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Mayor Todd Gloria’s massive warehouse shelter will again be debated, but behind closed doors

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Mayor Todd Gloria’s massive warehouse shelter will again be debated, but behind closed doors


Five months after a brutal, hourslong, late-into-the-night hearing where few residents or elected leaders could find positive things to say about the prospect of turning an empty Middletown warehouse into one of the nation’s largest homeless shelters, the proposal is back before the San Diego City Council.

But details about the re-negotiated plan will, at least for the moment, stay hidden.

Council members are scheduled to meet Monday behind closed doors about the “price and payment terms” for acquiring the nearly 65,000-square-foot property at the intersection of Kettner Boulevard and Vine Street. Few other specifics were provided in the meeting agenda, and representatives for Mayor Todd Gloria, who’s long championed the proposal, and the site’s owner, local businessman Doug Hamm, didn’t provide additional information.

A spokesperson for Hamm said only that he still believed in the project.

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The original lease could have cost the city $1 billion over the next three-plus decades. Its critics were legion.

The City Attorney’s office said the agreement introduced too many legal and financial risks. The Independent Budget Analyst worried it would take money from other services. Some experts questioned whether the facility could reasonably hold 1,000 beds, a key selling point, and city staffers didn’t independently assess the structure’s condition. Instead, they relied on a report commissioned by the landlord — which still found a high likelihood that “asbestos-containing material” and “lead-based paint” were inside.

The council voted in July to delay a final decision and many submitted changes they wanted to see in the lease, including smaller rent increases. Yet even if those demands are met, the project may still face opposition as the city stares down a deficit worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Multiple council members criticized the proposal Wednesday during a budget committee meeting.

Vivian Moreno repeatedly wondered why San Diego should drop tens of millions of dollars next year on the shelter when services in historically neglected neighborhoods could be cut. Henry Foster III said the proposal felt like business as usual when perhaps the city’s entire approach to homelessness needed an overhaul.

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“Colleagues may or may not support a mega-shelter,” said Joe LaCava, who was recently elected council president. But, he added, San Diego still needs “1,000 more beds somewhere, somehow.”

Homelessness countywide has grown every month for more than two-and-a-half years and there are nowhere near enough shelter spots for everybody asking.

While officials recently succeeded in finding beds to offset the closure of two downtown facilities, other shelters are still set to shutter down the line for a variety of reasons, including land being slated for new development. Some staffers on Wednesday characterized plans to add 1,000 beds as partially a way to replace what will be lost.

That reality may push San Diego leaders to put even more pressure on neighboring cities and county officials to boost their own shelter systems.

“The city should be building parks and libraries, firehouses and police divisions,” Councilmember Raul Campillo said this month in a speech, while “the county should be building shelters and units to address homelessness.”

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“But until the county changes, the city will be stuck,” he added.

The County of San Diego has in recent years proposed shelter projects in Lakeside, Santee and Spring Valley, but leaders backed down in each case after some residents objected. The Board of Supervisors is currently hoping to build several dozen small cabins in Lemon Grove, though that too has received pushback.

County officials recently moved to continue issuing vouchers that help homeless residents rent motel rooms while they explore potential changes to the program.

The total cost of the crisis, from encampment sweeps to homelessness-related police calls to emergency room visits, is unknown.

It’s not yet clear when a public hearing might be held on the warehouse shelter. Some residents are nonetheless planning to weigh in during an open comment period Monday.

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Man fatally struck by hit-and-run vehicle in San Diego

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Man fatally struck by hit-and-run vehicle in San Diego


A man in the Mission Bay Park community of San Diego was fatally struck Sunday morning by a hit-and run vehicle, authorities said.

The victim was also struck by a second vehicle and that motorist stayed at the scene to cooperate with officers, the San Diego Police Department reported.

The initial crash occurred at about 2:20 a.m. Sunday in the area of West Mission Bay and Sea World drives.

The pedestrian was in the southbound lanes of the 2000 block of West Mission Bay Drive when he was struck by a silver vehicle also in the southbound lanes. That vehicle fled the scene, continuing southbound, police said.

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A 28-year-old man driving his vehicle southbound ran over the downed pedestrian.

“That driver remained at the scene and is not DUI,” according to a police statement. “The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

Anyone with information regarding the initial crash was urged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.



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Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records

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Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records


San Diego County is known for having wet, cold weather in February. But it had numerous hot spells this year. And when the month ended on Saturday a high pressure system produced heat that broke or tied temperature records in nine communities from the desert to the sea, the National Weather Service said.

The most notable temperature occurred in Borrego Springs, which reached 99, five degrees higher than the previous record for Feb. 28, set in 1986. The 99 reading is also the highest temperature ever recorded in Borrego in February.

Escondido reached 95, tying a record set in 1901.

El Cajon reached 92, three degrees higher than the record set in 2009.

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Ramona topped out at 88, five degrees higher than the record set in 2009.

Alpine hit 88, four degrees higher the record set in 1986.

Campo reached 87, four degrees higher than the record set in 1999.

Vista hit 86, four degrees higher than the record set in 2020.

Chula Vista reached 84, one degree higher than the record set in 2020.

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Lake Cuyamaca rose to 76, four degrees higher than the record set in 1986.

Forecasters say the weather is not likely to broadly produce new highs on Sunday. Cooler air is moving to the coast, and on Monday, San Diego’s high will only reach 67, a degree above normal.

 



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Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title

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Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title


OCEANSIDE — The Frontwave Arena scoreboard showed 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Up 16, Francis Parker’s win over Westview High School for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball championship was secure.

“No, no, no!” Parker head coach Courtney Clements screamed to freshman guard Jordan Brown, telling her there was no need to score.

So Brown walked the ball up the floor, from the backcourt, across midcourt, a 1,000-watt smile etched across her face.

With no Wolverines defending her, Brown dribbled from side to side across the logo. Then, a fraction of a moment before the final buzzer sounded, Brown flung the basketball high toward the rafters, then was engulfed by teammates.

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The job was complete. Parker’s first Open Division title in program history was secure, the final reading 66-50 on Saturday night.

Of those final seconds, said Brown, who scored 23 points. “It was a surreal moment, knowing we worked for this all year long. It’s amazing.”

One reason it was amazing was because the top-seeded Lancers (21-7) were a decided favorite, but were stressed by the sixth-seeded Wolverines (20-9). Led by UC Santa Barbara-bound senior guard Sarah Heyn (18 points in the first half), Westview led 35-28 early in the third quarter.

“I just knew I had to do whatever it took to win,” said Brown. “Whether that was defense or offense. I just wanted to win, period.”

Sparked by its defense, Parker closed the quarter on a 14-0 run.  Westview’s final 11 possessions of the quarter ended with five missed shots and six turnovers.

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Still, the game wasn’t over. Heyn cut the deficit to 48-44 with just over six minutes to play on a bucket. But with 5:47 to play, Heyn was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach-in.

“Knowing their best player fouled out, we sealed the win,” said Brown.

As for Heyn, who finished with 23 points, she sat on the bench and pulled her jersey over her eyes, hiding tears.

Clements’ thoughts when Heyn fouled out? “I hope we can put this game away now.”

Francis Parker High’s Jordan Brown shoots against Westview High during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

That the Lancers did, outscoring Westview 18-6 down the stretch.

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The Lancers’ players and coach were effusive in their praise for Heyn, a four-year starter.

“She’s a great player,” said Brown.

“She played phenomenally,” said Clements. “She played the way you would think a senior would play in a championship game. She played desperately. She played every possession like it was the last 20 seconds of the game. She was extremely impressive. (Heyn buried five 3s, missing only once from deep.) She should be proud of herself.”

Clements was proud of her team for another reason. After blowing out two-time reigning Open Division champion Mission Hills by 26 in the semis, some thought Parker might cruise in the title game.

“I figured it was going to be a fight, and it was,” said Clements. “It was good that our girls had to come together, had to stick together. That’s what this is all about, developing character via the sport of basketball. When the kids face adversity, they have to make a decision. Who do they want to be? They showed the best version of themselves. That’s what I want to remember from a game like this.”

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Francis Parker’s primary color is brown, which is fitting for the girls basketball team. They are led not only by the freshman Jordan Brown, but also junior Brieana Brown, a strong, aggressive and athletic 5-foot-11 wing.

Brieana Brown scored 25 points and yanked down a team-best eight rebounds.

About the team in brown being led by the Browns (who are not related), Jordan Brown said: “It’s super cool. I love Bri and our story. So many people think we’re related, that we’re siblings. In reality, we’re not, but we play like it.”

Francis Parker High's Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Francis Parker High’s Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Francis Parker and Westview both will advance to the Southern California Regionals.

Earlier in the season, Clements — who was dressed in all black for the championship game — confessed she wasn’t crazy about Parker’s primary color. Her mood shifted Saturday night.

“Brown’s doing well for me now,” she said.

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Asked if Lancers’ Brown squared tandem represents the best one-two girls basketball punch in the San Diego Section, Clements gave the questioner a “What do you think?” smirk.

“That,” said the coach of the Open Division champions, “is a no-brainer.”



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