Brace for culture change, Chula Vista

Bvavsvavev, The blog seems to have taken its own direction, a healthy thing. But maybe I didn't make the discussion clear enough. There was never a question about selling parking lots, the state has mandated the former Redevelopment Agencies divest themselves and get out of the real estate business. The lots must be sold. The city apparently has some wriggle room for one parking lot, maybe being able to keep it. So the question was, how best to use this wriggle room. Aguilar noted the business owners between Third and Madrona on the east side would be "in a choke" and that there might be an effect on the Farmers' Market location. A lot of people were not aware of that possibility and it seems like an appropriate thing to discuss at the council level. There was no one who spoke against residential development. And, on the personal side, I frequent Third Avenue all the time...and welcome the new additions. There's a nice little alehouse open now--a good little meet up kind of place. I miss the old places too...like when we had a Latin American bookstore with art openings and poetry readings...
— January 7, 2016 4:22 p.m.

Brace for culture change, Chula Vista

Some people will be interested to see this website regarding the Urban Core Specific Plan--it's quite expansive at buildout. http://biasandiego.org/chula-vista-urban-core/ Looking back through campaign disclosure statements, it appears that developers have given lavishly to all of our mayors including Salas.
— January 5, 2016 2:11 p.m.

Brace for culture change, Chula Vista

Alexandra Vinson Shepard, Incredible price, no? The sale was public. The mayor led prospective buyers on a walking tour of the lots for sale during the summer. The catch for a realtor was that he or she had to present the Design Review Committee with plans for residential development. As Crockett said, it was an effort to keep the lots from lying fallow.
— January 5, 2016 1:58 p.m.

Brace for culture change, Chula Vista

Ponzi, there are destination places. In the area that will lose the parking lots there are several good restaurants. There is a very creative Sushi place that blends Mexican and Japanese flavors and is always packed, California Sushi http://californiasushibar.com/HouseRolls.html There is an intimate Trattoria Italianissimo http://italianissimotrat.com/dinner-menu/ and a great little theater which puts on an interesting mix of traditional and cutting edge plays called OnStage Playhouse. I looking forward to seeing Evita there in May. There are other good places, but you're right, it is more what-it-might-be, not what-it-is... That's why planning and leadership is so important.
— January 5, 2016 7:50 a.m.

Brace for culture change, Chula Vista

Bob Hudson, It's interesting to note that one of the lots that was sold, according to Crockett, brings in over $1,000 a month in meter fees.
— January 4, 2016 3:32 p.m.

Chula Vista condo plan misses mark again

Gloria Smestad, I have seen the overflow parking in eastside areas and many old westside streets are becoming impacted, we don't have any real transportation alternatives. Every time I google somewhere I want to go it tells me I can get there in 20 minutes by car or 2 and 1/2 hours by public transportation. I know someone who needs to go to the Naval Hospital once a week and goes by public transportation--it's an all day journey!
— December 22, 2015 9:23 a.m.

Chula Vista condo plan misses mark again

jnojr--That is a good point about the square feet of the shop. I think that zoning calls for mixed-use, so that is a genuflect in that direction. There was a handout at the meeting asking what kind of shop people would like to see in the development--coffee, deli, florist, juice bar.... As for the word Mexican-American, the only person who used it was the developer. I'm not sure if the United States is shooting for color blind. Every form a person fills out asks him or her to identify--are you Anglo-American etc.
— December 22, 2015 9:12 a.m.

Chula Vista condo plan misses mark again

Shirley, That is a good point. I know one attendee asked about the Chula Vista committee on growth management said about west side development-- I believe the committee does schools, water, infrastructure... I think the students from Third and K would attend Hilltop Elementary, Middle and High. In the mean time, hope the season is being good to you. Tomorrow is the first day of winter, so every day after a little bit lighter...
— December 20, 2015 9 p.m.

Chula Vista's cleanup act

Here is Greg Moran with more of the backstory on California gambling. Interesting article: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/dec…
— December 16, 2015 9:08 a.m.

Chula Vista's cleanup act

We are not supposed to digress, but on the homeless issue....I met an attorney recently while attending a courtroom case. She was part of a group called GirlsThinkTank. The group purchased a mobile shower/bathroom. They give free legal advice to the homeless at the San Diego library once a month, and they do a cleanup of a various parts of the city once a month. You can look them up online. I was impressed. There aren't many services in Chula Vista.
— December 15, 2015 3:04 p.m.