Plan to redevelop Sports Arena area facing new legal hurdle
On Wednesday afternoon, the state appellate court in San Diego will hear oral arguments in the case.
A plan to redevelop the area around the Sports Arena is facing a new legal hurdle.
The Midway Rising project is anticipated to break ground in late 2026, pending city council approval later this year.
WATCH HEREThe project would revitalize 50 acres on and around the Sports Arena and includes more than 4,000 housing units, a 16,000-seat arena, retail space and more.
According to a recent report from the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, Midway Rising will generate $285 million in annual economic impact, with $178 million of that being new spending across the county.
But opposition groups have raised concerns about traffic congestion, population density and the height of the buildings.
For decades, the area has been subject to the city’s 30-foot coastal height limit.
In 2022, voters approved Measure C, which removed the height limit, but environmental group Save Our Access filed a lawsuit against the city, arguing the measure was put on the ballot without an appropriate environmental review.
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A judge later rejected the suit, prompting Save Our Access to file an appeal. On Wednesday afternoon, the state appellate court in San Diego will hear oral arguments in the case.
In a news release about the hearing, Save Our Access said, in part:
“If the city prevails, coastal access is throttled to locals, tourists, and emergency military activation. Public land that can be used for coastal recreation is lost forever and freeway commutes will rival the worst in Los Angeles. And the city would get away with its largest land caper designed to obliterate our local quality of life. This forced infill and traffic gridlock would be the end of our beautiful city’s quality of life as we know it.”
The city released an environmental impact report on the project in March. You can read it here.