From Protect Point Loma
Jan. 23, 2026 Point Loma Community,
Protect Point Loma group wanted to update you on our fight to protect PL from the predatory developers.
The owner/developer, Michael Contreras, pushed his project to build an over-height, 4-story, 56-unit apartment building to be permitted and start construction in early 2026. He is there.
However, community opposition – coupled with the real threat of drawn-out legal action and the increased costs of environmental mitigation – is working. The community’s action appears to have paused the development of 1004 Rosecrans. In over a year, the community has stepped up repeatedly to voice our opposition in public, to our elected representatives, and to underwrite the work of a crack legal team. Community members provided essential historical data on the property that enabled us to initiate environmental actions to protect neighbors and Cabrillo Elementary students from exposure to carcinogens in the soil. The broad support of the community has been essential.
This pause is an opportunity. Community members have consistently offered to purchase the property from Contreras to prevent the project from going forward. We continue to support those who are trying to make this happen.
Protect Point Loma’s role is to ensure we can get our campaign across the finish line. In the meantime, we will pause our 1004 Rosecrans oriented fundraising while we wait for a successful outcome. To add some alacrity to this opportunity, PPL remains poised to submit a lawsuit should Contreras move forward with the project.
In the New Year we continue to work for a new beginning for 1004 Rosecrans that represents the community’s wants and needs. Thank you PL for being so supportive!
Feb. 9, 2026 Greetings Point Loma Community,
In a continued effort to provide transparency to our community we wanted to let you know that a Point Loma community member has officially stepped up to purchase 1004 Rosecrans to protect this important anchor property from overdevelopment. The property is currently in escrow, and PPL is seeking additional investors to join the ownership team. The current buyer is willing to step aside for another qualified acquisition group. Time is short, and we must identify serious investors by February 20.
This is a community-driven investment focused on preserving neighborhood character and preventing overdevelopment. Financial returns are expected to be modest, with the primary goal being long-term stability and local control.
We are also seeking businesses interested in a long-term lease to operate a market, restaurant, or other commercial use. The two-story former bank building is structurally sound, utilities are functional, and there is ample parking. Securing a viable tenant (or tenants) will significantly improve financing options should investors pursue loans.
Interested investors or businesses should contact PPL at protectpointloma@gmail.com as soon as possible for additional information and next steps..
Hate to be a Gloomy Gus, but I’d bet with the recent passage of SB79 and his property being adjacent to a “future” transit hub rapid bus lane, that his 4 story project is being redesigned for 7 stories. The abusive joys of Supermajority control both here and in Sacramento.
Can you point to the transit stop that makes this site sb79 eligible? I am about 99.99% certain there is no stop, planned or otherwise, that meets sb79 criteria in this area.
good question…
There currently are two on Rosecrans identified as Transit hubs at Canon & at Talbot. “Transit Priority Areas: New designations along corridors like Rosecrans Street, Cable Street, and Mission Boulevard are intended to support increased residential density and improved transit access in the coming years.” This identified everything within 1/2 mile radius for increased density until it didn’t. They changed that to everything within a One mile walking distance, which leaves the last two blocks of Sunset Cliffs and parts of the Wooded area unaffected. That’s it, I actually drew up maps from an old Thomas brothers of a one mile walking distance from each Transit Hub. Yes, almost the Entire Peninsula. With that established, all it would take is a future Rapid Bus redesignation of a single Bus Transit Hub along Rosecrans for SB79 to then apply to the entire village area. It all hinges upon adding that “Rapid Bus” label to a Transit stop.
Also, I believe that I read where the same developer has bought much of the block across the street from Ullman Sails, between Scott & Le Rondelet. Seven stories for the same SB79 regs where local height, environmental, and open space laws are null & void. The only way to put a stop to this is to demand Rapid Bus service be removed from the “future list” in our communities.