SAN DIEGO –At the urging of Vice Chairman Greg Cox and Supervisor Dianne Jacob, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Tuesday adopted a resolution opposing a proposed luxury condominium project that threatens Solar Turbines and its 3,800 jobs in San Diego.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt a resolution that would oppose the Fat City Lofts development at the corner of Pacific Highway and Hawthorne Street in downtown San Diego. Solar Turbines, a major local company that has been in San Diego for 83 years, is located directly across the street from the project.
Cox and Jacob said allowing the 232-unit residential development only 100 feet from Solar Turbines’ property would create insurmountable conflicts between residential and industrial uses that could ultimately result in the company having to relocate its operations — and the jobs that come with it.
“Very seldom do I feel it is imperative that we weigh in on land use issues within the jurisdiction of a City. This is one of those times,” said Cox. “The proposed Fat City Lofts development threatens Solar’s very existence. I encourage development when it makes sense, but not at the expense of thousands of highly skilled, good paying, long-term jobs. In this down economy, we must do everything we can to protect jobs.
“I’ve seen my fair share of problems when new residential development infringes on local commercial or industrial businesses,” said Jacob. “Solar Turbines has been the bedrock to our business community and is the crème de la crème when it comes to major manufacturing Solar Turbines is a key component to the success of our local economy.”
