54.3 F
San Diego
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
-Advertisement-

Navy Secretary Opposes Marine Terminal Proposal

The Navy secretary said the concept of building a raised platform over San Diego’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, then developing that space for tourism uses, including hotels and a possible football stadium, is a bad one.

The military is a big user of the civilian terminal.

“I have no idea how the concept that’s being advocated , either during its construction phase or even afterwards , would enable us to continue operations there,” Secretary Donald Winter told members of the Fleet Week Foundation and San Diego Military Advisory Council during a breakfast at Naval Base Point Loma on Oct. 15. “It would create a significant problem for us.”

Fifty-three percent of all goods and equipment the military sends from the West Coast to Iraq, Afghanistan and the surrounding region goes through the terminal, Winter said.

“While this is not directly a Navy-owned facility, it is very clearly in direct support of Navy and other military operations here on the West Coast,” Winter said.

Proponents of commercial development at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal are going to voters Nov. 4 with Proposition B, which asks the San Diego Unified Port District to amend its master plan to include “air rights” above the terminal.

Specifically, backers want to build a platform over 96 acres at the terminal. A deck on top of the terminal could support a new football stadium, a convention center expansion, a new cruise ship terminal or an aquarium, proponents say in their ballot argument.

The move will generate public revenue at no cost to taxpayers, proponents say.

Frank Gallagher, one of the redevelopment measure’s biggest backers, said the plan would be drawn up in consultation with the military as well as other port stakeholders. Port security would improve under the plan, Gallagher said. On a personal note, he said he is the son of a Marine colonel. “The military is near and dear to my heart,” he said.

The Navy secretary also said he was concerned about other defense-related uses. The terminal supports shipbuilders and ship repair yards that serve the Navy. Shipbuilders need high-capacity cranes to load and unload heavy items from ships, he said, adding that those cranes properly belong on the top deck of a double-deck facility.

On Sept. 24, Rear Adm. Mark Harnitchek, a high-ranking executive with the U.S. Transportation Command, spoke of San Diego’s position as a “strategic seaport” along with Oakland, Concord and Port Hueneme. The command moves Army and Marine Corps vehicles and equipment.

Harnitchek declined to give an opinion of the second deck at the marine terminal. But he did speak about the military’s wish list for port facilities.

Such ports require “acres and acres of lay down area” to stage military equipment. He added that the command prefers big highways, rail access and three berths of 1,000 feet each.

-Advertisement-

Featured Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-

Related Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-