now too expensive to afford cats.)
sealintheSelkirks
Thank you af3 for caring disabled people developmentmentally disabled people are human beings as much as anyone else
Here’s Dan Plante at KUSI on the community rallying to save the building — go here
We need real housing real affordable housing in Ocean beach we need a much much better of housing in Ocean Beach not grandstanding publicity seeking attorneys and other people who keep the homeless homeless by refusing to build more housing