I read with great dismay that a nonprofit group, So Others Might Eat, Inc., has plans for a long-term homeless shelter at the former Guy Hill Cadillac building in Pacific Beach. Undoubtedly, patrons will choose to loiter and remain in the immediate neighborhood, in nearby Rose Creek, at Mission Bay Park and at the beaches and bays. The result will be a tremendous negative impact on surrounding residences and businesses. The shelter would also be located five minutes away from Bayview Terrace Elementary School, youth Little League fields and Mission Bay High School. Further, the site is 1.3 miles from the San Diego Visitor Information Center, often a first stop for tourists visiting San Diego. The project’s effects will diminish Mission Bay Park’s attractiveness to visitors and locals. While the nonprofit organization’s cause is noble, the project is unsuitable for Pacific Beach. The facility will distinctly and negatively alter the character of my neighborhood and the community’s vibrant visitor-serving area. The group should explore other locations and pursue a facility in an industrial area.






