San Diego Land Use Committee Advances $4.2B Midway Rising Project to Full Council as City Considers $50M Wastewater Loan

Land Use and Housing Committee Forwards $4.2B Midway Rising Master Plan

SAN DIEGO, California — Marking a transformative milestone for regional urban redevelopment, the San Diego City Council Land Use and Housing Committee voted unanimously on October 16, 2026, to advance the comprehensive master development and lease agreement for Midway Rising to the full City Council. The proposed $4.2 billion project encompasses 48.5 acres of city-owned property surrounding the Pechanga Arena, delivering over 4,200 residential units—including approximately 2,000 deed-restricted affordable homes—a modern 16,000-seat sports arena, and roughly $460 million in public infrastructure upgrades.

Committee members and community planning groups evaluated detailed provisions ensuring that affordable housing commitments deliver net-new units, while mandating developer investments in localized stormwater drainage and multimodal transit connectivity.

City Council Evaluates $50 Million Loan for Critical Wastewater Modernization

Ahead of its upcoming full legislative session, council members prepared to vote on authorizing up to $50 million in State Revolving Fund financing dedicated to the Pump Station 2 Improvement and Modernization Project. Located along Harbor Drive, Pump Station 2 serves as the vital operational backbone of the metropolitan sewer system, transporting millions of gallons of daily wastewater to the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Municipal public utilities engineers noted that the comprehensive mechanical overhaul reinforces backup electrical generators, replaces aging pumps, and fortifies coastal transmission mains against severe marine weather events.

Council Evaluates Executive Appointment and Campaign Transparency Reforms

In municipal administration, the City Council docketed confirmation hearings for the appointment of Bethany Bezak as the City of San Diego’s next Chief Operating Officer (COO). Concurrently, the council’s Rules Committee reviewed major election integrity updates under the Election Campaign Control Ordinance (ECCO), advancing measures to eliminate perpetual fundraising and mandate strict transparency disclosures identifying independent expenditure committees and campaign advertisements.