At the height of the “Town Hall” meeting Tuesday night, July 28, at the Point Loma Library, there was standing-room only. I had counted at least 80 people earlier. It had been called by three local planning groups (Peninsula, Uptown and Old Town) and a Point Loma group to air the community’s grievances against the Midway Rising redevelopment project of the sports arena area, NAVWAR — the Navy’s redevelopment of sections of Old Town, and Senate Bill 958, that if enacted, would pour grease on the skids for Midway Rising’s plans.
Eric Law — chair of the Peninsula Community Planning Board — opened the gathering. He later set the tone when he told the crowd, and the two TV stations present:
“Everyone that has anything to do with housing or businesses here on the peninsula wants to see Midway redeveloped. They just dispute that you need to build it over 30 feet.”
Other presenters included Scott Case and Patty Ducey-Brooks of the Uptown Planners Community Planning Group, Ralph Teyssier, a community activist and engineer, and Eric Law. Other locals sat at the front table ready to answer questions, including Christine Smith of Neighbors for a Better San Diego, and Don Severns, formerly a veteran Peninsula planner.
Case spoke on SB 958 and CEQA, the California Environmental Quality Act. In brief, CEQA, passed in 1976, requires public agencies to evaluate and mitigate the environmental impacts of proposed projects across the state. It has played a crucial role over the decades in protecting California’s environment, including air, water quality, wildlife habitats, historic sites and public health. Basically, it ensures projects consider environmental consequences before being approved, and requires public review and oversight. Unfortunately, many exemptions have been created and now CEQA resembles swiss cheese.
SB 958 seeks to remove elements of CEQA, Case said. It will set a precedent for limitations to be created to CEQA. It applies to other projects across the state.
Patty Ducey-Brooks said, “We’re here because we know how destructive SB 958 is on our communities.” Ducey-Brooks also pressed the point that no one is discussing the combined affects of Midway Rising and the NAVWAR redevelopment project. “No one is taking all this in consideration.”
“It was intended to provide taller buildings,” she said of the bill. It would do more than lift the 30-foot height limit in the Midway District.
“In the re-writing … it really changed the whole nature of the document and now it makes it much more usable throughout the state of California, not just here.”
She drove home the point that the communities and people involved in these issues “want to have this discussion with our elected officials.”
Ralph Teyssier talked about “the engineering realities” of the projects. He exclaimed, “Taller buildings don’t mean more affordable housing.”
Eric Law wrapped up the presentations. “We’re here for facts, not emotions.” He explained that the “underlying premise for Midway Rising is false.” It ought to be about affordable housing, but Midway Rising does not guarantee that, he said. During the two phases of Midway Rising, if built, only a small number of affordable housing will be built in the first phase. The second phase is decades later, which means there will be doubts if more is built by then.
This leads to the “Miami-Beachization” of the Peninsula, Law said. “We don’t have a housing problem, we have an affordable housing problem,” he said to applause. “Land is in shortage, not housing. … The denser you build, the most costly housing is.” This directly contradicts the YIMBY mantra that denser housing cuts housing costs.
Other points made were that there is not presently the infrastructure to handle Midway Rising — not to mention whatever NAVWAR brings — and the redevelopment project won’t be making any new infrastructure outside the project’s footprint. Also, that combined, Midway Rising and NAVWAR will bring 50,000 new people to the Peninsula area.
No one is mentioning schools, Melinda from the audience said, with the Midway Rising project. Where will all the children go, or, she said, “will it be just all single people?”
Traffic issues were also raised. At 3:30 pm when the Navy gets out, several observed, there’s a solid line of cars now along Rosecrans all the way to the freeways from the Navy gates.
During the Q & A session (very few questions, all mini-speeches) one man from the audience, a Midway Rising supporter, turned to the audience and asked who favored the project. Three hands were raised. A number of known local activists were present including Kathy and Ray Blavatt, Kenny Key, former Councilwoman Lori Zapf, former Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, Scott Chipman, Margaret Vissimo, Pamela Begeal, Richard Santini of South Park, Suzi of Linda Vista, Scott Andrews and John McNab of Save Our Access. Some of them spoke during the Q&A.
On the future of SB 958, the bill’s author, State Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, has said, “SB 958 moves us closer to delivering more housing, open space, and economic opportunity — including 2,000 affordable homes for San Diego.” As has been often expressed, these numbers are in doubt.
SB 958 is waiting for a State Assembly committee hearing when lawmakers return in August and if approved by the legislature, the San Diego City Council could take up the project as early as September.
Thx much, Frank, for this detailed report on the Midway Rising town hall. It’s reporting like this that makes the OB Rag such an important part of our local media landscape.