Save The Plunge

Government turns its back on services for the citizens

Indicative of the future of the Plunge swimming pool, the City of Oceanside has recently closed the Marshall Street Swim Center in order to save an expected $185,000 (read more on signonsandiego.com).

Ironically for the Plunge, the original intent of allowing commercial rent-generating activity within Mission Beach Park (the 18 acre regional beachfront park within which the Plunge is situated) was to enable the continued operation of the Plunge swimming pool. Money from this rent (in the form of rent credit) was supposed to reimburse the developer for Plunge rehabilitation. In accord with this intent, Tom Lochtefeld entered into a lease with the City and agreed to refurbish the pool’s structure and maintain this public recreational facility, but ONLY IF he could either develop an adaptive reuse of the building, or receive a credit against rent due to a lack of economic viability. Mr. Lochtefeld proceeded to borrow $17 million in anticipation of this structural refurbishment and adaptive economic reuse. The City now refuses to allow Mr. Lochtefeld to proceed with an adaptive reuse or grant a rent credit.

The Plunge pool is now closed due to structural decay of the surrounding building. Closure of the pool and the City’s failure to permit an adaptive reuse or provide a rent credit, is not only a breach of Mr. Lochtefeld’s agreement with the City, it is also a breach of the City’s agreement with its citizens to allow the use of a public park for commercial purpose without directing the resulting rent be used to maintain and continue operation of the public Plunge swimming pool.

City of San Diego’s Short-Sightedness Causes Historic Plunge Pool at Belmont Park to Close

To our supporters,

With our extreme disappointment the City of San Diego has taken a very one-sided view of the obligation to maintain the historic Mission Beach Plunge Pool Building.  To the detriment of the citizens of San Diego, the City’s short-term thinking has resulted in repeated structural failure of the Plunge building, closure of the Plunge Pool, and is now setting the stage for a repeat long-term economic downward spiral for Belmont Park and Mission Beach.  

After initially stating the building was NOT unsafe, the City has reversed course after a new engineering report we commissioned determined that damages to the building are severe enough to pose immediate life safety issues that stem from the original faulty design.  So who is responsible for repairing our historic treasure and City asset?

In the Fifth Operating Memorandum, (5-OM), an amendment to the Belmont Park Master Lease on June 26, 2000, it specifically required Mr. Lochtefeld the lessee, to propose a redevelopment plan by 2006 that would generate sufficient income to renovate the Plunge, so that it could continue to serve the public into the future.  Five years ago, Mr. Lochtefeld submitted his plan, which the City’s new administration rejected. As also provided in the 5-OM, Mr. Lochtefeld requested rent credits that could justify the structural refurbishment, but the City has inexplicably refused to provide rent credits that would allow for Plunge rehabilitation.  So, in effect, the City has blocked Mr. Lochtefeld’s ability to fund the structural repairs needed for continued operation of the Plunge pool.  

Because the City precluded Mr. Lochtefeld from redeveloping the property in a way that was economically viable, and denied his request for rent credits, Mr. Lochtefeld is not obligated to correct the major design flaws, or do the refurbishment that the Plunge structure requires.  To the contrary, the City, as the owner of the Plunge structure, is responsible for those repairs and alterations.  

The demise of the Plunge is but the first step in the negative progression that Mr. Lochtefeld had warned eleven years ago.  Mr. Lochtefeld has personally guaranteed a $17 million loan in his dream to rehabilitate Belmont Park and the Plunge.  Unfortunately, the City has now blocked his vision.  Mr. Lochtefeld has done everything he could to save the Plunge, but to no avail.  

The fate of the Plunge is now in the hands of the public and their ability to convince the Mayor and City Council to stop the myopic focus on obtaining short-term lease revenue, and rather, focus on finding a solution to preserving a City of San Diego historical treasure and the crown jewel of Mission Beach. Please sign the Save The Plunge petition here.

Once again, help us fight the City's unfair position and help us Save The Plunge by writing the Mayor of San Diego, City Attorney, Park and Recreation Board and District 2 City Councilmember. Let them know of your personal relationship with the Plunge pool and Belmont Park and your support of our continued efforts to operate, maintain and improve this historic pool and City asset. Click here to view contact information or fill out our webform email HERE - Thank you for your support!