Oceanside officials get sneak peek at downtown's future

By: DAVID STERRETT - Staff Writer | Tuesday, August 22, 2006 11:50 PM PDT ∞

Ocean Terraces condo owner Jo Dube of Bonsall talks with the building superintendant Steve Wolff Tuesday during a tour of the third floor of the Oceanside residential and commercial building. Ocean Terraces will be six stories when compeleted in the spring of 2007.
J. KAT WORONOWICZ For the North County Times
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OCEANSIDE ---- More than 400 people had the chance to get a bird's-eye view of the new wave of development in downtown Oceanside on Tuesday as they toured the third floor of a six-story building under construction next to the movie theater.

City officials said that the Oceanside Terraces, which will have stores and a restaurant on the first floor, offices on the second level and condominiums on the upper floors, is one of several large projects planned to create a vibrant downtown.

Standing on the third floor of the concrete building, expected to be finished by next summer, city officials pointed out the sites for projects such as a 300-room Westin resort and 130 time shares.

"It's location, location, location," Mayor Jim Wood said. "This is the perfect location with the beach and pier, what more could you ask for?

"This is the type of project the city has been looking for, for years."

Oceanside Terraces will include two levels of underground parking, a large restaurant on the ground floor, about 15 office suites available for sale and 38 condominiums, which will be two and three bedrooms and begin at $700,000.

The developer has already sold 10 of the condominiums, and Bonsall residents Jo and Chuck Dube said they bought one of the first available units.

Jo Dube, who was walking around the top of the building with a floor plan, said the couple wanted to find a place where they didn't have to always get in their car to go to a restaurant, the store or the beach.

"Oceanside is going through an amazing renaissance," Dube said. "We want to be part of it."

Dube said they were excited about the downtown area because the six- and seven-story buildings will provide shops, restaurants and offices for residents who buy the condominiums or time shares on the upper floors.

John Kocmur, president of the developer, Janez Group, said the projects planned for downtown Oceanside will provide residents the chance "to work, live and play in one area."

"This structure is going to bring a lot to the downtown area," Kocmur said. "But this is just the first of many planned for the city."

Several blocks to the northwest, there are more than 130 time shares and 20 hotel units under construction as part of the project called the Fairfield Oceanside at the pier.

The seven-story building will have restaurants and shops on the ground floor, two-levels of underground parking and two towers filled with the time shares and hotel rooms, said Bob Brann, project superintendent for Davis Reed Construction.

He said three stories have been built and the project should be complete by next summer.

Fairfield and Oceanside Terraces should open around the same time, city officials said Tuesday.

"Who will win the race between (Oceanside Terraces) and Fairfield?" joked Councilman Jack Feller during an informal speech praising the Oceanside Terraces. "This is going to be a great catalyst for development down here."

City officials said the building will fit in well with a 300-room Westin resort proposed a couple of blocks to the west.

Last week, the City Council approved a tentative agreement with developer S.D. Malkin Properties that will require the city to invest $27 million in the $187 million resort.

"Get ready to make way for the hotel," said Councilwoman Esther Sanchez while touring the Oceanside Terraces project.

Sanchez said the building under construction is just one step forward for the city, and several of the businessmen and residents touring the building echoed those sentiments.

Mark Tozier, a real estate agent from Temecula, said he came to see the new project because he does a lot of business in Oceanside.

"This is fabulous and Oceanside is finally doing something right," said Tozier. "This is really going to change the face of Oceanside for the better."

-- Contact staff writer David Sterrett at (760) 901-4067 or dsterrett@nctimes.com.

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Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

Jon B. wrote on Aug 22, 2006 11:25 PM:Is this the same town I was a Marine in during the early 80s when Marines would not carry money because they got mugged. Is this the same town that was ranked in the top ten toughest towns in the country at one time? Who remembers "The Tenderloin", the old grey hound bus station. There will be loads of negative comments posted by bitter naysayers who missed out on the boom. hard to argue that things have not changed. I do sorta miss taking guests down Hill Street to see a transvestite.

to bad wrote on Aug 23, 2006 5:52 AM:Its a shame people from Oceanside cant afford to buy a unit there.I wonder if the folks from Bonsal have walked around the new neiborhood at night,not to mention the 2am freight train horn,welcome to Oceanside. NOW GO HOME.

Dan K. wrote on Aug 23, 2006 6:10 AM:Great article…thanks for the information. Can you tell me when Oceanside will do something about the trash everywhere and/or groom the medians and maybe add some sidewalks? I just bought a new place in the “Pelican Cove” development on Douglas and El Camino Real. Yesterday we went for a walk and, trying to do our part, picked up three grocery bags of trash from our house to the new Sav-On on Douglas and back. That’s less than a mile in one direction. We moved from Huntington Beach where you’d be fairly hard pressed to find that much trash in three miles. Does Oceanside care?

Pirate wrote on Aug 23, 2006 6:37 AM:Sanchez has a lot of nerve to infer her support for this fine project. She voted not only against this project when it came before council, but virtually every other mixed-use project downtown that is now identified as part of the Oceanside renaissance. By the way, Shari Mackin said at a council meeting that she agreed with Sanchez and would have voted against this project. Mackin gets no "credit" from me and I will be voting against her this fall for the sake of continuing Oceanside's re-birth.

Hopeful wrote on Aug 23, 2006 7:01 AM:Hoping that this really will help change the image of Oceanside but it will take a lot more than this. Why should people spend so much to live here when they can go to other coastal cities and not trip over the bums and actually have a nice place to eat.

Fantastic! wrote on Aug 23, 2006 7:02 AM:Great job City Council! That is what we in Oceanside want to see. ALl the council members work together on a postive project! Great job city council!

Where life is worth living! wrote on Aug 23, 2006 7:03 AM:That is the motto of Oceanside and the motto of our current city council! Keep it up!

We are starting to look like a city should with a new look that clebrates our traditions and heritage! wrote on Aug 23, 2006 7:03 AM:This is what Oceanside is all about! A metro area!

safety first wrote on Aug 23, 2006 9:52 AM:let's hope that city officials remember that the area(neighborhoods) around these wonderful projects need to be cleaned up from gang activity and homeless peolple before potential buyers catch on....

Cranky wrote on Aug 23, 2006 11:13 AM:Some people will always find the negative in everything, we are moving in the right direction, things are starting to look up for Oceanside. and to "too bad", seems to me I recognize the name Chuck Dube (from high school), if I am correct, he grew up in good old Oceanside.

right on too bad wrote on Aug 23, 2006 1:26 PM:it is too bad people from oceanside can't afford to buy, but then again we already know the area that surrounds these projects and would not buy there even if we could afford it!!

The same people carrying on about the negative! wrote on Aug 23, 2006 1:41 PM:How about you work for living and maybe you could afford something in your life!

John wrote on Aug 23, 2006 2:30 PM:Lets have some more negativity and whining from those folks who missed out on the real estate boom in oceanside. WHAAAA WHAAAA WHAAAA. Talk to anyone from LA and they will tell you how wonderful Oceanside is.

Curious wrote on Aug 23, 2006 10:10 PM:Why did Mackin and Sanchez oppose this?

Anthony wrote on Oct 4, 2006 12:16 AM:Wow! now I see why the city of Oceanside has never progressed. Reading some of these comments and I am already feeling down. You people with the crappy attitude that think you know everything. Why not start at the community college of Mira Costa? Learn a little something besides negativity, then maybe you'll learn to be a bit happier. City Counsel, please keep up the good work. If you nay sayers don't like what is happening. There is always a town that will welcome you. So go find it!

John wrote on Oct 14, 2006 9:28 PM:I have lived in Oceanside since 1975, in the same house and neighborhood. There are now bums on the street in my area, a church feeds them. On the other end of my neighborhood the street is now swarming with men selling cars, and lounging around by the big food market on Mission Avenue East of the casino, this problem was not here years ago, before this market was allowed to be built! Tons of litter near the market and in the streets by the market. I feel that my neighborhood is turning into a filthy third world country. My neighborhood never was this bad years ago! Why all the time shares down town? Time share people are not part of this community! I walk "down town" Oceanside and notice the filthy sidewalks, gum, garbage, feces,-the sidewalks need to be washed! Who is in charge, who is responsible to clean the sidewalks? I have to go to Carlsbad to walk on clean sidewalks and get quality coffee and food. The big "time share" place near Oceanside Harbour looks like an abandoned factory from the 1930's. Who allowed this "eye sore" to be built near our beautiful harbour? In 1975 I could have bought in Carlesbad or Oceanside for about the same price. Now look at home prices in Carlesbad! When I have visitors from out of town I take them to eat and for a walk around Carlsbad, a real show place! I also show them Oceanside Harbour and our pier, and avoid down town Oceanside. When we drive home and into my Oceanside neighborhood my guests see all the litter and swarms of men lounging and laying around and then the question is always asked,---what about crime? Are you safe where you live? I tell them I must be "safe" I never see any police, or police cars on patrol in my neighborhood! The police station in my neighborhood was closed years ago.

Ashton wrote on Nov 28, 2006 12:54 PM:Oceanside is making great progress. Many of the comments made are valid and need attention. Participate in your community to get things done. Elect the right people for City Council. Continue to identify the areas needing improvement, but just don't complain about it, take some action. Oceanside has come a long way and with the increased revenue all of these projects will bring, this city will only get better each year. Congratulations Oceanside!

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