Mission Bay Aquatic Center Gets New Lease on Life

After nine long years of negotiations, the Mission Bay Aquatic Center finally has it's lease. On July 15th, the city council unanimously approved the lease agreement, with only a few modifications required.

The 12,500 square foot facility, located on city land in Mission Bay, is jointly operated by a student association from both San Diego State University and the University of California at San Diego. The center is a place for college water sport-electives, programs for youth and the disabled, as well as a nice place to go if you are a university alumni or staff.

The reason why it's taken over 9 years for the Mission Bay Aquatic Center to renew it's lease with the city? They've never payed rent — not since 1975, when they entered the current lease with the city.

Officials for the center pleaded before the council that the center offers programs that cater to those with disabilities as well as with underprivileged youth and is a vital part of the community. They also say the renovations to the land and their efforts to become energy efficient give more reasons to renew the lease.

Most importantly, they also said they would start paying the city some rent on all entrance fees paid by the general public.

Those against the lease said the center caters to well-to-do university alumni, students and staff. They also say the city can earn some needed revenue by actually having a tenant on their land that is paying the going rate for the land.

For more on the city council, go to sandiego.gov/citycouncil.