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Update on Vacant 918 Orange Ave. Expanding Burger Lounge?

Update 4/29/2012: Thank you to Mr. J. Dean Loring, President and CEO of Burger Lounge Restaurants, who sent me this information regarding this space on Orange Avenue.

"I saw your story on eCoronado and wanted to let you know we tried for several weeks to work with the City to expand Burger Lounge into a portion of that space as we share the landlord, Mrs. Perley. The City informed us that parking is the primary issue and would not grant the permit for our proposed expansion. It makes no sense but the parking ordinance appears to have been created to prevent restaurant companies from converting existing retail to restaurant use."

Yours,

Dean

J. Dean Loring President-CEO

Burger Lounge Restaurants

Is there anything happening at the lifeless corner of 918 Orange Avenue? Well after a little digging, eCoronado.com can confirm…not much at all. As reported in a previous eCoronado.com post, there were rumors going around that the vacant space between Burger Lounge and the 76 Gas Station was going to turn into a jam shop. After dispelling this rumor, this prime piece of real estate on our main street remains unclaimed.

However, the property might be divided into two future retail spaces. Taking a clue from the rather large sign in the window of the building, I asked Miss Sheryll Jackman, of the Coronado based construction company, The Jackman Group, if she could elaborate about the current status of this property. She informed me that, “There have been no definitive decisions on the tenant mix in the two spaces that have been created as far as we know.”

Miss Jackman suggested that I contact Mrs. Jacqueline Perley, of P & G Properties. During our telephone conversation last week, Mrs. Perley advised me that there aren’t any concrete plans for 918 Orange Avenue.

Bianca Valle

Online Editorial Intern

eCoronado.com

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Tags: business, community

4 members like this

Comment by Suzette Valle on April 28, 2012 at 11:23am: This is interesting. Should this single retail space become two, that would make for a challenging block to try to park around.

Comment by Kelley Kraft Casey on April 29, 2012 at 10:00pm: It seems that parking is always at a premium on that block. It might as well be Burger Lounge in that spot, which is successful and brings business to Coronado. How was Panera allowed to expand?

Comment by Mayor Casey Tanaka on April 29, 2012 at 10:06pm: Panera has a parking lot that allows it provide the required number of parking spaces according to our municipal code. Most commercial properties on Orange Ave, like the one described in this article, lack the required extra parking off of their alley entrances to provide the required number of spaces that opening a restaurant would require. In order for Burger Lounge to expand into the space next to it, new parking spaces would be required.

Photo Star Comment by SBGrad on April 30, 2012 at 5:51am: I live here, I get it, we don't want to turn the island over to cars, but many of us walk and don't NEED parking spaces to get to places on Orange.

...how can there have been enough parking for a pharmacy, but not for a restaurant? The space is already commercial, it's not like somebody wants to take residential space and convert it to commercial. Maybe the code needs to be changed. The council CAN do that, right?

Comment by Mayor Casey Tanaka on April 30, 2012 at 8:49am: Councilwoman Carrie Downey requested that the Council review its parking requirements for Orange Ave and a majority agreed to take up this review in the coming months.

Comment by Suzette Valle on April 30, 2012 at 9:06am: That's the spirit, Mayor Tanaka and Councilwoman Downey! I agree parking is a great concern all over town -- take this from someone living in the Cays who can't walk up to the village. I was wondering if any arrangments could be entertained to share parking with the lot across the street (where the new Walgreens will be opening) or Vons. This maybe hard to negotiate between tenents, but it would aleviate the parking hassles in the area for patrons. Just an idea...

Comment by Mayor Casey Tanaka on April 30, 2012 at 10:21am: Valet parking will likely be one of the points we will discuss. There is parking in the Bank of America building that could be utilized in such a way if there is the willingness to consider such an approach.

Comment by Jeffrey Atencio on April 30, 2012 at 11:26am: The answer is obvious. I'm going to address a solution to Mayor Tanaka. Comments welcome. As I recall, the problem in Coronado has always been a lack of parking space, even in the 70's. It's time for the city to be proactive and build an underground parking garage or an above ground low key garage to help with these parking problems. I would suggest property south of the Del and have a shuttle run loops between the garage, beach and down to First street shopping areas. Thank you. Michael Atencio

Comment by Jeffrey Atencio on April 30, 2012 at 11:34am: As an addendum to my previous post money would come from charging a small parking fee and adding a 1 cent sales tax to help pay for the project. There are people friendly solutions by opening our minds to the possibilities.

Comment by Mayor Casey Tanaka on April 30, 2012 at 12:40pm: People do not always use the structures you build for them with regard to parking. I've noticed that problem in North Park. The location and cost are also factors to consider.

Comment (keep it clean & on topic)