Imperial Beach accepts 13th Street Corridor improvement plan; Central Elementary redevelopment highlighted

The City Council accepted an informational presentation on March 4 of the 13th Street Corridor Improvement Plan, a planning document that aims to reframe roughly 1.3 miles of 13th Street as a multi‑modal boulevard with improved sidewalks, lighting, trees and design prototypes to support housing and local businesses.

Community Development Director Todd Phillips introduced consultant Diego Velasco, who said the plan grew from a SANDAG housing acceleration planning grant and more than a year of outreach including walkabouts, pop‑ups, targeted interviews, a builder’s breakfast and an open house. "The purpose of that plan is... to find opportunities to enhance 13th Street," Velasco said, outlining a market analysis, mobility study and three corridor segments (South Corridor, neighborhood core, Bayside gateway).

The report included prototype building types that the market study found most feasible — townhomes and garden apartments — and tools for implementation such as financing districts, development fees and grant programs. Velasco identified Central Elementary (recently announced for closure by the district) as a potential catalyst site where school‑district partnership could yield housing plus public benefits such as a one‑acre park.

Council members praised the outreach and visuals, urged keeping locally meaningful art and decorations, emphasized the importance of parking and lighting improvements to support businesses, and suggested branding ideas (some members suggested honoring the community’s Navy history). Staff said the item was informational and no formal action or vote was required; the council accepted the presentation and asked staff to retain the plan as a tool for future grant applications and project development.