Fat City Lofts loses to Solar Turbines

We posted about Fat City Lofts a few weeks ago about a new exciting project proposed for San Diego.

On Wed. the project went to a vote because another business (Solar Turbines) was proposed for the use of the same space.

The Center City Development Corp. board, which advises the city on redevelopment issues downtown, voted 4-2 in favor of Solar with three abstentions.

Director Laurie Black, one of the two supporters of the project, announced her resignation Thursday in response. The other vote came from architect Manuel Oncina, who did not quit.

Jonathan Segal, the project architect and a partner with the developer GLJ Partners of the 232-unit apartment project opposite Solar’s site on Pacific Highway, said Thursday his team was daunted by the vote.

“I feel like we’ve been mistreated by all parties,” Segal said, but noted that the Planning Commission will have the final say. “The Planning Commission is nonpolitical. I think we will get a fair shake.”

The president of CCDC will have the final say on how the land will be used.

Fat City Lofts

A downtown hearing room was packed Wednesday for a pointed debate on a controversial condo project on a prime piece of real estate near San Diego Bay and the airport.

It’s called “Fat City Lofts” and is named for the former restaurant on the site.

A committee of the Centre City Development Corporation is hearing both sides of the issue: supporters of the proposed 237 unit condo, who say the project is compatible with the existing Solar Turbines plant across the street, and opponents, who say the condo project should not be built because complaints from the new condo owners about air pollution, smells and noise from the Solar plant would eventual cause regulators to force Solar to shut the plant, which employs 1700 workers.

The CCDC staff praises the design of the condos, but says the project is incompatible with the city’s general plan, that encourages businesses in that area.

A CCDC committee will vote on the issue later Wednesday after hearing from speakers on both sides of the issue.

The Fat City Lofts would be built at the intersection of Hawthorne and Pacific Highway in Little Italy.