Do you have property interests in the City of San Diego?

Do you believe that the zoning in place for your property gives you the right to develop what it is zoned for?

Would you be outraged if you tried to develop or redevelop your property CONSISTENT WITH YOUR EXISTING ZONING AND ENTITLEMENTS and NIMBYs got the City to deny your permit?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, there is a very serious controversy occurring that you need to be aware of. Your property rights are at risk because a land grab is about to take place that will have city-wide land use implications.

Fat City Lofts, a project in Little Italy that is consistent with the General Plan and Downtown Planned District Ordinance, is about to be derailed by a neighboring property lessee.

The Fat City property is zoned for mixed use, including residential uses and the owners want to build precisely that. This zoning did not come about haphazardly; it was the result of several public processes including a Community Plan Update and development of the Downtown Planned District Ordinance. The project is consistent with the City’s General Plan. The project does not require any variances or exemptions. Unfortunately, the neighbors have hired expensive lobbyists and lawyers to convince the City to stop this development.

So why does this story matter to you? If the City stops this project and the ability to develop a use allowed under the rules of the road in existence today is denied, at the behest of a neighboring property with no legal claim to the land, a DANGEROUS PRECEDENT will be set throughout the City of San Diego. Clear and fair development guidelines, applied in a consistent manner, are critical to all property owners.

Local businesses and associations including JMI Realty, Pacifica Companies, A-1 Storage, the California Apartment Association and the Building Industry Association are behind us. We need your support. Voice your concern to your colleagues, stakeholders, and elected officials, and prevent a LAND GRAB in your City! If you support our cause, please send us a quick email to for more information.