Transforming a former hospital into an international language school topped the agenda for the Midway Community Planning Group on Sept. 17, along with plans for a new SDG&E substation near the airport.
Representatives of the EF Language School returned to update planners on plans to convert the long-vacant, 10-story Cabrillo Hospital, a former general acute-care hospital and skilled-nursing facility on about six acres at 3475 Kenyon St., into a campus serving foreign-exchange students.
EF Education First is a privately held, international education company begun in Sweden and headquartered in Switzerland, specializing in language training, educational travel, academic degree programs and cultural exchange with 500 offices and schools in 52 countries worldwide.
“We’ve signed a purchase and sales agreement for the property and also have assembled a great development team with lead architect Carrier Johnson,” said EF spokeswoman Shawna Sullivan, noting foreign students typically stay six weeks.
Sullivan said students would be housed and schooled at the old hospital site, adding few students have their own transportation and heavily rely on mass transit, bicycling and walking to get around.
“We think we can fit about 450 student beds into the first and second floors,” said Sullivan, adding total campus enrollment is projected at 1,500 with no more than 600 students in class at any given time.
Sullivan said the EF Language School would like to become a “true community partner,” working together with Midway planners to “turn the site back to a beautiful place and find a way to integrate it” with the surrounding developing neighborhood.
An architect said the proposed hospital conversion project would add a soccer field, pool and volleyball court, as well as landscaping and trees.
The proposal met with the approval of Midway planner Kurt Sullivan, who said, “It’s really refreshing to have something come forward that’s going to lighten the impact [on the area]. It’s a beautiful, well-thought-out proposal.”
Regarding landscaping, Midway Community Planning Group chairwoman Melanie Nickel said planners “like shade trees a whole lot better than palm trees.”
Sullivan said EF would return in the future with more fleshed-out plans. IN OTHER ACTION
• SDG&E representatives addressed planners on plans to construct a new substation at the corner of Vine Street and Kettner Boulevard, which is projected to begin construction in January 2016 and finish in July 2017. They said the project was needed because existing downtown substations are nearing their carrying capacity. While agreeing in concept with the project, planners suggested something ought to be done to create a “Disney effect” for it. Planners described that as something architecturally creative and in keeping with the history and spirit of San Diego in order to distinguish the project.
• Planners were told that District 2 City Councilman Ed Harris has sent a memo to Mayor Kevin Faulconer requesting that “all leases at the sports arena complex expire at the same time.” Midway planners have expressed ongoing frustration with the fact that several real-estate leases surrounding Valley View Casino Center [formerly the San Diego Sports Arena] at 3500 Sports Arena Blvd. are expiring at widely varying times as well as month-to-month leases in the area which planners said contributes to a lack of incentive for tenant improvements.