Ocean Beach Community Development Corporation (OBCDC) is forging ahead with the OB Veterans Plaza redevelopment project, announcing applications are currently being accepted to add veterans’ names – living and deceased – to the wall of a new proposed Veterans Plaza.
“The wonderful thing about this project is that it has the full support of all of the community groups in Ocean Beach, as well as the mayor of San Diego, Supervisor Ron Roberts, Councilwoman Lori Zapf and our state as well as our federal representatives,” said OBCDC president Tom Perrotti, who noted the new plaza’s design incorporates 2,000 etched names in black marble.
“(That) will be a powerful visual and a tribute to the veterans. But also, artistically, the design has beach sections simulating Sunset Cliffs. I truly believe this will be a source of pride for the entire city of San Diego,” he said. Started in 1993, the OBCDC is a nonprofit created for the benefit of Ocean Beach, which seeks to develop resources for revitalizing the infrastructure of the community applying the OB “spirit.”
Ocean Beach Veterans Plaza at the corner of Newport Avenue and Abbot Street was constructed in 1997 as a memorial to honor those who’ve served, and continue to serve, in the military. Over time, the plaza has become worn down due to the corrosive nature of salt air and foot traffic. The plaza is currently in disrepair with many of the inscriptions, including a Medal of Honor recipient, being so eroded that they have become illegible.
In an effort to honor veterans that have a connection with the Peninsula community, applications from 92107 and 92106 ZIP codes representing Point Loma and OB have been given top priority for name inscriptions until Jan. 1, 2016. 
To preserve the new plaza, fundraising for construction of which is ongoing, there is a $250 maintenance donation that will be taken for each new-name inscription application, which will be applied solely to future upkeep, the OBCDC said.
As envisioned, the Ocean Beach Veterans Plaza redevelopment conceptual design would recognize coastal veterans with a new plaza that is “artistic/beachy” in design.
Plans call for an artificial rock wall mimicking Sunset Cliffs’ stratified geology with veterans’ names etched into a series of four granite slabs set into it.
Adjacent to the new memorial wall would be inlaid stars representing lives lost in battle. Other artistic flourishes are to include low-lying artistic-themed meandering walls.
Regarding updating the proposed veterans plaza, Perrotti said the original design “has changed a little bit, but not much.”
Original plaza plans called for a family gathering and overlook area.
“They were taken out of the design because of concerns over that area going too far into the beach and affecting the sand berm that is put up every year,” said OBCDC board member Stephen Grosch. “Instead, the west side of the plaza will reflect the semi-circle entrance on the east side of the plaza.”
OBCDC’s president Perrotti said he has personal reasons for being involved with the new project to honor vets.
“I have five brothers who were all in the military, and it’s my way of thanking them,” Perrotti said.
The OBCDC president added he believes the new veterans plaza will be “a powerful message” and “a real tribute to the whole region.”
Perrotti said the project could be completed as soon as the end of 2016, if all goes well.