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Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024
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Transit Center Project Plans Look to Gain Traction

It’s not exactly boom times, but commercial development in the otherwise low-key city of Solana Beach has been accelerating.

There are several properties under commercial or mixed-use redevelopment along South Cedros Avenue, in the popular Cedros Avenue Design District. And the city in the past few years has invested more than $7 million in improvements to the beach-adjacent Highway 101 commercial corridor, with more pedestrian and bicycle-oriented improvements on the way.

Now comes apparent movement on a potential mixed-use redevelopment next to the Solana Beach Transit Center, a project that’s been talked about for more than 20 years. At its May 18 meeting, the North County Transit District’s executive board voted for the district to enter into an exclusive negotiation agreement with Encinitas-based developer Rhodes Moore LLC in regard to developing land around Solana Beach’s Coaster and Amtrak train station off North Cedros Avenue.

Last fall, the concept by Rhodes Moore, which also developed the Pacific Station mixed-use project in Encinitas, was picked by the transit district from among four concepts with various combinations of residential, commercial and civic elements.

Called Cedros Market, at a cost yet to be announced, the Rhodes Moore concept includes about 30 apartments, plus a three-story parking garage built partially below ground with more than 1,000 parking spaces for transit district commuters, residents, shoppers, nearby office workers and other visitors.

Developers could not be reached for comment or renderings. The project, spanning 5.6 acres of land owned by the transit district, would be built in two phases, with the second phase including what is described in a transit district document as “retail, restaurants, and/or low-impact residential uses.” The overall design of the project would incorporate the transit station itself.

Several proposals to develop the land around the Solana transit center have come and gone over the past two decades. The most recent proposal to get shot down, primarily due to opposition from residents and businesses, was a 2008 project called Cedros Crossing, calling for elements including 141 apartments and a big parking structure, at a cost of around $72 million.

The transit district now wants to take advantage of the prime location while development momentum in North County coastal areas is still strong, but the commercial ambitions apparently have been scaled down. While the transit district has authority over the site, any final plan will also need the blessing of Solana Beach city government leaders and the California Coastal Commission.

In the meantime, according to a fact sheet on its website, the North County Transit District is “focusing on large-scale joint development projects” located near or at transit stations under its control. In addition to Solana Beach, officials are open to future new residential, commercial or mixed-use elements at stations in Oceanside, Carlsbad and Escondido.

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