Manchester Group pledges housing as key part of NAVWAR land redevelopment

Manchester Financial Group, the developer named after Doug Manchester, has committed to including housing as a significant element in its redevelopment plans for about 70 acres of Navy-owned land near Old Town San Diego, Voice of San Diego reported.

The land, known as the Naval Base Point Loma Old Town Campus, consists of two plots: one approximately 47 acres and the other nearly 22 acres. The developer is negotiating a 99-year lease with the Navy that includes building a new command center in exchange for redevelopment rights.

While Manchester has explored the possibility of constructing a large-scale 400-megawatt data center on the smaller 22-acre site, the company confirmed that housing will be a major part of the final project. The exact amount of housing units has not yet been determined, but the CEO mentioned the potential for thousands of multi-family homes.

Local politicians, including Rep. Scott Peters and City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert, had expressed concerns after news of the data center plans emerged, advocating instead for a mixed-use development with housing, retail, restaurants, and hotels to create a 'mini downtown.'

Manchester Financial Group stated that regardless of the final design, the project will include mixed-use components with homes, retail, commercial, and industrial uses, aiming to address the region’s housing crisis.

The final details of the redevelopment are still being negotiated with the Navy, and the company looks forward to building housing to meet local needs.