UPDATE: 3:00p.m., Sept. 29, 2017
San Diego State University's Alumni Club is moving forward with an effort to put the plan to create SDSU West on the next possible ballot. School boosters want to build a 35,000-seat sports stadium, school facilities, a river park, housing and hotels on the Mission Valley site where SDCCU Stadium now sits.
"Sell the Qualcomm site, a public asset to another public agency so it will continue to be used for another public purpose. The advantage is the city of San Diego would receive fair market value for the Qualcomm site, and they need the money, they don't want to be in the position of maintaining the existing stadium. And then it allows San Diego State to develop a plan and a new campus and partner with private entities to create a very new vibrant community," Said Kim Kilkenny, a supporter of SDSU West.
The proposal calls for the land to be bought from the city for fair market value, although it does not specify what that value is. The measure also calls for a full environmental review.
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SDSU backers want to build their development without any city or county money, but their initiative does not have a detailed funding plan. It is unclear where the money for the project is coming from, although supporters say they plan to release more details in December.
The plan is a direct competition to the vision put forth by FS Investors. That group wants to leverage the development on the Mission Valley site to lure a Major League Soccer franchise to San Diego. They hope to build a stadium, river park, housing and commercial space on the stadium site.
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The two sides were talking about a joint project but those discussions broke off earlier this year, prompting school backers to develop the SDSU West initiative.
Soccer City investor Nick Stone released a statement on the plan Thursday evening.
"As we have always said, we welcome competitive ideas, because we believe the detailed plan we put forward accomplishes some long-held goals for San Diego. At no cost to taxpayers, we propose a fully funded river park, a new home for Aztec football, a much-desired Major League Soccer team, room for the university to expand and billions in new revenues to fund police and fire protection, street resurfacing and other city services. We put our best plan forward, and we look forward to and expect a similarly thorough review by San Diegans of this proposal."
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The initiative drive for SDSU West is expected to begin on Saturday. Boosters said they will file a notice of intent, allowing them to begin gathering signatures for the plan in three weeks. The effort needs 71,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.
