Two Point Loma community planners interested in turning a vacant lot at the end of Canon Street into a pocket park say they’re making progress, a little at a time.
“It (progress) has been behind the scenes, however — not visible like the amazing January cleanup which clearly brought the neighborhood together,” emailed Peninsula Community Planning Board (PCPB) members Jon Linney and Don Sevrens.
Linney, Sevrens and a neighbor near the open-space site participated in a staff meeting Feb. 25 with six Park and Recreation executives and a District 2 council aide. It was held to discuss procedural steps in the future for converting the open space for park use.
The meeting was private, not a public hearing, and no formal actions were taken. Nonetheless, planners pushing for redevelopment of the site for public use were encouraged.
“It was a very constructive meeting and I’m quite pleased,” said Linney, community activist and second vice chair of the PCPG Board.
“I agree. It was so encouraging to see so many executives willing to spend so much time with us. It shows they really care,” said Matt DeVol, a park neighbor and organizer.
Not everyone, however, is happy with the notion of converting the Canon Street lot into a park. Park neighbor Mary Harder has repeatedly contended at monthly PCPG meetings that redeveloping the lot would create problems with traffic, trash, noise, dust and parking, warning that improving the site could also draw undesirables.
Linney, DeVol and Don Sevrens, an activist and planning board secretary, represented the organizers. Present for the city on Feb. 25 were city employees Kathy Ruiz, deputy director; Steve Palle, district manager; Craig Hooker, park designer; Robin Shifflet, development manager III; area managers Monica Honorare and Debbie Marcotte, as well as Conrad Wear, aide to Council Member Lorie Zapf.
Among the points shared:
• The City now calculates the park area at .68 acres, not the .28 acres previously reported. A topographical survey, probably at a $5,000 expense, will determine boundaries, elevations and the amount of usable area versus unusable slope area.
• The City seems to be moving toward formal bidding and prevailing wages even on projects donated to the city, said Ruiz.
• The organizers’ projected cost is about $200,000 less than the City’s. Smaller projects can be difficult to estimate accurately, said Ruiz.
• Organizers continue discussions with nonprofit organizations to be the fiscal sponsor for the project and for San Diego Foundation to handle all donations. “We believe we will have some very good news to report in the near future,” Linney said.
• The City is quite pleased with the condition of the park site following the community cleanup. Staff and park organizers agreed on specific procedures if any major efforts are contemplated in the future. (Individual neighbors continue to pick up trash, and that is welcomed.)
• DeVol asked if the City could prevent joy-rider vehicle access at the Canon Street entry and placement of strategic boulders is being researched.
• Organizers believe the required public workshops, design and conceptual plan can be accomplished if $20,000 in donations are raised. That’s possible because individuals such as workshop moderator Colleen Clement and architect Bruce Cook are willing to donate their services.
• At least two public workshops are planned for later this year. The public will be able to suggest park features, get information, make donations or pledges and vote on preferences.
• In a joint community/City effort, it was suggested that organizers carry the project through approval of a design and conceptual plan with donations raised to complete at least Phase One. The City would seek to get the park raised to the highest priority for already accumulated developer fees and would direct actual construction as money allows. Such a later-stage handover is being thought through. “This is a community effort,” Linney said, “and it will take some time to organize. But we believe a nonprofit organization will step forward to help us, other groups will donate money toward bite-sized chunks and several individuals already have offered their skills for a steering committee. In the end, it will come down to raising donations. Together, we will make this happen.”
The small, undeveloped parcel on Canon Street was transferred from the Public Works Department to Park and Recreation on June 30, 2014, and is now a designated park site.
A community workshop will likely be scheduled at Portuguese Hall by early summer to receive public input on the pocket park development project. To register your ideas or concerns, contact Jon Linney at [email protected], Don Sevrens at [email protected] or at Matt DeVol, [email protected].