FOX 5: City engineer: Plunge Pool is safe
SAN DIEGO -- A city commissioned report on the safety of the Mission Beach Plunge Pool described the structure showing "no apparent sign of distress."
The pool was closed by its operator Wave House in May. Wave House owner Tom Lochtefeld cited safety concerns.
City officials paid for the report in part to refute Lochtefeld's assertion that the Plunge was hazardous. It comes as Lochtefeld and the city are embroiled in a legal battle over unpaid rent, maintenance responsibility and financial distress.
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SignOnSanDiego.com: Plunge repairs will be costly
The historic Plunge pool in Mission Beach’s Belmont Park needs more than $1.9 million in repairs and isn’t likely to reopen anytime soon after closing in May because of safety concerns.
An engineering report commissioned by the city found that the indoor pool’s roof is in “significant disrepair due to extensive corrosion” that requires a minimum of $198,000 in fixes that would allow the building to reopen for up to six months.
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Dispute leaves Belmont Park's future in question
- The San Diego Union-Tribune
Eleven years ago Belmont Park was a financial failure better known for its homeless population than its carnival rides. Today it is a quintessential San Diego attraction and the crowded epicenter of summertime fun in Mission Beach.
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The Reader: Wave of Support for Belmont Park
Residents of Mission Beach flooded council chambers on June 14 in support of Tom Lochtefeld (pictured at left), who leases Belmont Park.
"I'm here on behalf of businesses that are adjacent to Belmont Park," said local business owner Mary Saska. "Belmont Park, and The Plunge, is an icon. It's a place where you can bring your family."
More than one dozen supporters stood behind Saska, all asking that the City work with Lochtefeld and give credits towards rent so that improvements can be made and the park can reopen.
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Union-Tribune Letters: More effort needed to preserve Plunge
The battle between the city of San Diego and Belmont Park’s master leaseholder, Tom Lochtefeld, is another example of City Hall not seeing the bigger picture (“Historic Plunge closes in Mission Beach,” May 27). The continued maintenance of Belmont Park, the Plunge in particular, needs to be completed without delay and the pool reopened.
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SignOnSanDiego: Readers call on city to work to save Plunge
In response to “Historic Plunge closes in Mission Beach” (May 27):
"The Plunge is such a vital historical piece of San Diego. It is unique in its setting as well – near the ocean and the bay, surrounded by water. Yet it was a favored option for swimming, even with the natural, free places right next to it.
These are tough economic times all over. There are options for financing that are on the table that the city can work with or, at the very least, explore other creative options.
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City of San Diego Playing Dangerous Game with Belmont Park in Mission Beach
City of San Diego Rent Increase with Belmont Park Beginning to Show Signs of Cracks in Attraction’s Foundation as “The Plunge” Swimming Pools Closes for Disrepair
Belmont Park closed down the legendary and historic Plunge today and if I know anything about John D. Spreckels and that is he is not happy watching this mess unfold.
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FOX 5: Operator closes Mission Beach Plunge
SAN DIEGO -- Mission Beach's historic Plunge pool closed to the public Thursday because of a legal, financial, and safety dispute between its operator and the City of San Diego.
Wave House, the company that leases the pool from the city, announced Thursday it was closing the pool until further notice.
Wave House owner Tom Lochtefeld insists it's up to the city to make millions of dollars in repairs to The Plunge's roof, water, and air quality. Lochtefeld and the city point to competing lease agreements that state the other party is responsible for repairs.
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NBC: Mission Beach's Plunge Shuts Down
It's an end to a local historical attraction.
The Mission Beach Plunge is now closed as of Thursday.
The pool hall’s leaseholder filed for bankruptcy in November, seeking time to settle a rent dispute with the city. The dispute, combined with the structural failure of the building, impacted the decision to close the pool.
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OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: City of San Diego’s Short-Sightedness Causes Historic Plunge Pool at Belmont Park to Close
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
May 26, 2011, (SAN DIEGO, CA) - 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.
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