As San Diego's housing pressure intensifies, a new legislative battle is drawing a line in the sand, or more precisely, along the waterfront. California Assemblymember Chris Ward has introduced AB 2525, a bill moving through the state legislature that would specifically exempt Mission Bay Park from the state's Surplus Land Act (SLA), shielding the beloved open space from residential development.
The tension comes into focus at sites like Marina Village Conference Center, Dana Landing Marina, and the land surrounding Sportsmen's Seafood Restaurant on Quivira Road, all areas Mayor Todd Gloria has identified for potential redevelopment. Businesses in those areas are generally open to new retail, restaurants, and commercial activity, but the prospect of apartments is a different matter entirely.
The controversy traces back to an earlier proposal that would have required San Diego to use the Surplus Land Act when renegotiating leases at the park, a process that legally grants housing developers first priority. That idea was quickly shelved after it became clear it could compel the city to entertain apartment construction on parkland. The city has already fielded a proposal for 900 homes on the property, a prospect that has met strong resistance from the mayor and many residents alike.
Mayor Gloria's office has been direct in its support for AB 2525, noting that converting Marina Village to private residential use would require amending the City Charter, a step that needs approval from two-thirds of San Diego voters. The mayor's office has called such an action neither feasible nor supported by the community.
