Forty-two properties owned by San Diego’s former redevelopment agency — including the historic Balboa Theatre — will remain in public control following state approval of a management plan, the city attorney’s office announced Thursday.
In 2011 the state legislature approved the dissolution of the California’s 400-plus redevelopment authorities and required cities to develop plans for the properties involved or sell them. The California Department of Finance has now approved San Diego’s plan for its properties.
Included are 18 properties that will be transferred to the city for public uses, such as parks, streets, pedestrian walkways, and a future fire station. An additional 22 will be transferred to the city for future uses consistent with redevelopment objectives. Two more properties — including the Horton Plaza Urban Park and Plaza — will be transferred to the city in accordance with previous contracts
The properties are located in the neighborhoods of Barrio Logan, Centre City, Chollas View, City Heights, Liberty Station, Linda Vista, Mount Hope, North Park and Stockton.
“Our attorneys devoted more than 1,500 hours over three years to formulating the best strategy for managing these properties within the framework of the redevelopment dissolution laws, and to help protect the properties against state overreach,” said City Attorney Jan Goldsmith. “We can all be proud of their work on behalf of the city, and to the benefit of some of our oldest urban neighborhoods.”