Redevelopment of Channel Islands Harbor hotel likely to move forward

California Coastal Commission approves impending development notice for waterfront project.

CHULA VISTA — Plans to tear down and redevelop a dilapidated hotel property in the heart of Channel Islands Harbor earned a Notice of Impending Development by the California Coastal Commission, June 8. The notice would allow Ventura County to move forward with its planned hotel redevelopment of a portion of the Oxnard waterfront at Channel Islands Harbor.

The project is located at the end of Peninsula Road and in the heart of Channel Islands Harbor.

Casa Sirena was originally built in 1972 as a moderately priced four-building hotel accommodation. The hotel, which comprised of 274 rooms, was redeveloped in 2006. A 90-room portion of the hotel property was rebranded as a Hampton Inn, but the rest of the hotel property, according to Coastal Commission staff, continued to suffer a slow but sure decline. The hotel was boarded up on 2009 and become non-operational.

Current redevelopment plans call for the dilapidated hotel (and adjacent Lobster Trap restaurant space) to be torn down and replaced with a new overnight lodging venue (and neighboring eatery). The new hotel would feature 210 rooms in a 55-foot high structure and occupy 203,011 square feet along the Channel Islands Harbor waterfront.

“These are amenities that will help make the proposed hotel more accessible to a broader range of the public by allowing visitors to better afford staying at the proposed accommodation,” Coastal Commission staff stated in a report to commissioners.

Other new amenities would include a public plaza in between the hotel and restaurant, as well as a new waterfront promenade along the southern and western edges of the property.

A new boater restroom will also be built adjacent to the new hotel development.

The existing 390-space parking lot would be reconfigured and feature 11 fewer slots.

Users of Peninsula Yacht Marina would share the parking lot

Ventura County previously tried to redevelop the Casa Sirena site, but economic conditions at the time prevented any construction projects from moving forward. The county has long sought to improve the Channel Islands Harbor area, in general.

“The previous redevelopment plan was killed in the 2008 recession,” former Ventura County Harbor Department Director Lyn Kreiger told commissioners.

Coastal Commission staff added the redevelopment project would not harm or inhibit boater access to the harbor.

“The project is located at the southern terminus of Peninsula Road adjacent to the waterfront and existing marinas,” Coastal Commission staff stated. “[Ventura County’s] Harbor Department has confirmed that access to the existing boating slips and operation of existing marina facilities will be available during construction of the development.

“Furthermore, the Harbor Department has confirmed that access to the boating slips and operation of the marina facilities will be available after construction of the proposed project,” Coastal Commission staff continued.

The Coastal Commission’s June meetings were held at Chula Vista’s City Council Chambers, June 6-8.

 

2 thoughts on “Redevelopment of Channel Islands Harbor hotel likely to move forward

  • April 28, 2020 at 2:53 pm
    Permalink

    Please tell me this is still happening!

    Reply
  • May 20, 2020 at 8:19 pm
    Permalink

    I would like to purchase a statue from there because I was married there and it would be sentimental.

    Reply

Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *