In February, Midway Community Planning Group (MCPG) heard about a local hotel renovation, was updated on the status of a new business improvement district being formed and a proposed medical marijuana dispensary being challenged, as well as receiving a presentation from a tech business looking to relocate to the area.
“We’re involved in a massive, $8 million renovation to all 208 guest rooms of our hotel,” said group board member Victor Ravago, of Hampton Inn Sea World/San Diego Airport at 3888 Greenwood St., which he said will convert to a Four Points Sheraton by summer.
“We’re also going to be adding a full-service restaurant-bar as well as getting a retail license for a gift shop,” Ravago said, adding the hotel is remaining open during the remodel while rooms are being redone “one floor at a time.” Business improvement district
Ravago, who is also spearheading re-creation of a business improvement district (BID) for the Midway area, said a breakfast meeting is planned for 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 25 at the Hampton Inn. The effort is being undertaken to unify businesses in the Midway/North Bay area to promote economic revitalization, marketing, civic beautification and parking and transportation improvements.
“We’re reaching out to the city attorney’s office and hoping they can reinstate the existing BID,” Ravago said.
“They (previous BID) did a lot of good work while they were active,” noted group chair Melanie Nickel.
“We also want to work with the District 2 office,” said board member Cathy Kenton. New business
Rick Sutton, CFO of The Control Group Media Company Inc., a San Diego tech company, said his firm is experiencing rapid growth and is exploring relocating from Little Italy to Kettner Boulevard and Vine Street. He said the office complex being evaluated at 3534 Kettner Blvd. occupies two city blocks and includes a parking lot.
“It’s in an area zoned industry-office right now and is really just a big open area, sort of like a campus,” said Sutton. “We’re in the due diligence phase.”
Sutton said the firm has already outgrown its existing facilities with its 70 employees and said he could envision expanding to 300-plus workers in the future.
“One other thing that attracted us to the space is public transportation, as it is near a trolley stop and the Coaster (train),” Sutton said.
“I like this idea,” said Nichols. “These are the kind of businesses we would be happy to see there. It’s in an area where we have not seen a whole lot of good, positive development.” In other action:
nThere are presently three vacancies available on the MCPG board during its March elections. The city advisory group is seeking to increase the diversity of its makeup. “We have no residential members to this point, and we’re in need of some people who live here,” said Nickel. Also, Randall LaRocco was elected by the group to replace outgoing group member Chuck Pretto president/CEO of Kobey’s Swap Meet.
nNickel said a medical marijuana dispensary proposed on Hancock Street, which was approved by a city hearing officer, has been appealed to the city Planning Commission, which will hear the appeal March 12.
“We don’t know who is appealing,” Nickel said. “It (appeal) has to be based on something brought up before the hearing officer.”
They (opponents) can’t bring new issues.”
MCPG meets 3 p.m. every third Wednesday at San Diego Community College West City Campus, 3249 Fordham St., Room 208.