New Home for Chinese Mission Backed

The Centre City Development Corp. on Friday approved a developer’s plan to move and reconstruct the Chinese Mission Building within the city’s newly approved Chinese-Asian Thematic Historic District.

The agency, which directs redevelopment of San Diego’s downtown, also approved a separate proposal to rebuild the vacant Anita and Regal hotels behind the Horton Grand as part of a multimillion-dollar development that would include 24 condominiums and add banquet space for the Horton Grand.

Both approvals, though, were made in concept only. The CCDC board and the San Diego City Council must next approve negotiating agreements with the developers and then begin discussions over the sizable amount of city funds being requested for both projects.

The CCDC vote is a step in the process of saving historic but dilapidated structures and at the same time paving the way for redevelopment of parcels in the Marina Redevelopment District, said Kathy Kalland, the agency’s spokeswoman.

‘Somewhat of an Eyesore’

“You have . . . structures that are somewhat of an eyesore at this point, although they are important to the history of the area,” Kalland said. “You come up with two positive solutions that satisfy the people who are concerned about the buildings.”

“I’m happy that the CCDC is going along with the enrichment of the cultural aspect of our community,” said Tom Hom, president of the Chinese Historical Society and the developer who proposes to move the Chinese Mission Building.

CCDC turned down a request by the city’s Historical Site Board to designate the buildings as historical landmarks because the designation would make it extremely difficult to move them. Without a designation, the buildings will technically not be part of the Chinese-Asian Thematic Historic District that the council created in November.

Hom is proposing to move the 51-year-old Mission Building, where newly arrived immigrants learned English and became acclimated to the United States, from its site on 1st Avenue, between Market and G streets--across from Horton Plaza--to a location on J Street, between 2nd and 3rd avenues. Once there, it would be converted into a museum and Chinese garden for public use.

Would Allow Plans to Proceed

The move would allow Charles Tyson, who owns the parcel where the dilapidated two-story building now stands, to proceed with his plans to build a high-rise residential building behind Nordstrom’s department store.

Tyson told the CCDC on Friday that he would pay $40,000 toward the cost of dismantling the Chinese Mission Building. Hom wants the city to buy the proposed museum site for $250,000, and pay $75,000 toward construction costs. The Chinese community would raise an additional $145,000 to pay for remaining development costs. The plans, though, require an additional $35,000, which Hom had asked Tyson to pay, but which would have to come from the city or private fund raising if Tyson refuses.

Developer Dan Pearson is proposing to move the Anita and Regal hotels--which are connected and considered one structure--from 4th Avenue, near J Street, to 3rd Avenue, between J and Island streets. The project would expand Pearson’s Horton Grand Hotel and include 24 one-bedroom condominiums.