Developers are brainstorming a new plan for the future of the Riverwalk Golf Club, the Mission Valley Planning Group learned at its June 4 meeting.
Representatives from the Irvine-based developer Related California said they eventually want to build a "mixed-use project with a significant residential component" on the 200-acre site.
"This is the first minute of the first quarter of a very long game," said Matthew Witte, principal with the firm.
The city in 1987 approved a development plan known as the Levi-Cushman Specific Plan, which included a mix of hotel, office, commercial, residential and recreational uses on the golf course property. In 1988 they approved a development agreement with Chevron Land for a project that would include 1300 condos and 2 million square feet of offices, according to the San Diego Reader. Following protests from professional golfers and river advocacy groups, the project was never built.
The original development agreement expired in 2008, meaning the property owners will now have to complete a new entitlement and review process to develop the site.
The new plan will likely have a much higher percentage of residential uses and generate much less traffic than the original plan, Witte said. Development on the site will probably start with the northeast corner of the golf course property, adjacent to the condominiums to the west on Friars Road, and gradually move east toward Fashion Valley Road. The proposal will likely be oriented more toward pedestrians than cars, and it may include the construction of a transit stop, he said.
"We would like to take advantage of one of the most unique aspects of this property with its scale," Witte said. "It's really unprecedented to find a 200-acre parcel in coastal California that has both light rail and a river running through it."
At this point, however, these are all just ideas.
"I have to say that it could go a number of different ways," Witte said.
Related California and architectural firm Carrier Johnson are looking for feedback and suggestions from the community at this point in the process, their representatives said.
Mission Valley Planning Group board member Deborah Bossmeyer said many residents would be losing an amenity if the golf course were to be eliminated.
"It is a jewel to the people that love golf in Mission Valley," she said. "It tugs at me emotionally to see that thing go eventually."
Bossmeyer said she would like to see a "very generous" park space included in the project to make up for the loss of open space.
Planning Group board member Perry Dealy said he is "anxious and hopeful" to see the new Related California come up with a new master plan for the property.
"They have a phenomenal track record," Dealy said.
Board member Josh Weiselberg asked the developer to consider how the redevelopment of the golf course would affect hotel clientele in the valley.
Witte said that if the golf course is completely eliminated from the site, it would not be until the last phase of the project, likely 10 to 15 years from now. It is also possible that the project would include a smaller 18-hole or 9-hole golf course.
Asked about who the target market for the residential part of the development would be, Witte said it would be open to all but would probably attract a younger population.
"That’s one of the great attractions of this being an urban infill site 10 minutes from downtown," Witte said. "As you probably know, there is a certain attraction of the younger demographic to being in an urban setting."
While Related California is very excited about the project, Witte said, everything is open to discussion at this point.
"This is really more just to say we’re getting started," he said.
Jeremy Ogul is a staff writer with Mission Publishing Group. Have a news story or tip? Email him at jeremy@missionpublishinggroup.com and follow him on Twitter @jsogul.
