By Kate Callen / September 26, 2025 
As expected, the San Diego Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the Midway Rising proposal after in-person public comments were dominated by speakers who will directly benefit from the development.
But there were a few surprises. Five commissioners seemed dubious about transportation issues, especially plans to develop now and upgrade transit later. And an observation from one of the newest commissioners could be the most shockingly honest remark a San Diego public official has ever made.
Jeana Renger questioned future traffic projections for the notoriously congested Midway district and said this: “Transit-oriented development is only successful if there is a whole system of buses and trolleys and also ridership. Just because you build it doesn’t necessarily mean they will ride it.”
(If anyone wants to thank Ms. Renger, an executive vice president at Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects, for having the courage to speak a truth too long denied, her email address is jrenger@fpbarch.com.)
Daniel Reeves, the newest commissioner, also asked pointed questions about transportation challenges, like delaying improved transit service until Phase 2 and providing only 2,100 event parking spaces for a 16,000-seat sports venue.
“It’s a big project,” Reeves said. “It’s exciting for some. It’s scary for others.”
Judging from public testimony, the Midway Rising project is exciting for an array of people who will benefit financially. Labor union officials will get jobs. Event promoters will get bookings. Business owners will get sales revenue. Non-profit executives will get donations.
Who finds the project scary?
Anyone who lives around the perimeter of the area will face constant gridlock as dense traffic spreads out. Anyone who must navigate the I-5/I-8 connector will need to be hyperalert.
“Think about when you drive west on 8 and come to the 5/Rosecrans offramp and how it backs up now,” Paul Krueger of the San Diego Community Coalition told the commissioners. “You’ll be responsible for accidents and injuries if you don’t review the transit plans.”
Anyone in communities to the east could eventually see 250-feet-high buildings blocking the horizon. Project managers tried to dodge that issue, but that’s clearly their long-range plan.
But the people most scared by this colossal land use grab by donors to Todd Gloria’s mayoral campaign are the residents and taxpayers of San Diego who are watching a zombie climb out of a crypt.
Jennifer Grove of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that “proposed lease terms with the city remain undisclosed” and added, “A lease agreement for the property is still under wraps. A lease agreement for the property is still under wraps. The deal terms will be made public ahead of a hearing of San Diego’s Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, which could take place as soon as next month.”
So a giant land use deal involving many millions of dollars and valuable real estate is moving forward with no public transparency and no apparent due diligence. That sounds sickeningly familiar.
The seven Planning Commissioners were appointed by Gloria. The nine City Councilmembers, who will next consider the project, were chosen by voters. In 2026, two are running for reelection, two are termed out, and at least two are seeking higher office.
None of them wants a political legacy that carries the stink of a 101 Ash Street fiasco. Or so we hope.
It was still voted for unanimously so I am not comforted by those who voiced traffic concerns yet voted for approval.
The residents of the City of SD may as well forget about good air quality. thanks to Gloria and the City Council members voting for whatever Gloria wants, they may as well shut down and lay off the employees of the Climate Action Dept. Given the fact when the high rise buildings are facing each other, and side by side, and due to no common sense, poor planning, the traffic becomes blocked and idles. Idling vehicles emit more toxins in the air than moving vehicles. Truth be known, the communities of Downtown, Hillcrest, North Park and similar others probably have the worse air quality in the County. San Diego in general has lousy air quality, but that’s to be expected since vehicles coming across the Border twice a day, don’t have their vehicles smogged, and if they’re using Pemex gasoline, you can smell their vehicle 2-3 car lengths back. I’ve looked at some of the SD CEQA applications to the State of CA, and they’re as cleverly worded as a scheming politicians bio on the booklets we get before an election. Basically doing a CEQA is a waste of time, as they’re basically all approved.
This is a great article by Kate Callen. Thanks to Jeana Renger & Daniel Reeves for speaking up at the San Diego Planning Commission meeting for the people that will be negatively affected by Midway Rising (Too Far & Too Wide!). Two years ago I said that government was trying to take our property & hold onto to your seats-they are! The Peninsula will be chocked off from the rest of the city, thanks to those that lied for the almighty dollar.
This is the most telling. “ So a giant land use deal involving many millions of dollars and valuable real estate is moving forward with no public transparency and no apparent due diligence. That sounds sickeningly familiar.”
Rosecrans street will now become a parking lot. It already backs upon Hwy 8 during high traffic times. The council people will never use Rosecrans so they will never feel the impact.