Discussion at La Jolla Shores Association’s May meeting centered around businesses being hard hit by ongoing infrastructure construction, the upcoming annual community fall festival and continuing perceived problems with airplane noise.
“Business in the Shores is suffering in the daylight hours with the road closed to the beach since November with construction, construction trucks, noise, confusion for parking, etc.,” said LJSA board member Angie Preisendorfer. “Evenings are better for the restaurants as it quiets down. We’re (all) looking forward to the opening of Avenida De La Playa at the end of the month. We hope we do not have to see the construction come back after Labor Day.”
LJSA board member Terry Kraszewski, who owns Ocean Girl boutique on Avenida, noted after the meeting that “there is no big plan” to lure business back to Avenida’s commercial strip, but added, “We’re hoping to get banners finished and up to direct visitors here. And FallFest (will help) to bring our neighbors together. We are just so relieved that construction is almost over and that we will have our street and boat launch open again. I can’t tell you how stressful it’s been.”
On Nov. 7, 2016 a group of nearly 100 Shores business owners and supporters assembled in front of Barbarella restaurant on Avenida de la Playa to protest San Diego’s Sewage and Water Department’s management of an ongoing project to replace the drain pipes in the street to minimize the flooding there during La Jolla’s winter rainy season. The protestors were not so much opposed to the improvement project as they were the department’s failure to establish a firm completion date and to meet that date. Some residents/merchants contend the project has been dragging for a number of years, noting each year they are promised a completion.
One small-business owner on Avenida estimated their (business) loss at almost 30 percent, largely due to construction impacts.
Preisendorfer, who also chairs the Shores Business Improvement District, said planning for Shores annual Fall Fest in October is progressing, though they’re having more difficulty than anticipated this year.
“Fall Fest is coming along,” Preisendorfer said. “We’re still working on plans/permits to close one block for the afternoon on Oct. 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. It’s our 10th annual and we want to make it a special event for the La Jolla community, bringing local families back to The Shores after the hectic summer.”
In other action:
• LJSA voted overwhelmingly to send a letter to the city supporting the perception of some La Jollans that airplane noise over the area is problematic, joining other community groups in the Jewel who are concerned about the situation.
• Group chair Nick Lebeouf said he was told by city construction engineer Steve Lindsay that construction crews working in the area “will be out by Memorial Day.”