The Navy, city and community spent five years planning for the reuse of the former Naval Training Center. The approved plan included more than $125 million in infrastructure improvements, more than 125 acres of public open space and the rehabilitation of 60 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, all at no expense to San Diego taxpayers.
Just because Kathleen Blavatt considers herself a public watchdog doesn’t mean she knows what she’s talking about. There are real experts around the country, including the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Association of Defense Communities and Base Closure Partners, who are citing Liberty Station as a model base redevelopment.
Blavvat’s complaints are more of the same from a short-sighted group of people who have an axe to grind because their idea for what should have become of NTC (homeless shelters, transient housing and communal meeting space with no way to pay for it) didn’t happen.
The fact is, 80 percent of the original 550 acres of NTC is still owned by the city, Navy or other governmental agencies. This includes 60 historic buildings being rehabilitated for (not by) the city, to house modern tenants, such as Trader Joe’s and a world class civic, arts and cultural center “” NTC Promenade. It also includes 125 acres of public open space, including the 46-acre, city-owned NTC Park and a nine-hole golf course.
The fact is, the Save our NTC group, of which Blavvat has been a member, has brought four lawsuits against McMillin and the city, three of which they lost. One was settled for $100,000, the equivalent of blackmail. And they have launched appeals and objections to every single Liberty Station project, each of which was denied. These futile, baseless, obstructionist moves are the reason the people of San Diego don’t yet have Trader Joe’s, the park and other amenities.
The fact is, McMillin was chosen to develop Liberty Station because we agreed to build out the plan the Navy, city and community decided upon and to help start the non-profit NTC Foundation to create the NTC Promenade. After 45 years in National City, The Corky McMillin Companies relocated its corporate headquarters at Liberty Station because we are dedicated to this project. We believe it is a good thing for this community and our city.
Blavatt and her cohorts will always try to make us out to be the “big, bad developer.” They use scare tactics and propaganda to make people think the worst of Liberty Station.
Fortunately, there are enough people in the community who see Liberty Station for the wonderful place it is becoming. Point Loma and all of San Diego, we invite you to come down March 1 – 12 to see the U.S. Chess Championships at NTC Promenade. Take a walk around and see the progress being made at NTC Park, Sail Ho Golf course, the NTC Promenade buildings and the commercial area where Trader Joe’s will soon be.
Given the facts and seeing the progress for yourselves, we think you will agree that Liberty Station is a success and a place all of San Diego will be proud of.

Walter Heiberg, Senior Vice President
The Corky McMillin Companies