By Chuck Dunning
I’ve been to the meetings and read the articles declaring three parcels in Mission Bay Park as surplus. In the end, it sounds like there’s a real risk of this decision not ending well. The inescapable fact is that the sole intent of the state’s Surplus Land Act is to create land for affordable housing.
I don’t believe Mayor Gloria, Council President LaCava or the rest of the city council or staff ever envisioned Turquoise Tower or Chalcifica as an outcome of the Bonus ADU program. Yet, here they are. Shit happens. The Law of Unintended Consequences.
There is a way to redevelop the Marina Village site and avoid the entire surplus land process. I also attended many meetings and hearings when the De Anza Natural plan was being developed. Frequently there were dedicated and vocal groups decrying the potential loss of affordable camping on Mission Bay. At this point, 30 acres of camping facilities will be converted to wetlands. Coincidentally, the Marina Village site is 23 acres.
Why not convert that acreage to affordable camping? How many campsites for tents, yurts or small trailers could be accommodated with room for a playground and sports courts? There is already a deli and mini-mart adjacent to the property. Inexpensive cafes and fine dining are an easy walk.
Perhaps arrangements could be made with the Hyatt for pool privileges. The adjacent marina provides watercraft rental, fishing, diving and sightseeing excursions. And, “Marina Camp” could truly provide affordable camping. San Elijo State park, for example, has sites with water, electricity and some sewer hookups for between $50 and $75 per night.
Converting Marina Village into a campground would happen much sooner than developing a 500 room luxury resort. Money will flow back to the city much quicker. The California Coastal Commission would bless us. The new 10 year Campland lease extension proves that this project doesn’t need to trigger the 15 year lease clause.
In other words; redevelop while avoiding the whole surplus land issue, begin cash flow earlier, and return more affordable visitor accommodations to Mission Bay Park.
Chuck Dunning the retired Vice President and General Manager of XETV Channel Six TV. He is also a regular user of Mission Bay Park.
I really love this idea and welcome another campground at Mission Bay. Unfortunately, city leaders seem to prioritize unsolicited development proposals over the city’s need for affordable recreational spaces. I believe the current council would 100% favor a luxury destination for tourists, over a campground that would serve tourists and residents. How can the city be convinced otherwise? Does the Mission Bay Park Committee support a campground and have they recommended this to the city?
Perhaps if converted into an obvious campground with campground fires is a good idea. I think there is a greater probability that some locals will use it, or visitors from afar. It is also possible this campground will be an invitation to hoards of homeless. Unfortunately, most visitors have not learned to pick up after themselves. I like the idea of a hotel, which we know will be kept clean and most likely with security free of homeless. The hotel is within a quick bike ride to the beach and will increase spending at beach businesses and at Sea World that is in proximity to Marina Village.
I greatly appreciate Chuck Dunning’s comments regarding the insane proposal to declare Mission Bay Park Land as “surplus” and his solution as both welcome and a great idea. Although I am not a regular user of Mission Bay Park these days, I dance periodically at the nearby Aqarius and as a college student worked at Sea Forth Landing in 1968. Since then I have attended various training classes in the Marina buildings, Halloween and Christmas dances, and highly value those properties for those uses. However, I have noticed the City of San Diego has allowed the Marina facilities to age and has not kept up to its responsibility to maintain the bulidings. This is, of course, because former mayors and City Council have diverted park moneys for other purposed in decades of budgets. The least expensive way to revitalize those properties is to restore the buildings and find a new leasee. And why not incorporate short-term camping and rereattional uses for the properties?
Ron May
resident of San Diego since 1955.