In January, the Peninsula Community Planning Board unanimously endorsed a developer’s plan to convert The Dolphin Motel into boutique Monsaraz Hotel.
The action item on the Jan. 18 PCPB agenda was introduced by applicant Greg La Marca, president of Alliance Development Services, Inc. He requested permitting to demolish the old Dolphin Motel’s four existing buildings, to be replaced by a new 49,150-square-foot, 92-unit, three-story hotel. The new structure will be constructed over a basement garage on the 0.57-acre site at 2912 Garrison St.
The nonprofit Point Loma Association had been locked in litigation with previous Dolphin Motel owners in a dispute over removal of a controversial billboard next door at the Pearl Hotel at 1410 Rosecrans St.
Brian Hansen with Joseph Wong Design Associates gave a slideshow presentation detailing the motel’s metamorphosis into a boutique hotel.
“We’re proposing 110 feet of curb cuts on Garrison and 40 feet of curb cuts on Rosecrans doubling the street parking on Garrison, plus getting rid of the old billboard,” said Hansen. “We would be adding a three-story building, street trees and landscaping that are not there now.”
Hansen added the new boutique hotel would “take cars down to the (underground) garage by a valet system.”
La Marca told planners Monsaraz would have “a nice bar lounge with its own entrance and identity,” to include garden space with fire pits and “space for weddings in the courtyard.
“We’ll have meeting space for the community,” La Marca said adding, “Hopefully, the interior design will be visually appealing enough to attract people in from the harbor area to walk around and shop.”
The new hotel will be Portuguese-themed with a collage to blend in with Point Loma, which is seeking historical branding for the community that was originally settled by fishermen. On the third floor of the new hotel will be a deck where people can buy refreshments and check out the harbor.
Applicants characterized the new Portuguese-themed hotel’s style as “modern coastal flair.” The proposed hotel lounge will have a full-service bar serving tapas and other appetizers. It will be designed to flow into an interior, 5,000-square-foot garden courtyard with living walls directly accessed from Rosecrans Street.
The hotel conversion project received approval from audience member Robert Tripp Jackson, former president of the nonprofit Point Loma Association, which is dedicated to community enhancement.
“Our (PLA) board recommended the project 100 percent,” Jackson said. “It will be a great addition to that corner and a nice change from the old Dolphin Motel.” 
Jackson added the prime corner space “is in need of a makeover.”