San Diego, CA

San Diego preparing to put downtown’s old Central Library on the market

Published

1 year ago

May 15, 2025

San Diego preparing to put downtown’s old Central Library on the market

After more than two years exploring its options, San Diego is now preparing to market the empty old Central Library at Eighth Avenue and E Street for sale or lease to maximize redevelopment of the half-block, downtown property where height limits are not a constraining factor.

Thursday, San Diego’s Land Use and Housing Committee voted 3-0 in favor of declaring the old Central Library at 820 E St. as surplus land.

The surplus designation means the city no longer needs the facility and has ruled out other options, such as redeveloping the property entirely for low-income housing. With the designation, the city can sell or lease the site for redevelopment — but it must follow the noticing and negotiating requirements of California’s Surplus Land Act.

Under the law, bidders need to set aside at least 25% of proposed residential units for affordable housing, meaning deed-restricted units rented to low- and very-low-income families making 80% or less of the area median income.

Although committee members agreed at a high level with Mayor Todd Gloria’s decision to offload the asset, they weren’t ready to give him the authority to seek bids for redevelopment without a broader policy conversation.

“I certainly believe that we should declare this property surplus. What I’m less comfortable with is giving carte blanche to the mayor and city staff to issue the notice availability without the City Council providing some more guidance,” Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera said.

Elo-Rivera said he first wanted to the see the notice of availability, which is typically a short, stock document that alerts affordable housing developers registered with the state that the city intends to sell or lease its property.

“This is an incredibly important property. It’s an important action,” he said. “It seems appropriate for the council to provide some clear direction, if we choose to do so as a body, in terms of what is included in that notice of availability and what isn’t.”

The committee’s action tees up consideration by the full council at a later date. The future discussion will likely center around how council members can add development obligations to the noticing document without curtailing market demand.

Opened in 1954 and closed in 2013, the old Central Library is a locally designated historic resource that sat empty for nearly a decade before being used intermittently as a temporary homeless shelter, starting in 2023.

Over the years, developers have contemplated various alternative uses, including a 42-story apartment tower proposed by Bosa Development. The tower proposal was eventually scraped by the prolific builder in 2018.

More recently, the facility has been roped into the city’s ongoing conversation about homelessness.

The old Central Library was analyzed as an alternative to the failed Kettner and Vine shelter proposal. However, the estimated cost to renovate the 150,000 square-foot facility’s three floors and two basement levels was recently pegged at $86.8 million. The venue was ruled out as a viable homeless shelter option in February.

The mayor’s request to offload the city-owned asset dates to March 2023, when San Diego was preparing to put its Civic Center real estate on the market.

At the time, a few council members expressed interest in lumping the property in with the Civic Center blocks and other city-owned land to solicit developer interest for everything at the same time. The idea was to make excess city land available to quickly boost the production of homes for people of varying income levels. City staff recommended instead that the old Central Library be evaluated independently from the other sites.

The Civic Center blocks, which went on to be advertised for lease or sale per the Surplus Land Act a few months later, attracted no interest.

San Diego, pending approval by the full council, will also solicit interest in the old Central Library under the Surplus Land Act. The law was amended in 2019 to prioritize affordable housing when government-owned land is sold or leased.

The process begins with the notice of availability, which starts the clock on a 60-day window for interested bidders to respond with redevelopment plans. After the window, the law requires the city to engage in a 90-day negotiation period with respondents and give priority to the entity proposing the highest number of affordable housing units.

The city expects to publish the notice of availability for the old Central Library in the summer, Christina Bibler, director of the city’s Economic Development Department, told the Union-Tribune.

The timeline could get tripped up if council members take issue with the noticing document, which was not included in the agenda materials for Thursday’s meetings.

The current iteration of the document was described by Lucy Contreras, the city’s deputy director of real estate, as consistent with the Surplus Land Act noticing requirements. Interested parties will need to meet the affordable housing requirement, as well as comply with guidelines pertaining to the redevelopment of historic properties. The old Central Library’s historic elements include the building’s exterior, the csidewalk with the city seal, and two, city-owned sculptures on the facade.

“The intent is for us to put forward (a notice of availability) that either puts the property out for purchase or for lease, with the intent of maximizing the redevelopment potential of the site,” Contreras said. “If there were specific conditions that were going to be proposed in the (notice of availability), this would be the time, as well as with council, to have a conversation about (that).”

Elo-Rivera said he wanted to see the document before recommending additions.

“Pardon me for not just trusting the process here, but there’s nothing for us to read,” he said. “The council may decide that before we just open it up to the market and see what capitalism does for us, we instead draw some parameters and see if we can get a little bit closer to our goals on our first attempt.”

Councilmember Raul Campillo said his priorities for the property are on-site child care and residential units large enough for families.

Real estate analyst Gary London, a principal of local firm London Moeder Advisors, cautioned against the city adding more conditions in a weak real estate market challenged with limited access to capital and economic uncertainty.

The Surplus Land Act requirement to reserve 25% of residential units as affordable already challenges the feasibility of any project, he said.

“Whenever the city interferes with the marketplace, things go wrong,” London said. “While I agree with (Campillo) in terms of the kind of concept that ought to come out of (the solicitation), the idea of shoving that down a developer’s throat is basically inviting lower bids or a lack of bids.”

Councilmembers Kent Lee, Elo-Rivera and Campillo voted to pass on their recommendation for approval of the surplus designation to the full council. Councilmember Vivian Moreno was absent.

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San Diego, CA

Los Angeles schools superintendent resigns after FBI search and months on paid leave

Published

6 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Press Room

Los Angeles schools superintendent resigns after FBI search and months on paid leave

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER and BIANCA VÁZQUEZ TONESS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The superintendent of Los Angeles public schools has resigned four months after he was put on paid leave during a federal investigation, saying he wants students to learn “without distraction.”

Alberto Carvalho ‘s resignation letter dated Sunday made no direct mention of the FBI’s Feb. 25 search of his home and the LA Unified School District’s headquarters. Two days after the FBI served the search warrants, the district’s Board of Education voted unanimously to place Carvalho on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Authorities have not provided details of the nature of the investigation involving the district, which serves more than 500,000 students. The investigation appears to relate to a contract the school district had with an education technology company whose leader was later indicted for fraud. The company, AllHere, had a contract with the district to create an AI chatbot.

Before becoming the Los Angeles superintendent in 2022, Carvalho had spent his entire education career in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where he drew national praise for improving graduation rates and academic achievement among Black and Hispanic students. While advocating for Miami’s immigrant students, he spoke openly about his own struggles as a young recent arrival from Portugal working in restaurants and construction while homeless at times.

Under Carvalho, the Los Angeles district had been making strides. Students’ academic growth has outpaced the state average in recent years and students have bounced back from pandemic learning loss. Voters overwhelmingly passed a $9 billion construction and modernization bond, the school system’s largest ever.

Carvalho has denied wrongdoing

Authorities have not accused Carvalho of any crimes. He denied any wrongdoing earlier this year and had asked to be reinstated as head of the nation’s second-largest district. On Sunday he resigned via a letter addressed to “students, families, teachers, staff, and community.”

“Placing students first has always guided my work,” Carvalho wrote. “Because I believe our schools must remain focused on students and learning without distraction, I am resigning as Superintendent of LAUSD effective today, June 21, 2026.”

In its statement released early Monday, the Board acknowledged it received the letter of resignation.

“The Board remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring stability, continuity, and continued progress through strong leadership. Our focus remains unchanged: providing every student with a high-quality education, supporting our dedicated workforce, and maintaining the trust of the communities we serve,” it said. in the statement.

It said that Andrés Chait, who has been acting superintendent, will remain in that position until a permanent decision is made.

The FBI investigation has been linked to the maker of a school chatbot

In February, the FBI also searched a third location near Miami. The Miami Herald reported the Florida property belonged to Debra Kerr, who previously worked with AllHere.

In 2024, Carvalho heavily touted a deal with AllHere for an AI chatbot named “Ed” designed to help students. But about three months after unveiling the technology and paying the company $3 million, the district dropped its dealings with AllHere, which collapsed into bankruptcy. Months later, founder Joanna Smith-Griffin was charged with securities and wire fraud, along with identity theft.

At the time, Carvalho denied personal involvement in the selection of AllHere, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“Mr. Carvalho respects the rule of law and the investigative process and has always acted in the best interests of students and within the bounds of the law,” Holland & Knight, the law firm representing him, previously said in a statement. “While the government’s investigation remains ongoing, no evidence has been presented by prosecutors supporting any allegation that Mr. Carvalho violated federal law.”

Following the search of school headquarters, LA Unified said it was cooperating with investigators and had no further information.

Carvalho became superintendent of LA schools in 2022 on a four-year contract with an annual salary of $440,000. He began a new four-year contract in February, just weeks before the raid, for the same salary, according to school board meeting documents.

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San Diego, CA

California’s culinary superstars to gather at Michelin Guide ceremony in San Diego

Published

17 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Press Room

California’s culinary superstars to gather at Michelin Guide ceremony in San Diego

On Wednesday evening, the culinary stars will collide in downtown San Diego. That’s when The Michelin Guide will bring its California restaurant awards ceremony to San Diego for the very first time.

At the invitation-only event, Guide officials will unveil the California restaurants that are receiving new Michelin stars for 2026 or retaining the stars they’ve earned in years past. San Diego County restaurants have only been eligible for Michelin recognition since 2019, so luring the awards ceremony here has been a top priority for local restaurant and tourism officials ever since.

William Bradley, chef-director of San Diego’s Michelin three-star Addison by William Bradley, center, with fellow three-star chef Thomas Keller of The French Laundry, left, and two-star chef Chris Bleidorn of Birdsong at the 2025 Michelin Guide California Awards Ceremony in Sacramento. (Marc Patrick / BFA.com)

Nobody is more proud to be hosting the event in San Diego than William Bradley, the chef-director of Addison by William Bradley. The Chula Vista native opened his restaurant in San Diego’s Carmel Valley 20 years ago, and it is now one of just 14 Michelin three-star restaurants in the United States.

“To get the ceremony in San Diego was something I really dreamed of and pushed for,” said Bradley. “What an opportunity to have so many great chefs here in our hometown and in our own backyard to celebrate as a group all of the great restaurants in the state. We’re so ready to shine in San Diego. We’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”

Chef-Director William Bradley at Addison by William Bradley, a Michelin three-star restaurant in San Diego's Carmel Valley, on Friday, May 22, 2026. The restaurant, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, reopened May 19 after a 52-day renovation. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune) — Chef-Director William Bradley at Addison by William Bradley, a Michelin three-star restaurant in San Diego’s Carmel Valley, on Friday, May 22, 2026. The restaurant, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, reopened May 19 after a 52-day renovation. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

The Michelin effect

Born in France in 1900, the Michelin Guide was created to boost sales of the company’s car tires. The guide booklet, which recommended restaurants and other spots to visit during cross-country road trips, was a hit (for tire sales and the restaurants). In the 1920s, Michelin stars were introduced and over time they became the international standard for excellence.

In 2005, the Michelin Guide arrived in the U.S., starting in New York City, followed by the San Francisco Bay Area in 2007 and Chicago in 2011.

In 2019, the Guide finally expanded its coverage throughout California, thanks to a $600,000 investment in the program by the Visit California tourism organization. Michelin spent the money recruiting and training inspectors with at least 10 years of hospitality industry experience to dine anonymously at restaurants around the state year-round.

In the first year of statewide eligibility in 2019, Addison by William Bradley earned Southern California’s first Michelin star. Seven years later, San Diego County is now home to 43 Michelin Guide-honored restaurants, including five with Michelin stars, nine with Bib Gourmand awards, which recognize great cooking at great value, and 29 with selection honors, recognizing high-quality food.

For these local restaurants, Michelin awards have put them on the international map, brought in more business and helped them recruit investors and motivated workers. For local tourism officials, the awards have raised the profile of San Diego as an international culinary destination.

San Diego Tourism Authority Chief Operating Officer Kerri Kapich said restaurant awards from Michelin, as well as from the James Beard Foundation and Eater.com, give travelers another reason to visit San Diego, stay longer and spend their dollars eating out.

About $1.6 billion of San Diego’s $14.8 billion visitor economy in 2025 was spent on dining, and most of that was driven by overnight guests, she said.

“I love how fresh our food is here and the quality and diversity of our restaurants,” said Kapich, who has worked in local tourism for more than 20 years. “When we talk to travelers about why San Diego is a great place to visit, they’ll talk about our unique local cuisine and the quality of our cuisine.”

In its 2025 “Beyond the Michelin Stars” study, the accounting firm Ernst & Young found that 60% of international travelers under the age of 34 use the Michelin Guide when choosing a restaurant, and 74% of travelers consider Michelin’s presence in a city as a reason for choosing a destination.

The study also found that 82% of chefs surveyed reported an increase is overall sales after receiving a Michelin award.

Chef and restaurateur Roberto Alcocer, whose 4 1/2-year-old contemporary Mexican restaurant Valle in Oceanside earned its Michelin star in 2023, said there’s a common adage in the industry about how stars impact a restaurant’s bottom line.

“They say when you get one star, your business grows by 40 percent. If you get two stars, it grows 60 percent, and if you get three stars it grows 100 percent. But when we got our star, our business grew 100 percent,” Alcocer said.

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The chefs and owners of California’s eight Michelin three-star restaurants at the 2025 Michelin Guide California Awards Ceremony in Sacramento. At far right is William Bradley, the chef-director at Addison by William Bradley in San Diego. (Marc Patrick / BFA.com)

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The lure of Michelin

Two of San Diego County’s five Michelin-starred restaurants are in Carlsbad: Jeune et Jolie, which earned its star in 2021, and the 24-seat Lilo, which landed a star in 2025 just 10 weeks after it opened. Both are led by restaurateur John Resnick and executive chef Eric Bost, who is also a partner in Lilo.

When Resnick opened Jeune et Jolie in December 2018, there was no California Michelin Guide. But meeting Michelin’s high-quality standards was Resnick’s top priority for the contemporary French restaurant.

“Michelin was the mindset. They’re not here, but if they were, we want this to be a one-star restaurant,” he said. “We wanted to be creating a really great restaurant that’s incredibly delicious, equal parts special occasion and neighborhood restaurant.”

Bost said that when he was growing up, he was fascinated with the “mystique and romanticism” of Michelin-star restaurants, but it was an abstract concept, since the Guide didn’t exist in the U.S. at the time. So in 2001, he moved to Paris to work in French kitchens, and later worked under French master chefs Alain Ducasse and Guy Savoy.

Bost said earning a Michelin star is a proud achievement, but it’s also a big responsibility. Customers expect excellence every night and stars must be re-earned each year.

“It’s about how to keep the team engaged, the restaurants growing and doing better and better each year,” Bost said. “We’re very conscious of that. It keeps this positive pressure. We have a responsibility to maintain those standards for our guests. It’s an internal compass as much as it is an external recognition.”

Alcocer said his desire to earn a Michelin star was one of the main reasons he moved to Carlsbad from his native Mexico in 2021 to open Valle in Oceanside. Mexico didn’t launch its Michelin Guide until 2024, but by then Alcocer already had a star under his belt in the U.S.

How Michelin works

The Michelin Guide tightly guards the secrecy of its inspectors and its judging process, but the anonymous Chief Inspector of Michelin Guide North America did respond to questions submitted via email by the Union-Tribune.

Inspectors choose the restaurants they visit based on their knowledge of the region’s gastronomic scene and they pay their own bills. They rate restaurants based on the five criteria Michelin has used in its now-global methodology since 1926: use of quality products, harmony of flavors, mastery of cooking techniques, the voice and personality of the chef reflected in the cuisine and consistency between each visit.

The decision to award a star is done collegially, meaning several inspectors will visit a potential star restaurant throughout the year to ensure they all agree that the five criteria have been met.

A Michelin Guide award is not permanent. Every recipient, whether they have a top-tier star or a third-tier selection, are revisited each year to ensure that all five criteria continue to be met.

In San Diego in 2024, Sushi Tadokoro’s star and Solare’s Bib Gourmand awards were both downgraded to selection status. And since 2019, more than a dozen local restaurants that were named selections have been dropped from the guide completely.

Even though Addison’s Bradley is in the Michelin major leagues with fellow three-star California chefs like Thomas Keller, Dominique Crenn, Cory Lee and Michael Cimarusti, he said he still finds it nerve-wracking each year to find out whether his stars have been renewed.

Bradley, Bost and Alcocer said their job as chefs at Michelin-starred restaurants is to never rest on their laurels.

“You have to keep evolving and keep growing. Every time we learn something or see something that could use a small change, we go for it,” Alcocer said.

In the past year at Valle, Alcocer has introduced a lighter tasting menu for off-hours dining, added patio seating, changed the candles on each table, and he’s now sending diners home with a gift bag stocked with house-made Habañera hot sauce and lavender soap made with recycled cooking oil.

Awards night

Because so many of California’s top chefs will be in San Diego this week for the ceremony, Addison, Valle, Jeune et Jolie and Lilo will all be expanding their operating hours to accommodate visiting chefs and restaurateurs.

Resnick and Bost said they’re excited to welcome colleagues from afar who have yet to explore San Diego’s fine-dining community.

“It’s a rad opportunity for people to come and see how incredible this place is with the great community of restaurants that we’ve forged,” Resnick said. “We’re all excited and it’s a big point of pride for all of us.”

At the California awards ceremony each year, invited chefs mingle at a reception before the ceremony begins. Then, Michelin officials announce the year’s new and returning star recipients, starting with the one-star tier and concluding with three stars.

The biggest cheers of the evening always go to restaurants receiving their first-ever star, as well as the rare restaurants fortunate enough to earn a second or third star. California has eight restaurants with three stars, 14 with two stars and 61 with one star.

Bradley said he’s “pretty confident” there will be some good news for San Diego restaurants on Wednesday.

“I think there will be some chefs that are going to get their star this time around. I want them to. We want more stars here in San Diego. It just makes San Diego more of a destination,” he said. “That was our goal many years ago to help secure this region on a world map and here we are. It’s going to be great.”

Here are all 43 of the current Michelin Guide honorees in San Diego County:

Michelin starred: fiveStars honor outstanding cooking, based on the five criteria of ingredient quality, harmony of flavors, the mastery of culinary techniques, how the chef’s personality shines through their cuisine and consistency across the entire menu and over time. Restaurants can earn up to three stars. There are just 14 Michelin three-star restaurants in the U.S.