The stage has been set for National City-based Corky McMillin Cos. to transform the former Naval Training Center on Point Loma into something new with distinct traces of something old.
The San Diego City Council unanimously voted Oct. 3 to approve the NTC Precise Plan , a mix of residential, educational and business facilities on the abandoned 360-acre former Navy base in Point Loma.
The plan drew heavily on the NTC Reuse Plan, adopted by the city two years ago, but focused on specific landscape, urban design, transportation and zoning information.
The Precise Plan includes development of a 52-building historical district, 22 acres of educational facilities, 22 acres for offices and research and development uses, 37 acres of residential plans and 40 acres for parks and open space.
Two hotels, a nonprofit arts and culture center, and a pedestrian-oriented linear park that will run throughout the development are also included in the plan.
It is expected the project, which could be worth $500 million, will be complete within 10 years.
The plan also includes some elements that didn’t sit well with the surrounding community and some council members , namely, a 20-station driving range on the 60-year-old SailHo golf course on the property.
The San Diego Planning Commission, which agreed with the bulk of McMillin’s development plan, said the range would take away the historic character of the course.
The council agreed and the driving range, which could have netted more than $100,000 a year for McMillin, was eliminated from the plan.
The final vote to approve the development must come from the California Coastal Commission, which city officials hope will meet on the issue early next year.
Walter Heiberg, McMillin senior vice president and project manager for the NTC project, said all community concerns have been, and will continue to be, taken into consideration during the project’s development.
“The reason we withdrew (the driving range plan) was because of the community concerns,” Heiberg said.
Another portion of the plan that will be altered because of community and council concerns, Heiberg said, is the 135-space parking structure proposed at the north end of the boat channel on Shoreline Drive. The council asked McMillin to work with the city’s staff to reduce or eliminate the parking structure.
“We agreed with the council to look at ways to reduce it and make it a better area,” Heiberg said.
Such concerns were deemed important by many who voiced opinions in favor of or against the project at the council meeting. No matter their position on the project, each speaker mentioned the importance of keeping the historic value of the facility in mind to ensure it will be remembered for what it was.
The base was closed in 1997 after nearly 75 years of operation.
“For the city of San Diego to be given back a piece of property in the heart of the city, with such historical value, is a real opportunity,” said Mayor Susan Golding. “Even when I’m not mayor, I will continue to remind everyone that this is not just a piece of property to develop, and if we fail to (develop it), we will miss the boat.”
Heiberg said he believes a determining factor in the decision to select McMillin to develop the project was because they are a local company that understands the value of the project.
“The city knew we would be aware that this is a quote, ‘crown jewel’ of the city, and a local company would take that to heart more than a company from somewhere else,” he said. “We have lots of plans to make sure when people come back 10 years from now, they will know what the Naval Training Center was all about, and that they will know the history.”
Other actions the council approved include:
– Directing the city manager to explore inclusion of a 50-meter pool and diving facility in the planning process.
– Keep live/work lofts as an option in the plan.
– Widen 20 blocks of Rosecrans Street between Russell and Lytton avenues.
– Explore the possibility of establishing a wetlands area at the northeast corner of the park.
– Explore the possibility of establishing a future bay-to-bay visual link.
