Grantville Redevelopment 
 

Mission Valley Mobile Home Park vs. the Archstone-Smith Project

How Is It, Enough Is Not Enough?                                                                            Gloria Hanson, MVV Resident

Archstone Smith Fenton Park complex has 396 luxury apartments. Near by, Portifino has 736 units and Monte Vista has several hundred. La Mirage has a whopping 1410 units! That’s about 3000 apartment units within an approximate 1-1/2 mile stretch of roadway! Inquiry at the rental office of each of these complexes comfirms there are many vacancies at all of these locations, further substanciated by signs, at each, indicating they are “now renting.” With so many empty units available, why do we need more?

Redevelopment plans, if approved, will bring an additional 4,500 units of housing at Quarry Falls. Superior Ready Mix is planning 2,500 units in the redevelopment of their land. The 27 acres just west of the Superior Ready Mix property—is another development that will add 1,500 units. That is 8,500 new housing units! ( Mostly apartments.)…almost triple the number of exixting units (3000 indicated above) that already clog the road system.  Quarry Falls alone is expected to add 66,000 road trips per day! That’s 66-thousand!

In addition to these thousands of housing units, there are at least five career centers and several strip malls planned; all adding to the traffic nightmare which is to come; some say, is already here. Even though this all has a staggering impact on emergency services, the environment, and our already faltering infrastructure—and for those reason should not be allowed into existance—that is not the main point I wish to make here. There are many other apartment complexes along Friars Road to add to the mix of these thousands of units and yet there is no provision for senior living, except at Mission Valley Village and The Cliffs mobile home parks.

The 3,000 existing apartments plus 8,500 new units is a total of 11,500 units in just a few short miles of road! Now if that is not enough, Archstone Smith wants to close Mission Valley Village (Senior) Mobile Home Park (Which is not included in the Grantville redevelopment plan.) and replace it with 445 luxury apartments. We DO NOT NEED more luxury apartments. We do, however, need to increase, NOT DECREASE, housing for the fast growing demographic; our senior citizens. These people served the community well in their day and now deserve the dignity of housing that is affordable on their often fixed income.

There is no need for the Archstone Mission Gorge development other than the increase to the tax base it will generate for the financially troubled City of San Diego. Why should the seniors in this park be asked to bare that burden? These homes are the only assets most of them have. Our city’s forefathers, in their wisdom, put an Over Lay Zoning Ordinance in place to protect this form of affordable housing. However, corporate greed and shortsighted city officials are considering closing the park to promote a project that has no grass root support. If it is “tax base” the city wishes to increase, MVV is able—this very day—to add 35 new homes. Manufactured homes are subject to property taxes the same as any stick-built house; income for the city and affordable housing for seniors. What is wrong with WIN / WIN?

Please help us to preserve our park and this style of affordable housing for the people of San Diego.

Join us at the Navajo Community Planning, Inc meeting Monday, September 15^th

7:00 PM @ The Church of the Nazarene, on Mission Gorge Pl. Also join us at

Allied Garden Community Council Meeting, Tuesday, September 23^{rd  @} 7:00 PM, Ascension Lutheran Church, 5106 Zion Avenue and ask that they recommend to the City Council That they keep the Over Lay in place. If you can’t join us please contact the City Council and ask them not to remove the Over Lay.