United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA Region 9 Brownfields Program Success Stories
Marina Gateway National City, CA
REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT PROVIDES NEW GATEWAY
Project Description
Property Address:
Property Size:
Former Uses:
Contaminants Found:
Current Use:
Planned Use:
Current Owner:
835 Bay Marina Drive,
National City, CA 91950
Approximately 1.5 acres
Foundry, storage facility/
warehouse, sign manufacturing,
automotive repairs
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury,
Petroleum Hydrocarbons
Vacant land
Commercial (restaurants)
National City Community
Development Commission
Project Partners
U.S. EPA
* City of National City
* National City Community Development Commission
* Sycuan Tribal Development
MRW Group
Property History
This 1.5-acre property was home to various industrial
uses dating back to 1888, including: storage, a
warehouse for linseed cake meal, a facility for dyeing
and tanning cattle skins, manufacturing cabinets,
packing, manufacturing signs, repairing autos, and
most recently serving as a foundry. The property
has been vacant since the National City Community
Development Commission purchased the site in
1999 from a variety of private parties. A Phase II
Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) conducted
in February 2010 and funded through a forgivable
loan from the Center for Creative Land Recycling
(CCLR), detected elevated levels of arsenic, lead,
mercury and petroleum hydrocarbons. The source of
the contamination is unknown.
The Marina Gateway Plaza after renovation
Highlights
1.5 acre property identified as a key to Marina
Gateway redevelopment project
Burn ash discovered during demolition halted project
Phase II ESA found arsenic, lead, mercury and
petroleum hydrocarbons contamination
$200,000 EPA RLF sub grant solved a community
challenge and allowed economic development
activities to continue
Removal of contaminated soil completed in lanuary 2011
Site closure approval from the San Diego County
Department of Environmental Health expected in late
spring 2011
Drivers for Redevelopment
The Marina Gateway redevelopment project
comprises approximately 11 acres located at Interstate
5 and Bay Marina Drive in National City. The 1.5-
acre has been identified as a key to the Marina
Gateway redevelopment project. These 11 acres
were all used for industrial purposes, became vacant
brownfield sites, and subsequently became a focal
point for redevelopment in 1995 after the successful
approval of entitlements for the National City Marina.
The Marina Gateway Hotel and Plazaa 6.35-acre
project immediately south of the current project
sitewas cleaned up and the hotel, restaurant and
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commercial building on the site opened in 2009. The
next phase of development includes two components:
1) $4 million in public improvements on Bay
Marina Drive and intersecting streets. This
includes the construction of a public plaza
at the Historic Santa Fe Depot, which is
immediately west of the current project
site and home to the historic railroad
station that was the original terminus of the
Intercontinental Railroad.
2) The development of restaurants on two blocks
immediately north of the Marina Gateway
Hotel and Plaza; one of these blocks is the
project site. The commercial uses, specifically
restaurants, are desirable to enliven an area
that has been vacant and unutilized for more
than 10 years, transform the image to a key
city gateway, create jobs, and produce tax
revenues.
Project Results
The National City Community Development
Commission began demolition of two vacant
buildings on the project site in 2009. During the
demolition, burn ash was observed below the
foundation of one building. As a result, demolition
was immediately halted and an ES A was ordered
for the property. The Phase II ES A recommended
excavation of contaminated soil, sampling of
groundwater, and demolition of the remaining
foundations. In October 2009, EPA awarded
National City a Brownfields Cleanup Revolving
Loan Fund (RLF) grant. National City approved
an EPA RLF subgrant in the amount of $200,000
to the Community Development Commission on
July 6, 2010 for cleanup activities. Since that time
a competitive recruitment for consultants was
conducted and a work plan for the cleanup is being
completed by the selected consultant.
Removal of contaminated soils has been completed
and a request for site closure has been filed with the
Project Timeline
1994 Phase IESA conducted prior to acquisition by
the Community Development Commission
1995 11 acres in gateway area targeted for
redevelopment
1999 Community Development Commission
purchases the site
Community Development Commission starts
demolition of two vacant buildings on the site
Phase II ESA conducted on site
EPA RLF subgrant awarded
Removal of contaminated soil completed
2009
2/2010
7/2010
1/2011
Spring 2011 Site closure approval expected
San Diego County Department of Environmental
Health. The next step is demolition of foundations
near the burn ash site. The developer continues to
seek tenants for the site and adjacent streetscape
beautification has been completed by the city.
There is strong investor interest and high hopes
remain for project completion. Subsequent property
redevelopment will be funded by Sycuan Tribal
Development, in partnership with MRW Group (the
partnership known as Marina Gateway Development
Company).
Economic Challenges Encountered
The unique challenge of this site was that due to the
unknown cause of contamination no responsible
party could be found; therefore, there was no funding
source for the necessary cleanup. Clearing this site
of unsightly buildings was necessary to recruit end
users properly. However, the project faltered abruptly
when contamination was discovered during building
demolition. The EPA RLF solved a community
challenge that would have remained unresolved in
current economic conditions; it allowed economic
development activities to continue despite the
appearance of costly unexpected challenges.
For additional information, please contact:
Patricia Beard Redevelopment Manager/RLF Program Manager City of National City, CA (619)-336-4355
pbeard@nationalcityca.gov
Brownfields Region 9 Success Story
Marina Gateway, National City, CA
April 2011
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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