PACIFIC COAST OFFICE BUILDING: A STUDY IN NON-DISCLOSURES
CITY OF SAN DIEGO, MTDB (NOW UNDER SANDAG) 12 YEAR VIOLATION OF FEMA FLOODPLAIN REGULATIONS
MISSION CITY PARKWAY BRIDGE
RIVER VALLEY PRESERVATION PROJECT
MISSION VALLEY YMCA
QUARRY FALLS MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH
HANALEI HOTEL EXPANSION INTO FLOODPLAIN
STARDUST GOLF COURSE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT EXPIRES: READER STORY
The boycott of Cush Auto Group is no longer being advocated since this business was sold to another owner. Stephen Cushman, the prior owner of Cush Auto, is co-owner of the 200+ acre River Walk (formerlly Stardust) Golf Course in West Mission Valley. 7 acres of the former course just west of Fashion Valley Road, was supposed to be landscaped with tress and turf grass after the trolley was built through the course in 1997. In 2001, Bob Didion, a Senior Planner with City of San Diego, wrote a memo stating that the landscaping was required by agreement with the City. After numerous complaints to City Code Compliance and two Violations being issued by them, hydroseeding of the 7 acres was done in 2002. It failed to grow. Community complaints regarding this barren eyesore mounted. Michael Turko did a superb, 2 part Turko File on this land. He correctly noted that public tax dollars paid for the landscaping--funds from the West Mission Valley Trolley which paid landowners over $10 million to rebuild the course and landscape this parcel. The television screen flashed MONEY PIT as he exclaimed "this reminds me of some bizarre sci-fi film set"--in reference to the desolate, barren appearance. Turko interviewed Randy Berkman who had brought this issue to his attention. The City then approved a "Substantial Conformance" agreement with the landowner which states that the parcel is to be kept in a "green and growing" condition. However, the landowner and his consultant have not abided by this agreement. Rather, they planted a hydroseed mix that only grows when it rains a substantial amount. During dry years, it resumes its barren appearance. At most, it looks decent in winter months when it rains. Result is better than nothing though another regrettable example of Mission Valley mitigation not done as promised.
TRANSCRIPT OF TURKO FILE:
10:00 PM Turko File
Lead In:
I'm Micahel Turko. It looks like a Hollywood back lot for a sci-fi horror flick. But's it's supposed to be a beautiful green space. The Turko File...tonight.
Lead In:
City Plans show an open green space. Turko says 'We paid for it but got nothing for our money.'
When a local business left a gaping eyesore in the middle of Mission Valley, KUSI's Michael Turko got the call.
He sure did. And Turko says they were paid with tax money for an urban green space that never materialized.
Turko
From the street, it looks like an especially ugly construction site.
Interviewing Randy Berkman
To me it looks like a wrecking yard without the wrecked cars.
Randy Berkman is part of the River Valley Preservation Project. They've been keeping an eye on development here for years now. Technically, this land is part of the Riverwalk Golf Course [formerly called Stardust]. They're supposed to landscape and maintain it.
repeat of 6 PM News about trees that are supposed to be there and are not
Turko:
Sure enough. That's what the plans say and the City Planning Department backs him up. It all began when the San Diego trolley came through back in the '90's. The tracks cut right through the golf course. Part of the course had to be condemned and the case wound up in Court. When it was settled, the Transit Board paid the golf course thousands of bucks to turn this area into an urban green space. All that was back in 1997. City officials confirm the golf course did get their money. But four years later, this area is anything but green. Check it out. It looks like the back lot of a sci-fi horror flick. (Turko kicks up dirt on the property in disgust).
Turko interviewing passerby:
They should do something about it. It's really an eyesore.
Turko
So I paid the golf course a visit. They tell me the land on the other side [north side] of the trolley tracks isn't really part of their course any longer. The City says the golf course is supposed to put landscaping on the other side [north side] of the trolley tracks as well.
Golf course worker Louie Silva interviewed at clubhouse
I'm not sure about that plan. We definitely had a plan to plant so many trees.
Turko
Where are the trees that are supposed to be over there?
Louie Silva
I don't know anything about that part. There's a lot of trees on this side.
Turko
He's right about that. The landscape on this side of the tracks [south side] is top notch. Lot's of new trees and state of the art irrigation. But what happened to the money we paid to do the same thing over here? We're talking tax money here.
Randy Berkman
They were paid Proposition A taxpayer money through MTDB, the trolley people, when they put the trolley over here. And they have simply taken that money and not done what they were supposed to do.
Turko
Stay tuned. The investigation continues next week.
Didion Memo which led to Code Compliance Violation:
Nick Osler letter which replied to citizen complaint about lack of landscaping:
