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<\/a>New businesses and growth<\/h3>\n
Unless you have been living in a cave the last year, or just awoke from a coma, it would be impossible to not notice the pace in which La Mesa is growing and changing.<\/p>\n
Housing continues to be expanding and in October we ran two stories that highlight the different kinds of residencies being built in the city. We reported on how the city partnered with private developer Westmont Living to build a 130,000-square-foot, three-story retirement community on the property at 9000 Murray Drive, adjacent to Grossmont Hospital [\u201cBriarcrest breaks ground,\u201d bit.ly\/2kyjT1i<\/a>]<\/em>. We also reported on a development by The Phair Co. that will soon break ground [\u201cHilltop housing development in the works,\u201d bit.ly\/2A4XSk9<\/a>]. <\/em>La Mesa Summit Estates will be an upscale development of around 30 four- and five-bedroom homes on 10 acres at the top of Eastridge Drive.<\/p>\n But housing developments are often controversial and the Little Flower Haven project was a prime example of how a desire for growth is often at odds with maintaining neighborhood character.<\/p>\n In August, we reported on a contentious City Council meeting where Porter Hill residents voiced strong opposition to the 130-unit, three-story housing project proposed for the Little Flower Haven site at 8585 La Mesa Blvd. \u2014 a former home for the elderly run by the Carmalite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus [\u201cCity Council rejects Little Flower Haven,\u201d bit.ly\/2ABzrbB<\/a>].<\/em> In a 2-2 vote, with Councilmember Colin Parent abstaining, the project did not have the votes to pass, prompting a threat of lawsuit from developers Silvergate Development.<\/p>\n The result was the council reversing its decision the very next month under advisement from City Attorney Glenn Sabine [\u201cHousing project approved with second vote,\u201d bit.ly\/2yMbcWf<\/a>]<\/em>. Even though the project is now a done deal and will be built, the Little Flower Haven ordeal lives on as it caused the City Council to re-examine how projects get approved in the future.<\/p>\n But it is not just housing where La Mesa saw growth \u2014 new businesses are setting up in the city as well. Looking back at our coverage, there was a noticeable pattern of art businesses and restaurants moving in.<\/p>\n In January, we reported on the opening of Nainsook Framing + Art and how owners Roz and Dan Osersin are creating a space to bring back La Mesa\u2019s arts community roots [\u201cCouple aims to revive La Mesa\u2019s artistic heritage,\u201d bit.ly\/2ou5dFQ<\/a>].<\/em> In April, we ran a story about another arts studio opening on La Mesa Boulevard called Idea Field [\u201cA big idea,\u201d bit.ly\/2ziz1bY<\/a>]<\/em>; and in June we covered the opening of Re-Animated Records, a hipsteresque music shop in the Village that solidifies the city\u2019s new cool image [\u201cA spin with a twist,\u201d bit.ly\/2BCKu80<\/a>].<\/em><\/p>\n One of the biggest changes La Mesa has seen this past year is the transformation of the city into a foodie mecca. February saw the opening of the now-popular Farmer\u2019s Table [\u201cFrom farm to Village,\u201d bit.ly\/2BnDUQl<\/a>]<\/em>; a story on how Brew Coffee Spot brought a much-needed upgrade to the coffee scene around Lake Murray ran in our April edition [\u201cNew neighborhood coffee shop picks up steam,\u201d bit.ly\/2km8q5W<\/a>]<\/em>; and our June edition covered the opening of the short-lived BLVD Noodles [\u201cSlurps and twirls on the boulevard,\u201d bit.ly\/2CpGzbm<\/a>].<\/em> And looking ahead, 2018 is poised to bring even more culinary hot-spots to the city.<\/p>\n In addition to the housing and new businesses, La Mesa also saw growth in the development of nonprofit service centers for residents. The opening of San Diego Oasis in Grossmont Center brings classes and programs for older residents [\u201cAn Oasis at Grossmont Mall,\u201d bit.ly\/2jc5GXV<\/a> <\/em>y \u201cOasis Learning Center celebrates grand opening,\u201d bit.ly\/2AIbAqJ<\/a>]<\/em>; and a new Boys & Girls Club center will do the same for the city\u2019s youth [\u201cBoys & Girls Clubs of East County breaks ground on La Mesa clubhouse,\u201d bit.ly\/2kDEGAE<\/a>]. Although officially held in San Diego with money raised through the San Carlos Recreation Center, the Lake Murray Fireworks and MusicFest is a popular Fourth of July event shared by both communities and its return from a five-year hiatus makes our list of top stories.<\/p>\n In March and April, we reported on the fundraising efforts of volunteers dedicated to bringing the festival back [\u201cNews Briefs: Lake Murray music festival seeks donations,\u201d bit.ly\/2BnTZpl<\/a> <\/em>y \u201cFinal funding push for festival,\u201d bit.ly\/2i7fVff<\/a>].<\/em><\/p>\n In June, we were happy to report that the funding drive was a success and the festival would go on as scheduled [\u201cFireworks show is a go,\u201d bit.ly\/2ziLP29<\/a>]. <\/em>The success of the event, and of the extra fundraising effort in 2017, has ensured that the festival will likely be back in 2018 and beyond.<\/p>\n On Jan. 1, 2017, medical marijuana was no longer banned in the city of La Mesa. Citizens\u2019 initiative Measure U was passed by voters in 2016, overturning earlier City Council decisions to ban medical marijuana and took effect at the beginning of the year. However, there were still two important issues regarding medical marijuana the city grappled with \u2014 what to do about the proliferation of illegal, non-permitted marijuana businesses and how to implement Measure U, as well as new state rules that were passed in 2016.<\/p>\n At the annual town hall meeting put on by the City Council at the beginning of every year, a major concern brought up by residents was the number of illegal marijuana dispensaries [\u201cDispensaries, climate, crime top town halls,\u201d bit.ly\/2k6SELS<\/a>]. <\/em>In March, the City Council began drafting the local ordinances that will govern how La Mesa will deal with the selling, growing and possessing of medical marijuana and by October those rules were refined and voted on [\u201cCouncil clarifies city rules on marijuana,\u201d bit.ly\/2ziKqsg <\/a><\/em>y \u201cMedical marijuana regulations finalized,\u201d bit.ly\/2BxKXZj<\/a>].<\/em><\/p>\n Although the rules are now in place, and medical marijuana is permitted in the city, there are still unknowns about how these new businesses will affect life in La Mesa, a story line that will surely be followed by the Courier in 2018. A preview of the what might lie ahead ran in our August issue \u2014 a story from our media partner Voice of San Diego about marijuana businesses paying day cares to shut down to make room for code compliance that says dispensaries cannot operate within 1,000 feet of child-related centers. [\u201cPot businesses want to relocate day cares,\u201d bit.ly\/2CNiTPt<\/a>].<\/em><\/p>\n In June, we reported on the closing of La Mesa\u2019s municipal golf course, Sun Valley [\u201cGoodbye Sun Valley Golf Course,\u201d bit.ly\/2kGqeYW<\/a>].<\/em> Mary Jane and Johnny Gonzalez, who had operated Sun Valley since 1997, had been hit with a double-whammy of declining interest in golf and rising operating costs and requested an early departure from their lease with the city.<\/p>\n The city took over on June 30 with plans to convert the 13 acres into open park space as part of MacArthur Park, which already houses the city\u2019s aquatic center, community center and the baseball ballfield.<\/p>\n Short-term planning for the former golf course took place at a Community Services Commission meeting in August [\u201cPlanning for MacArthur Park underway,\u201d bit.ly\/2BpuQdy<\/a>].<\/em> Residents weighted in on what they\u2019d like the park to include such as a community garden, dog park and hiking trails.<\/p>\n The golf course-turned-park opened in October and is still a work in progress as the city looks for funding to meet the goals set out by residents. In addition to the golf course area, the city is also considering renovating other parts of the park \u2014 a story we will follow as it further develops. By California law, La Mesa must enact a climate action plan (CAP) that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to standards set by the state. It is a task the city has struggled with after an initial draft of the CAP was rejected.<\/span><\/p>\n So, the city set out to create a new plan and pass it by the end of 2017. In July, the draft of the new plan was released [\u201cCity\u2019s draft climate plan is released,\u201d bit.ly\/2yJIoBf<\/a>].<\/i> In it, the city set lofty goals for energy use, including adopting a community choice energy program that would ensure most of the electricity used in La Mesa would be from renewable sources. Other aspects of the plan include efficiency standards for new and remodel construction and adopting a policy to promote mass transit over individual car trips.<\/span><\/p>\n In November, the city\u2019s Environmental Sustainability Commission held a meeting to present another updated draft [\u201cClimate plan faces scrutiny,\u201d bit.ly\/2op9qdK<\/a>].<\/i> Environmental advocates gave public comments on what they liked and didn\u2019t like about the CAP. The commission found several of their concerns important enough to have staff revise parts of the plan.<\/span><\/p>\n Although the city did not make its self-imposed deadline to pass the CAP by the end of 2017, it appears that it is likely to pass it in early 2018. The plan still needs to go in front of the city\u2019s Planning Commission along with an environmental impact report that the public will have 45 days to comment on. If the Planning Commission votes to approve the plan, the City Council will then get to vote.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\nFireworks<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Marijuana<\/h3>\n
<\/a>MacArthur Park<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>CAP<\/h3>\n
<\/a>
development and transportation decisions in
the city. (Courtesy city of La Mesa)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n