Mission Bay Park is Not Surplus Land
By Donna Frye
A little over nine months ago, the issue of whether three properties in Mission Bay Park would be declared “surplus land” was being discussed at the City Council’s Land Use and Housing Committee. The committee voted to support that declaration and within a week, the public was informed about it by Geoff Page in the OB Rag.The three properties were Marina Village banquet and conference center, Dana Landing Marina and Sportsmen’s Seafood restaurant.
The reason cited by the city for the surplus land declaration was the State Surplus Land Act which required the city council to declare the properties “surplus” in order to request proposals for leases for a period longer than 15 years.
By declaring the land as surplus, first priority would be given to housing developers who could force the city into negotiations to build housing in Mission Bay Park.
The problem is that Mission Bay Park is dedicated public park land and San Diego City Charter Section 55 prohibits housing development in Mission Bay Park.
The public opposition to declare Mission Bay Park “surplus land” was instantaneous and unanimous. When the proposal made its way to the full city council for a vote on July 29, the item was continued instead of being approved.
At that same meeting, a councilmember asked if there had been any proposals received or interest shown on any of the three properties and the city staff responded “yes”.That’s when the public first learned there had been an “unsolicited proposal” for the Marina Village property. The city did not provide any further information to the public until August 26 and likely did so because of a Public Records Act request.
The unsolicited proposal was from the current tenant, Southern California Pipe Trades Retirement Fund through their entity SCPT Marina Village, LLC, and was joined by Suntex Marina Investors LLC and Monarch Investment Fund Management Co.,LLC. (Suntex-Monarch).
The development proposal included “a state-of-the-art marina, hotel, spa & conference center with up to 900 residential units, of which thirty percent (30%) will be affordable.”
That disclosure led to even more pubic opposition. After many more public hearings, it became clear that the surplus land declaration was running out of steam.
On February 20, 2026, Assemblymember Chris Ward introduced legislation, AB 2525, which would exempt Mission Bay Park from the Surplus Land Act thus eliminating the conflicts between the San Diego City Charter and the State Surplus Land Act. This means that leases can be updated and renewed without first requiring housing development as part of the proposals, which is as it should be.
Nine months ago it was looking like the Mission Bay Park “surplus land” declaration was all but a done deal. It took a lot of public effort to get us to where we are today, but it made all the difference.
Please continue to participate and help protect and preserve Mission Bay Park. Below are two ways you can help right now.
On April 14, the San Diego City Council will hear Item 101. It is a Resolution in support of AB 2525, exempting Mission Bay Park from the Surplus Land Act.
Please contact the city council to let them know you support Item 101 to exempt Mission Bay Park from the Surplus Land Act.
On April 15, the State Assembly Local Government Committee will hear AB 2525. It is the first state committee to vote on this legislation.
Please register your individual or organizational support of AB 2525 by sending an email to: silverio.Rizo@asm.ca.gov
You can also submit comments here
Thank you again, Donna, for continuing to follow thru on these problems caused by our city government.