If you’ve driven by the former De Anza Cove mobile home park lately, you’ve probably noticed the trailers there are being removed.
It’s going to be a long process, according to city officials.
“No residents remain in the mobile home park,” said city spokesman Tim Graham. “We anticipate it could take up to a year to clear the site of the remaining mobile homes, approximately 245 units.”
The city is midway through The De Anza Revitalization Plan, a three-year comprehensive outreach and planning program. The goal is to re-imagine, re-purpose and revitalize the 120-acre De Anza Special Study area within Mission Bay Park.
The special study area involves not only the former De Anza Cove mobile home park, as well as Campland on the Bay campground, but also surrounding active uses including Mission Bay Golf Course, Mission Bay Boat and Ski Club, Bob McEvoy Athletic Field and Mission Bay Tennis Club.
The revitalization effort involves city and park officials working with the community and stakeholders to develop conceptual revitalization plan alternatives that result in a preferred plan, an amendment to the Mission Bay Park Master Plan, and an environmental impact report.
The effort to redevelop the regional park was delayed by a decade-long court battle between the city and residents of the 500-unit De Anza Cove mobile home park, a 75-acre park on prime real estate jutting into the water in Mission Bay Park west of Interstate 5. Ultimately, the city reached a $3.6 million settlement agreement on one of three lawsuits involving mobile home park residents, which finally allowed them to relocate.
The revitalization plan’s ultimate goal is to create an iconic recreation destination that maximizes the benefit offered to the region by this extraordinary waterfront amenity that balances recreation, environment and commerce.
Graham said what’s to become of the former mobile home park is yet to be determined.
“While a public process is currently under way to propose future uses at the site, there will be an interim period where, most likely, passive public use will be accommodated,” he said. “The site is a City Park and Recreation Department asset and will be managed by that department.”
Graham noted the special study area’s revitalization will “ultimately amend the MB Master Plan to outline those uses. The approval process will include the Mission Bay Park Committee, City Council and California Coastal Commission.” Speaking on behalf of Pacific Beach Planning Group, current chair Brian Curry, said, “The old mobile home park is indeed the bulk of the DeAnza peninsula, so it is part of the larger DeAnza revitalization planning effort. In the end, we want ‘public’ amenities for area residents and visitors. This is public land that should be available to the public.”
For more information, visit deanzarevitalizationplan.com.