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San Diego

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San Diego’s Historical Site Board unanimously rejected a developer’s plan to raze the 50-year-old Belmont Park roller rink building and a large stucco building surrounding the famous Mission Beach Plunge.

Instead, board members said, these examples of California “spa-area” architecture should be preserved and the City Council should seek a feasibility study on how to maintain these buildings and the nearby roller coaster.

Developers Paul Thoryk and Graham MacHutchin said they could not create either an attractive or profitable project without tearing down some buildings.

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Otherwise, their proposed commercial center--which would showcase the old Plunge (or swimming pool) even though the structure around it would be torn down--”may be a philanthropic gesture. But we can’t afford a $4-million to $5-million gift,” MacHutchin said.

The City Council is to consider the project Tuesday. Last week the council’s Public Facilities and Recreation Committee recommended that the city extend its lease with Thoryk/MacHutchin, even though their project would require that some historic buildings be torn down.

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