The Tidelands Archive

National City incorporated in 1887 as the hopeful terminal of a new transcontinental railroad. The rail went to Los Angeles instead. In the 21st century, National City is adding to its capacity as a marine terminal — and may be stealing some business from L.A.

General Construction Co. has begun construction on the Port of San Diego’s $25.3 million, 1,025-foot southerly extension of the 125-acre, six-berth National City Marine Terminal, which handles automobiles and lumber. The project also will add another 220 feet west to the pierhead line by its planned completion in November 2003.

“This adds capacity and increases the efficiency of the terminal,” says Jim Pugh, senior director of maritime for the port. “Consequently, it positions us for additional business. Other importers may decide they want to move their cars in here, maybe from L.A., maybe from somewhere else. We’re talking with several Asian and European manufacturers.”

“We have more automobiles than space,” says Ken Moore, marine operations manager at the terminal. He adds National City is second to Los Angeles in West Coast automobile volume. Pasha Services, which handles the terminal’s automobile cargo, reports 332,000 vehicles from Honda, Acura, Volkswagen, Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fiso and Hino Motors were imported at National City during the last fiscal year.

“Lumber has really slowed down,” Moore says. “We get a couple of barges a couple of times a month.” But he adds that National City still gets 25 percent of West Coast waterborne lumber shipments, with 75 million board feet for Dixieline and 33 million for Weyerhaeuser annually.

More National City waterfront development is under way just across Sweetwater River Channel from the terminal, where excavation and dredging continues on the $15.5 million, 20-acre, 234-slip National City Marina project. Requests for proposals from developers are being solicited this month. Construction begins this summer.

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A ballyhooed prospect that unexpectedly floated down the pike to close the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, turn the land over to the city of San Diego, and move the depot to the closed Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in Orange County had its origin with Rep. Duke Cunningham, says fellow North County Rep. Darrell Issa.

“Cunningham told all the members of the (regional) delegation of his plan to take the pressure off Miramar and expand the runways at Lindbergh,” Issa says. “But this was dead on arrival with the Marine Corps commandant. They don’t like to mix their uses.”

Issa says releasing word of the discussions was premature. Still, he points out that the 380-acre MCRD is on the Base Realignment and Closure list and could face closure in 2005. Both Reps. Duncan Hunter and Susan Davis, whose district encompasses the depot, oppose any reuse.

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Senate Bill 1896, the new measure by State Sen. Steve Peace recasting property and financial terms for transferring San Diego International Airport from the San Diego Unified Port District to the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority in December is set for an April 24 hearing in the state Senate.

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The Corky McMillin Cos. construction will start in the next three months on the three residential neighborhoods and the $62 million, 380,000-square-foot, seven-building office district at Liberty Station, the $500 million mixed-use development at the old Naval Training Center in Point Loma. Occupancy of the office buildings, designed by KMA Architecture & Engineering, is slated for next spring. The residential component includes 80 single-family homes of 2,297 to 2,838 square feet, 129 detached rowhomes of 1,894 to 3,221 square feet, and 140 townhomes of 1,086 to 1,583 square feet, all with two-car garages. Prices have not been set. The first move-ins are expected by year’s end. The development also will include hotel, educational and cultural districts, preserved NTC buildings and 125 acres of open space.

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Loews Coronado Bay Resort has received Port Commission consent and awaits the California Coastal Commission approval to build a $4.1 million, 10,000-square-foot spa including 14 rooms for massage, facial and body treatments, service salon, shop, locker room with steam and sauna, fitness studio, gym and massage pool. “It will go out to bid in the two weeks following the Coastal Commission and break ground within a month of that,” says Sara Harper with Loews Hotels. We’re anticipating opening in early 2003 or even late 2002.” The 440-room resort with 80-slip marina opened in 1989.

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Scheduled to arrive this month at the B Street Pier Cruise Ship Terminal are Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess April 9; Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Sky April 22; Celebrity Cruises’ Mercury April 17; Royal Caribbean International’s Vision of the Seas April 7, 14, 21 and 28 and Radiance of the Seas April 19; and Holland America Line’s Statendam April 7, 13, 17 and Ryndam April 24. Holland America Line plans to position the Ryndam here beginning in October for seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from San Diego.

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The San Diego-based carrier Stennis, in the Arabian Sea since Dec. 15, hosted Vice President Dick Cheney and NBC anchors Tom Brokaw and Matt Lauer (as a back-seat passenger on a sortie from the flattop) in March. The Navy says the Stennis probably will remain on deployment longer than the standard six months. The Constellation has conducted airwing operations and training exercises off the coast from North Island, and so will the Nimitz, once its maintenance concludes this spring. The Lincoln, which was here for operations, has returned to its home port of Everett, Wash.

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San Diego’s newest park occupies two acres at the east end of Spanish Landing, nestling Harbor Island and across Harbor Drive from the airport. The Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park incorporates motivational and inspirational plaques, bronze figures and a 40-foot fountain along a paved walk through three plazas amid tiled benches and a grass lawn. The park was funded by $850,000 from the foundation of cancer survivor Richard Bloch of Rancho Mirage and Kansas City, Mo.

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The Star of India features the stars of Hollywood again, starting at dusk April 19 and 20 when the 1863 bark shows the 1992 flick “Captain Ron” aboard ship. The series of nautically themed films continues through the summer with “The African Queen” May 24 and 25, “Goonies” June 14 and 15, “Muppet Treasure Island” July 19 and 20, and “Swallows and Amazons” Sept. 20 and 21 (no film in August). Admission is $8 to $10, and the gate opens an hour before the film. For advance tickets and more information, call the San Diego Maritime Museum at (619) 234-9153.