June 24, 2025. The LA Times reports on California’s top 7 earthquake faults. The proposed Columbia Street high-rise in Middletown / Mission Hills is situated on top of one of these faults according to the latest California Geologic Survey (CGS).
The Newport-Inglewood / Rose Canyon fault is second on their list just after the San Andreas fault. According to the latest CGS, this active fault is accurately located and running through the lots of the proposed high rise at 3677 Columbia St.
The LA Times article describes the devastating impact of this fault’s 1933 earthquake. It goes on to state “A plausible magnitude 6.9 earthquake along the Rose Canyon fault through the heart of San Diego would threaten the civic and financial center of California’s second largest city and the nation’s fourth-biggest naval base.”
We rely on geology professionals to keep us safe, properly evaluating these projects according to industry standards and best practices, and not influenced by city politics nor corporate developer pressure. Politicians and agendas change, but these projects have lifetime safety impacts upon our communities.
San Diego’s Developmental Services Department (DSD) geologists and other professionals need to reject this ill-conceived high-rise project. Given the size of this massive high-rise, earthquake induced structural failure will have a devastating impact on the neighborhood.
