Stop Columbia High Rise

Say NO to Irresponsible Development on
Middletown Hillside

Our community stands united for responsible development that respects this historic hillside neighborhood, and offers affordable housing density that complies with the base zoning laws.

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Say NO to Irresponsible Development on Middletown Hillside

Our community stands united for responsible development that respects this historic hillside neighborhood, and offers affordable housing density that complies with the base zoning laws.

Sign the petition Get Involved
Sign Up for Our Email Newsletter

Say NO to Irresponsible Development on
Middletown Hillside

Our community stands united for responsible development that respects this historic hillside neighborhood, and offers affordable housing density that complies with the base zoning laws.

Sign the petition Get Involved
Sign Up for Our Email Newsletter

Protecting Our Neighborhood's Historic Character and Community Safety

A proposed 172-foot high-rise threatens to destroy the unique character of our Middletown neighborhood. City politics are enabling corporate developer greed and offers negligible affordable housing.

Be Part of the Change

Subscribe to Our Newsletter for Updates on Advocacy, Community Actions, and Progress in Safeguarding Middletown Hillside from Irresponsible Development.

What’s Wrong With This Development

Destroys Historic Community Character

The 172-foot-high-rise destroys the character of the Middletown hillside above India Street International Restaurant Row.

Irresponsible Development

San Diegans support responsible development to provide affordable housing. There are better development options that fit into this hillside neighborhood, than high-rise, high-density buildings that tower over the existing homes.

Does Not Address Affordable Housing

Only 4 of 161 units are designated as very low or low income.

Corporate Greed & Unappealable City Decisions

The Corporate developer advertises their objective as “delivering exceptional returns for investors.” The City is prioritizing the interests of one developer over the hundreds of neighborhood residents. The City is bypassing all community comments to approve the building permits.

Public Safety

The Columbia one-lane divided street is too narrow to support emergency vehicle access for the proposed high-rise building, according to national and international fire safety codes.

Located Directly on an Active Earthquake Fault

The active Rose Canyon earthquake fault has been accurately mapped by the California Geological Survey and runs directly through these two lots.

No Green Space or Sunlight

The high-rise encroaches into lot set-back zoning requirements, Neighboring properties lose sunlight to their organic garden spaces. The high-rise makes no contribution to the greenery landscape benefits.

Parking Issues

The 161-unit project makes the current parking issues worse for residents and India Street businesses.

Traffic Congestion

This project creates traffic flow problems on the narrow divided one-lane street, impacting traffic flow for all homes on the hillside and India Street businesses.
View all Issues

R.E.S.T. - Responsible, Equitable, Sustainable, and Thoughtful Development

  • Responsible development that considers community well-being.
  • Equitable development review processes that involve all neighborhood stakeholders, not just political and corporate developer interests.
  • Sustainable living that supports traffic, parking, public safety, and transit.
  • Thoughtful planning and consideration of historic urban neighborhoods, avoiding reckless, overbearing high-rise projects.

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Let's fight for responsible and sustainable urban development.

Thank you for standing with us in this important cause. There are five main ways to get involved: signing the petition, staying informed by signing up for emails, volunteering to help, emailing officials and developers, and making a donation.
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News & Events

Stay updated with the latest news, upcoming events, and initiatives that drive our collective progress. Together, we’re building a future that honors our past and enhances our present.

 

Project Expired

Project Expired

Author News

The City’s Developmental Services Department (DSD) has confirmed that the proposed Columbia Street high-rise preliminary review findings (PRJ-1126254) have expired since there has been no further submittals in the past year, as governed by the Information Bulletin 513. Any new project proposal will need to be re-evaluated against the current city code and conditions. This […]

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Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone

Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone

Author News

Per the latest 2025 fire safety maps, the proposed high-rise is located in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), subject to stricter fire-safety rules. However, the project was NOT previously reviewed with this designation.  Reference San Diego Fire Map San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) recognizes these old neighborhoods, laid out in late 1800s, have conditions that create fire […]

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Bove Land Group Marketing To Find Investors / Developers

Bove Land Group Marketing To Find Investors / Developers

Author News

It appears that that Elda Developments has enlisted San Diego-based The Bove Land Group to market this irresponsible 14-story Columbia Street high-rise project on the Mission Hills / Middletown hillside to new investors / developers. Despite Bove’s recent glowing press release that the project is “ready to issue” permits, this project has the same set […]

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Make a Donation to Help Preserve Middletown Hillside

Your non-tax-deductible contributions support our fight for responsible development on the Middletown hillside neighborhoods. Thank you for standing with us in this important cause.
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