Get Involved

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, volunteer with us to protest this development, emailing officials, and making a donation.

Who to Contact

City Elected Officials

Contact:

Mayor Todd Gloria
sandiego.gov/mayor

Council Member Stephen Whitburn – District 3
sandiego.gov/citycouncil/cd3

Council Member Jennifer Campbell – District 2
sandiego.gov/citycouncil/cd2

Politely express your opposition to this 14-story, 172’ high-rise development (DSD PRJ-1126254) in our historic hillside neighborhood located at 3677-3685/87 Columbia Street. This project offers negligible affordable housing while maximizing corporate developer profits, at the expense of the hundreds of neighborhood residents. Express your support for increased density housing that complies with the base zoning height and lot setback rules.  There are other in-community housing approaches than the high-density, high-rise apartments encouraged by the Complete Communities FAR multiplier and exception / waiver policies. Of particular concern is the voice of the community is shut-out and development decisions that violate base zoning restrictions are being approved by City policy without any community input or method of appeal. 

City Departments

Contact the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD):

SDFD Fire Chief Robert Logan and Deputy Fire Chief Tony Tosca (Community Risk Reduction Division)

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 619-533-4388

Politely express your opposition to this 14-story, 172’ high-rise development (San Diego DSD PRJ-1126254) in our historic neighborhood, located at 3677-3585/87 Columbia Street. SDFD initially reviewed the prior project (DSD PRJ-1113794) and limited the building height due to the narrow ~20’ street. Using a proposed exception to International Fire Code (IFC) D105.1, the developer is increasing the building height and units. In doing so, it appears that the development is not in compliance with other codes. Specifically, it does not provide the required fire hydrant roadway clearance (26’ minimum, exclusive of shoulders), per IFC D103.1. Nor does it provide the required 2 separate access roads for multi-family residential projects over 100 units, per IFC D106.1. The narrow street configurations do not support large quantities of fire vehicle deployment (street widths, turn radii, building setback). SDFD should not grant any exceptions for this mis-guided project. Major fire response to this high-rise building would block at least one (if not both) of the two egress routes for the hillside neighborhood. There are too many fire-safety exceptions for this project which impact the neighborhood and complicate our fire fighters’ efforts to effectively respond.

Contact the San Diego Developmental Services Department (DSD):

Elyse Lowe (DSD Director)
sandiego.gov/development-services

Politely express your opposition to this 14-story, 172’ high-rise development (DSD PRJ-1126254) in our historic hillside neighborhood located at 3677 – 3685/87 Columbia Street. DSD is reviewing and approving the plans using the Complete Communities policy which precludes any public input or appeal. There are too many exceptions associated with this project as it relates to public safety which are a significant concern. There are too many zoning requirement waivers. Further, the development would create significant traffic and parking issues for this older neighborhood with narrow streets. The California Geologic Survey and its underlying Fault Evaluation Reports “accurately locate” a fault trace directly through the parcels.  After scraping 3 existing affordable units, this project offers negligible affordable housing improvement which could then be off-sited into a different neighborhood. The corporate developer emphasizes their objective as “delivering exceptional returns for investors.” We need DSD to support increased density affordable housing solutions that harmonize into our historic neighborhoods. San Diegans support responsible development — there are other increased density solutions than the high-rises which destroy our historic neighborhoods. 

 

County and State Elected Officials

Contact:

County Supervisor Monica Steppe, District 4
supervisormonicamontgomerysteppe.com

County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, District 3
supervisorterralawsonremer.com

State Assembly Member Christopher Ward, District 78
a78.asmdc.org

State Senator Dr. Akilah Weber, District 39
sd39.senate.ca.gov

Politely express your opposition to this 14-story, 172’ high-rise development (San Diego DSD PRJ-1126254) in our historic Middletown hillside neighborhood at 3677 – 3685/87 Columbia Street. California’s affordable housing laws are negatively impacting our neighborhoods throughout San Diego and offering scant affordable housing solutions. Instead, corporate developers are using existing laws and policies to maximize their investor returns at the expense of the hundreds of current and future residents. Express your support for responsible affordable housing development that complies with the base zoning height and lot setback rules. There are other in-community housing approaches than the high-density, high-rise apartments encouraged by San Diego’s Complete Communities FAR multiplier and exception / waiver policies. Of particular concern is the voice of the community is shut-out using the state’s “by-right” review policy — development decisions that violate base zoning restrictions with multiple waivers and exceptions are being approved by City policy without any community input or method of appeal.

Corporate Development Team

Contact the Architecture Firm:

Dahlin Architecture
Address: 501 West Broadway #1080, San Diego CA 92101
dahlingroup.com/locations/san-diego

Payham Rad (Senior Associate/Project Manager)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 858-350-0594

Nancy Keenan (President/CEO), Corporate Office
dahlingroup.com/contact/

Protest this proposed high rise to the architecture firm that is developing the plans and working with San Diego’s Developmental Services Department (DSD) to get them approved (PRJ-1126254), located at 3677 – 3685/87 Columbia Street. Politely communicate your awareness of their active involvement to irresponsibly design and build high-rises on this historic neighborhood hillside. They should listen to the community and seek design solutions that integrate with the surrounding neighborhood, and not only serve political and developer interests. Encourage them to support responsible neighborhood development that provides increased affordable housing density within the existing base zoning laws (height and setbacks).

Contact the Corporate Developer:

Elda Developments
Address: 2251 San Diego Ave #A100, San Diego CA 92110

Ahmed Eldahmy (CEO)
Phone: 619-361-1560
[email protected]

Let this developer know of your opposition to this irresponsible high rise that will destroy your historic hillside neighborhood, located at 3677 – 3685/87 Columbia Street. Politely encourage them to support responsible neighborhood development that provides increased affordable density within the existing base zoning laws (height and setbacks).

Contact the Land Use Consultant:

Atlantis Group Land Use Consultants
Address: 2488 Historic Decatur Road #200, San Diego CA 92106
atlantissd.com

Steven Bossi (Principal Project Manager)
Phone: 619-523-1930

Protest this project to the consultants who are helping the developer push through high rise development in your historic hillside neighborhood, located at 3677 – 3685/87 Columbia Street. Politely encourage them to support responsible neighborhood development that provides increased affordable housing density within the existing base zoning laws (height and setbacks). They should listen to the community and support land use solutions that integrate with the surrounding neighborhood, and not only serve political and developer interests.

Contact the Construction Management:

TopOut Construction Management
topoutcm.com 

Dean Schumacher (Principal) 
Email: [email protected]

Protest the project to the consultants who are helping the developer streamline and push forward the construction plans, located at 3677 – 3685/87 Columbia Street. Politely encourage them to support responsible neighborhood development that provides increased affordable housing density within the existing base zoning laws (height and setbacks).

Contact the Current Property Owners:

Anita Place Partners, LLC
Address: 12625 High Bluff Drive #310, San Diego CA 92130
Contact: Bruce Kleege

Don Beaumont and Thomas Nielson
Address: Nielsen Beaumont Marine, 2420 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego CA 92106

Phone: 619-223-2628
[email protected]

The two development lots (3677 and 3785/87 Columbia St) appear to be in an extended-escrow period, pending final sale agreements. Politely, communicate your opposition to this proposed development that will destroy your historic neighborhood. They likely never envisioned that this buyer/developer would irresponsibly build a high rise in your neighborhood. Encourage them to reconsider their sale options.

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.