King Ventures is proposing a resort development on abutting properties previously referred to as the “McDonald Site”, which is at the end of Playa Avenue as it passes under the freeway, and the “Sterling Site” that is along the northern side of Tioga Avenue. The project would include hotel rooms, a restaurant, and spa/wellness facility. There is no schedule as yet for permit reviews or construction.
Sand City is on the final leg of obtaining all legal approvals and funding to commence with its Water Supply Project; a 300 acre-feet per year reverse osmosis water desalination facility. The project has received approval by the Coastal Commission in previous years, and acquired a water distribution permit from the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District in December of 2007. Architectural review of the desalination treatment building was approved in January of 2008. Contractors, chosen through a bid process, are gearing up to commence with construction. The project is environmentally benign by design, using brackish water near the coast and converting it into potable water. The byproduct water that remains will be of the same salinity as that of Monterey Bay. Therefore, there will be no brine discharge or negative impact upon marine life. For more information on the Desalination Project, check out the City’s dedicated page to this project.
The Design center project is finally being realized as construction nears completion. This 4-story mixed-use project will be a beacon to future redevelopment of the West End district. This development provides 31 residential dwelling units, ranging from studio to 2-bedroom units; about a third will be marketed as affordable housing. There will also be about 40,000 square feet of combined office and retail space between the first and second floors. A sculpture created by local artist Greg Hawthorne is featured in the plaza of the Design Center. It is anticipated that the City’s desalination project will perpetuate further redevelopment of this type throughout the West End over time.
The Orosco Group, with whom the Sand City Redevelopment Agency has an exclusive negotiation agreement (ENA), has slowly been continuing the acquisition of properties within the designated redevelopment area referred to as “The South of Tioga Project Area”. The Redevelopment Agency designated this area as blighted and in need of redevelopment. An RFP was distributed to all property owners and known interested developers. DBO Development (now called “The Orosco Group"), was the only complete and timely application submitted and accepted.
