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Hello, Beach and Bay!
There’s new drama over the proposed Turquoise Tower in Pacific Beach. The project was first proposed in 2024 and has been stalled by the city review process, and local pushback, in the last two years. Now a pro-housing group is trying a different strategy to crush the opposition.
The project developer Kalonymus proposed a 23-story tower that would include 65 housing units at the standard rate, 10 low-income housing units, and 139 hotel units that would be rented on long-term leases – designed to create as much housing as possible within the space.
The proposal put PB residents, City Hall, and pro-housing advocates at odds over height restrictions and housing laws.
This week, Times of San Diego reported the YIMBY (Yes In My BackYard) Democrats of San Diego have formed a new argument: that California’s housing density laws override local height limits, and city staff are legally allowed to approve the project without public input or a City Council vote.
This is sure to kick off another round of bureaucratic back-and-forth, putting the fate of the project deeper into uncertainty.
How do you feel about the proposed Turquoise Tower? Should housing take priority over protecting coastal height limits? Send your thoughts to beachandbayhost@gmail.com to join the conversation.
Until next week!
Ashlyn Lipori-Russie
Beach & Bay Press newsletter host
Beach & Bay story spotlight
Pro-housing group says San Diego is breaking state law by delaying Pacific Beach tower
By Dorian Hargrove • Times of San Diego
A pro-housing advocacy group says San Diego officials are violating housing laws by requiring special approval of a 23-story tower on Turquoise Street.
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