CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Another major development is being considered in Chula Vista. The proposed Sports and Entertainment District is described by developers as a world class destination beyond compare.
The project is called Pangaea and would transform 124 acres in the Otay District of the Chula Vista Bayfront.
“We want to make sure people have public access to our bayfront, we want to make sure it’s environmentally friendly and make sure that it’s high quality,” Mayor John McCann said.
The Mayor says phase one would include a tennis center, water polo academy, mini golf, retail space, hotels, office buildings and a public trail. Phase two has a vision for a 50,000 seat soccer stadium with perhaps another MLS team, a USL Championship League team or a Mexican Football Federation team.
“This sports complex would bring in tournaments from tennis, to aquatics and soccer – that everyone will want to be here. This is going to create good jobs and bring in economic activity,” Mayor McCann added.
Commerical Real Estate Firm Divaris out of Virginia Beach is behind the project. A local architect listed in the proposal worked on the Rady Shell and Portside Pier.
Developers want the project to go up at 990 Bay Blvd. It was once the South Bay Power Plant and one of the spots considered for a Chargers stadium – now if approved, this development would be south of the recently opened Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center.
“We’ve been waiting on this side of town, for development for decades,” Kevin Huffman said, who works right across the street at California Electric Supply.
Another business owner, Ian King said, “I’m just excited for there to be some progress.”
They were both born and raised in the South Bay, and shared with CBS 8 what they hope to see here.
“Mixed use, commercial, residential, parks, waterfront access. Soccer is so popular in Southern California and across the border, it’s going to be huge. Hopefully they can even use the bay itself for rowing, that type of thing,” Huffman said.
King says he cares about enhancing and protecting the waterfront for generations to come.
“You can’t ignore our proximity to the border, so that’s a really strong and robust part of this neighborhood and we want to encourage that and keep development going along those lines,” he said.
From zoning to planning and environmental studies, it could still be years away, but the Port of San Diego tells me in part, “the proposal represents a unique opportunity to potentially partner with an experienced developer on a project that, according to preliminary findings, has strong market demand.”
A presentation of the project will be made before the Board of Port Commissioners this Tuesday. The public is welcome to attend or watch online here.
To stream CBS 8 on your phone, you need the CBS 8 app.
Next up in 5
Example video title will go here for this video
Next up in 5
Example video title will go here for this video
In Other News
