Developer Smackdown in San Diego

A real estate developer in San Diego is turning activist, claiming a new residential development isn't working within the community guidelines. San Diego CityBeat suspects something else is happening here.

1 minute read

June 5, 2008, 7:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


"It's not every day that one real-estate developer bankrolls a public offensive against another real-estate developer, but that's what's going on in Mission Valley, where two San Diego-based firms are engaged in a high-stakes battle over 230 acres of land north of Friars Road.

For more than six years, Sudberry Properties has been working on an ambitious plan to develop land currently used for rock mining into a new community called Quarry Falls."

"But seemingly out of nowhere, in early 2007, came the H.G. Fenton Company, long a major player in the Mission Valley real-estate game, with complaints about traffic.

The conversation started with a voicemail left on a Sudberry telephone and turned into face-to-face talks, said Marco Sessa, Sudberry's vice president for development.

"We thought we were at a good place," Sessa said. But then nine months later, the day before Sudberry was scheduled to make a presentation in front of the Mission Valley Unified Planning Committee's Design Advisory Board, Fenton "showed up with consultants, with PR guys, attorneys-you name it-coming after us. We've been at odds ever since.""

Tuesday, June 3, 2008 in San Diego CityBEAT

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

April 30 - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30 - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

April 30 - Next City