San Diego, CA

When the Old Haunts Get Bulldozed for Much-Needed Housing

Published

1 year ago

December 3, 2024

When the Old Haunts Get Bulldozed for Much-Needed Housing

For more than 60 years, the Carlsbad Village Plaza has been a cornerstone in the community. The shopping center has about a dozen small businesses and has become a hub for locals and a resource that many count on every day, especially seniors.

The plaza is walkable for many people. Some start their day with a treat at the Carlsbad French Pastry Café, opened in 1998 by a French immigrant. They stop at the family-owned DeNault’s Ace Hardware store for a new gardening tool or some lightbulbs, followed by a trip to the Carlsbad Village Pharmacy, which has served residents in the area for the past decade. Seniors and families who are on a budget pick up groceries from Smart and Final. It’s also the only grocery store for miles.

The plaza also includes a laundromat, a local dive bar called the Golden Tee, an antique store, a Mexican eatery, a nonprofit thrift shop and more. Most of the businesses are owned and operated by locals.

But residents are now facing a harsh reality, one they’ve been trying to fight off for the past few years. There’s a plan in place to redevelop the entire plaza into market-rate housing, affordable housing and retail space.

Residents want to preserve the beloved space as is, but city leaders say their hands are tied. State housing laws require cities to approve affordable housing projects to address California’s housing crisis, especially its shortage of affordable housing.

It’s the latest example of an ongoing tension in North County: the need for new housing versus the desire to maintain longstanding community landmarks.

Just South of Carlsbad, along N. Coast Hwy 101 in the Leucadia neighborhood of Encinitas, a towering round wooden sign shows a sailor with a blue parrot on his shoulder, greeting drivers with a salute. Underneath him, red letters spell “Cap’n Keno’s.”

For 54 years, Encinitas residents have looked up at that sign inviting locals into a rustic, nautical-themed bar. Its owner Gerry Sova, now 84, opened the bar in 1970 with winnings from a Las Vegas keno game.

Stepping into Keno’s was like stepping into a time capsule. The large wooden, wrap-around bar seemed to beckon customers for a shot and a beer – cash only, but extremely cheap. Its walls were lined with fishing nets, anchors and other maritime-themed decor that gave the feeling this place might have been washed ashore during a storm.

The large, deep-red leather booths lining Keno’s dining area were one of the most striking features, framing a long dining table in the center of the room surrounded by about a dozen chairs. From above, dim, yellow lighting from vintage-looking ceiling lamps cast a comfortable glow. The room’s message was clear: come, eat, drink and be merry.

There, customers could enjoy a burger, fries and a beer for less than $10, or biscuits & gravy with two eggs and bacon for only $5.49, or perhaps a prime rib for $12, or even a full rack of baby back ribs for just $15.

But the charmingly affordable Leucadia landmark officially closed its doors in September. In its place will be an upscale, mixed-use development with 45 condominiums, office spaces, a restaurant and retail shops.

Developer Adam Robinson of RAF Pacifica Group purchased the land home to Keno’s, along with several other businesses in 2021 in a deal reportedly worth $10.5 million. He also purchased the liquor license and rights to Captain Keno’s. He says he plans to incorporate it into the new development.

Sova spoke about his decision to sell the bar in a video to the Encinitas Planning Commission.

“I would like it to stay the way it is, but, of course, that’s impossible,” Sova said in the video. “We have to face the facts of life …. [My] family will have the money, instead of the problems.”

In San Marcos, residents had a similar soft spot for the Old Restaurant Row. The area, which opened in 1978, was filled with adored restaurants, cafes, shops, a movie theater and more before it was sold by its owner in 2020.

In 2022, the property’s new owner, Elizabeth Papera, teamed up with developer Lennar Homes and unveiled plans to build a mixed-use development on the site. Those plans include 202 housing units, 10,400 square feet of commercial space and a 1.5-acre park that will include a skate park and pickleball courts. City leaders approved the plans in late 2023.

A few of the businesses have relocated to new locations. Others, like 55 Yard Line, an iconic sports bar that operated at the location for 18 years, have closed for good. 55 Yard Line’s owners said they couldn’t find another location they could afford.

It’s a similar story in Carlsbad. The Carlsbad Village Plaza property was purchased by Tooley Interests, LLC in 2021 in a deal worth $23.5 million. The company plans to replace the village with a five-story, mixed-use development with 218 apartments and ground-floor retail. Twenty-seven of the apartments will be set aside for low-income residents.

Many residents have been resisting the project since word first got out about what the plaza could become, signing petitions, holding community meetings and speaking out at city meetings.

“Doing away with the only supermarket in the village and the only hardware and pharmacy will certainly be a hardship to the city’s voters; seniors, those without transportation, tourists visiting the beach and hotels, and the homeless,” wrote Sue and Peter Ladouceur in a letter they submitted to the city’s Planning Commission in July.

“The Denault’s Ace Hardware has been a staple in the community, employing experienced seniors and creating a small town feel that you do not get at Lowe’s or Home Depot,” wrote Paul Miller in another letter to the commission. “I cannot count how many birthday cakes we’ve ordered from the French bakery. I have to add the Golden Tee, a classic watering hole that many of us have spent evenings at. These stores will not return.”

Hundreds of other public comments over multiple city meetings echo these same sentiments. Still, the council approved the project with a 4-1 vote on Sept. 24, citing state housing laws that require them to approve affordable housing projects that meet state standards.

Councilmember Melanie Burkholder, who represents the district that includes the plaza, was the only “no” vote.

It was official. The plaza that residents have known and loved for decades will be gone. And its business owners will be displaced, forced to either relocate or shut down for good.

“The state is bullying us,” Carlsbad Mayor Keith Blackburn said at the council meeting. “But if we stand up to the bully, the consequences are completely unreasonable and could cost us a ton of money in the long run.”

Source link

San Diego, CA

Padres roster review: Germán Márquez

Published

9 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Padres roster review: Germán Márquez – San Diego Union-Tribune

GERMÁN MÁRQUEZ

Position(s): Right-handed pitcher
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
2026 opening day age: 31
Height / Weight: 6-foot-1 / 230 pounds
How acquired: Signed as a free agent in February 2026
Contract status: Will make $1 million in 2026 with a $750,000 buyout on a mutual option for 2027; can add up to $3.25 million in performance bonuses.
fWAR in 2025: 0.3
Key 2025 stats: 3-16, 6.70 ERA, 83 strikeouts, 48 walks, 1.71 WHIP, .317 opponent average, 126⅓ innings (26 starts)

STAT TO NOTE

36.9 — The percentage of groundballs that Márquez yielded in 2025, a career low and significantly below his career average (48%). Márquez’s groundball rate was regularly above 50% before requiring Tommy John surgery in early 2023. He made one start in 2024 and struggled mightily while making 26 starts last year.

Down — Márquez had a 4.40 ERA through his first seven years in the majors, not bad considering he pitched roughly half his games at one of the best hitting environments in the majors. In fact, Márquez has a 5.17 ERA in his career at Coors Field and a 4.22 ERA in road environments. But Márquez underwent Tommy John surgery early in 2023, made one start in the majors in mid-July in 2024 (4 IP, 3 ER) and struggled throughout his first full year back in the Rockies rotation. The season was so difficult for Márquez that he was actually worse on the road (7.32 ERA) than he was in 11 starts at Coors Field (5.98 ERA). His strikeout rate (5.9 per nine innings) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.73) were the worst of his careers, as was his walk rate (3.4 per nine innings), while his hit rate (12.0 per nine innings) was the second worst of his career. On top of that, Márquez’s groundball rate was also the lowest of his career (see stat to note) and ranked in the bottom 22nd percentile of the league and his hard-hit rate (48.5%) and average exit velocity (91.7 mph) both ranked in the bottom 2 percentile of the league. One reason: a 94.8 mph four-seamer is down a few ticks than the height of his effectiveness. Márquez reached free agency after the season and signed with the Padres in February.

2026 OUTLOOK

Márquez has a big-league deal with the Padres, but he’ll have to rediscover his pre-elbow-reconstruction form to hold onto a roster spot, as RHP Griffin Canning (Achilles) is expected to push for a spot at some point this season and the likes of LHP JP Sears, RHP Matt Waldron and minor league signees like Marco Gonzales could warrant looks if Márquez’s struggles continue into 2026.

German Marquez #33 of the San Diego Padres participates in drills during spring training workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.(Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

ROSTER RANKINGS

1. OF Fernando Tatis Jr.
2. 3B Manny Machado
3. OF Jackson Merrill
4. RHP Nick Pivetta
5. RHP Michael King
6. RHP Mason Miller
7. OF Ramón Laureano
8. SS Xander Bogaerts
9. LHP Adrián Morejón
10. RHP Jeremiah Estrada
11. RHP Jason Adam
12. 2B Jake Cronenworth
13. RHP Joe Musgrove
14. RHP Randy Vasquez
15. OF Gavin Sheets
16. LHP JP Sears
17. RHP Yu Darvish
18. RHP Bradgley Rodriguez
19. RHP David Morgan
20. C Freddy Fermin
21. LHP Wandy Peralta
22. C Luis Campusano
23. LHP Yuki Matsui
24. INF Sung-Mun Song
25. RHP German Marquez
26. RHP Matt Waldron
27. OF Bryce Johnson
28. OF/1B Nick Castellanos
29. RHP Ron Marinaccio
30. RHP Bryan Hoeing
31. LHP Kyle Hart
32. INF Will Wagner
33. RHP Garrett Hawkins
34. RHP Miguel Mendez
35. RHP Daison Acosta
36. RHP Ty Adcock
37. RHP Alek Jacob
38. INF Mason McCoy

Removed from 40-man roster

OF Tirso Ornelas (designated for assignment)
RHP Jhony Brito (60-day injured list)

Source link

San Diego, CA

Blount named Head Basketball Coach at San Diego – HoopDirt

Published

21 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Blount named Head Basketball Coach at San Diego – HoopDirt

In today’s Daily Dirt, I mentioned that the search at San Diego was done. Here’s the official announcement from USD on the hiring of JR Blount as their next head men’s basketball coach:

University of San Diego Athletics has named JR Blount the 15th head coach in San Diego men’s basketball program history, USD Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics Kimya Massey announced on Monday.

Blount arrives in San Diego with a reputation as one of college basketball’s rising coaching talents after helping lead Iowa State to four NCAA Tournament appearances in four seasons.

He joins the Toreros after five seasons on T.J. Otzelberger’s staff at Iowa State, where the Cyclones compiled a 95-45 record during his tenure, won the 2024 Big 12 Tournament Championship and reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2024 — one of the most successful stretches in program history. Iowa State finished in the AP Top 15 in each of those four seasons and climbed as high as No. 2 nationally in each of the last two years. During the 2025-26 season, the Cyclones opened with a 16-0 start, highlighted by victories over No. 1 Purdue, No. 2 Houston, No. 9 Kansas and No. 14 St. John’s.

“After a thorough and highly competitive national search, we are proud to welcome JR Blount as the next head coach of USD men’s basketball,” said Massey. “JR is an outstanding leader, a relentless competitor and one of the brightest rising coaches in college basketball. Even more importantly, throughout this process I came to know him as a humble leader with strong integrity and deep family values. JR has been a part of winning at every level of his career and understands what it takes to build a program that competes with toughness, discipline and consistency. Just as importantly, he believes in developing young men holistically and leading in a way that reflects the values of this university.

“This is a pivotal moment for our program and JR’s vision aligns with our belief that San Diego men’s basketball should compete in the upper tier of the WCC and position itself to be a regular NCAA Tournament participant. We are excited about what lies ahead under his leadership.”

“As a product of Catholic education and deeply committed to USD’s mission and values, Coach Blount is an outstanding role model for the young men in our Torero basketball program,” said USD President James T. Harris III. “He brings an impressive resume with deep experience, a winning track record and — above all — a commitment to the overall wellbeing of our student-athletes.”

“I’m incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead USD men’s basketball,” Blount said. “We are so thankful to Athletic Director Kimya Massey and President Harris for this opportunity. This is more than just a coaching position for me — it’s a chance to become part of a community and build something meaningful. My wife and our three daughters are excited to make this move together and we can’t wait to invest in this university and the relationships that make it special.

I come to USD with a deep desire to win — to compete relentlessly, to develop our young men to their fullest potential and to build a program our fans can be proud of. Winning championships is important, but so is building a culture of toughness, accountability and love. We’re going to work every day to represent USD the right way, on and off the court. I’m ready to get started.”

Blount played a key role in Iowa State’s rise under Otzelberger, helping orchestrate one of the most significant program turnarounds in recent Division I history. In his first season with the Cyclones in 2021-22, Iowa State rebounded from a two-win campaign the year before to finish 22-13 and advance to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. The Cyclones quickly established a national reputation for defensive toughness, ranking among the nation’s best in scoring defense, defensive efficiency, steals and turnovers forced.

Over the next three seasons, Blount helped Iowa State sustain that momentum. In 2022-23, the Cyclones advanced to the NCAA Tournament and recorded nine wins over AP Top 25 opponents, tied for the most in school history. In 2023-24, Iowa State won the Big 12 Championship, finished 29-8, posted an undefeated 18-0 record at Hilton Coliseum and advanced to the Sweet 16. Most recently, the 2024-25 Cyclones finished 25-10, climbed as high as No. 2 in the Associated Press poll, earned another NCAA Tournament appearance and closed the season ranked No. 17 nationally.

Known for his work in player development, recruiting and culture-building, Blount has mentored multiple all-conference and All-America caliber players throughout his coaching career. At Iowa State, he developed some of the Big 12’s top performers while contributing to a program identity rooted in toughness, connectivity and competitive excellence.

Prior to Iowa State, Blount spent three seasons at Colorado State, where he helped elevate the Rams into one of the Mountain West’s top programs. During his tenure in Fort Collins, Colorado State signed the highest-rated recruiting class in program history and posted consecutive 20-win seasons, including a 20-8 finish and a run to the NIT semifinals in 2020-21. He also played a leadership role in Colorado State’s Together Initiative, which promoted social justice and racial equality on campus.

Blount also previously served in coaching roles at Drake and Saint Leo and began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where the program won the 2010 NCAA Division III National Championship.

A former three-year team captain and two-time team MVP at Loyola University Chicago, Blount later played professionally for the Leicester Riders of the British Basketball League during the 2010-11 season. He earned degrees in psychology and sociology from Loyola in 2009 and later received his master’s degree in education from UW-Stevens Point in 2012.

A native of Milwaukee, Blount and his wife, Ashley, have three daughters: Maya, Zuri and Gema.

Source link

San Diego, CA

SDPD investigating suspicious death

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

UNIVERSITY CITY (KGTV) — San Diego police are investigating the death of an 81-year-old woman who was found unresponsive in her apartment in the 6300 block of Genesee Avenue.

Officers and San Diego Fire-Rescue personnel responded to a 9-1-1 call at about 11:56 p.m. on March 6.

First responders found the woman in her bedroom, unresponsive and “positioned awkwardly on a bed.” Despite immediate life-saving efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives from the San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit were called to the scene due to “unusual circumstances,” police said. The cause and manner of death remain undetermined.

Investigators are working with the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine what happened.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

This story has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Source link