Sale of French Gourmet reportedly in the works– Reality check for those thinking decision was made on high-rise
For those who thought the fate of the Vela project – aka Turquoise Tower – aka Pencil Tower — already had been decided, think again.
Michel Malecot, the long-time owner of the French Gourmet, told reps from the group Neighbors for a Better California on Thursday, Jan.30 that a check for $6.5 million was being wired to him to complete the sale of his property to Kalonymus, the developer that is proposing to build a 23-story skyscraper on the Turquoise Street site.
Michel Malecot, the long-time owner of the French Gourmet,
If the sale of the French Gourmet is indeed completed, Kalonymus will have all the properties needed to build the tower. It will need only approval for its application from the City of San Diego. Currently, the City is in the early stages of reviewing the application after receiving guidance from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
There is no timetable on when the City’s review will be completed or when its Department of Development Services will approve/reject the application. DSD also could ask for revisions.
Malecot has been looking to retire for years. Reportedly, he has been asked by the developer to keep the restaurant open for another year. Malecot reportedly will get the use of the parking lot next door as well at a very favorable rental rate.
What is Mayor Gloria’s latest comment on project?
Read his email from Monday, Jan. 27:
State housing laws must prioritize what they were intended for: building more homes for Californians. I’m partnering with State Senator Catherine Blakespear on legislation to close a critical gap in the state’s density bonus housing law—ensuring it delivers on its original promise to build more affordable housing for families across our state.
Senate Bill 92 will require housing developers using the state density bonus law to devote at least two-thirds of their project square footage to housing rather than what we have seen recently: exploiting this law to prioritize luxury hotels or other visitor accommodations rather than housing.
We saw this recently in our city with the proposed high-rise in Pacific Beach.
Clarifying the state’s density bonus law will ensure development contributes meaningfully to solving California’s housing crisis.
What is NFABC’s view of this latest news?
Stopping project just got harder
Neighbors for a Better California is extremely disappointed that the sale of the French Gourmet – a property needed to build the Turquoise Tower – looks like it will go through. Michel Malecot’s decision to go through with the sale of his restaurant to Kalonymus removes the easiest pathway to preventing this “unintended consequence” of state law from becoming a reality.
However, it is not the end of the fight to stop the tower. NFABC urges to visit our website at nfabc.org frequently to see what you can do to show your opposition.
For now, keep contacting Mayor Gloria’s office. Also, keep contacting your elected officials in Sacramento. Tell them you want responsible planning to be done when adding needed housing. You don’t want 23-story skyscrapers in a coastal community long governed by a 30-foot height limit.
The information and links are at nfabc.org.
And, keep in mind that as welcome as the efforts by State Senator Catherine Blakespear and Assemblymember Tasha Boerner to correct loopholes and flaws in state laws that led to the Turquoise Tower application are, those efforts and NOT retroactive. That means they will have no effect on the Turquoise Tower application.
NFABC has always said it would be a formidable challenge to stop the Turquoise Tower, and to change the laws that made developments like this one, and many others, possible. Now more than ever, we need you to come together and speak with one voice to our elected officials.
Please visit nfabc.org, join us to save PB
Slightly edited from statement from nfabc
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