City of Marina Accelerates Its Conversion from Blight to Vitality

Your Chamber’s Economic Vitality Committee met on August 4 and discussed the many ongoing and planned developments in and around the City of Marina as the city removes blighted Fort Ord buildings.

More than half of Sea Haven (formerly Marina Heights) is built and about half of The Dunes is built. The Dunes Promenade mixed-use development under construction will include an elevated bar called The Brass Tap and a specialty grocery yet to be officially identified. Adjacent to that development will be another development that may include restoration of the abandoned long brick building visible from Highway 1. The proposed Cypress Knolls mixed-use development will soon come before the Marina City Council. In the longer-term, expect a proposal for the Marina Station development, implementation of a Downtown Specific Plan, and density housing at the Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) Marina Transit Exchange.

The newly-opened Hampton Inn in Marina has had 87% occupancy in its first six months of operation, including 93% in the last 30 days, according to the general manager. A Home2 Suites is under construction. Site work has begun for a dual hotel development at the intersection of Imjin Road and Highway 1 (The Dunes Phase 1A).

Joby Aviation continues to thrive at the Marina Municipal Airport. And on July 15, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) and the City of Marina hosted an Imjin Parkway Widening & Roundabout Project Kick-Off Event.

Adjacent to city limits, most of the East Garrison development in unincorporated Monterey County is complete, with the exception of a section of blighted buildings that is planned for transformation into an Historic Arts District. The City of Marina may pursue annexation of East Garrison. And a new feasibility study is underway for the UC Santa Cruz MBEST (Monterey Bay Education Science and Technology Center) site.

The Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce believes the economic transformation of the City of Marina is a positive development for the future of the region.

Marina Coast Water District Extends Offer to City of Monterey for Water Supply to Allow New Housing for Ordinary Households and Individuals

Your Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce submitted background material to the Monterey City Council in advance of its August 1 discussion of potential cooperation with the Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) in supplying water for future housing needs. Among the highlights of the discussion was the possibility of retrofitting a small desalination plant on Reservation Road that the water district operated intermittently from 1997 through 2003. This 300 acre-feet per year capacity desalination plant uses a well in the dunes that extracts brackish water from a shallow aquifer, similar to how the 300 acre-feet per year capacity Sand City desalination plant obtains its water.

More water is key for the City of Monterey to pursue its state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Allocation of 3,654 new residential units by the end of 2031. The City of Monterey hosted its “Monterey 2031 Community Open House for the Draft Housing Element & Draft Environmental Impact Report Scoping Meeting” on August 7. As noted in the presentation entitled Addressing Barriers to Housing, “additional water supply is expected starting in 2025, ramping up incrementally." To prioritize water for affordable housing projects, City will develop a methodology for allocating water credits and additional supply that consider the overall size of the project, the number of affordable units proposed, and the level of affordability proposed.

montereychamber.com

RIBBON CUTTING: Nematic Gallery and Daisy Rose Gallery

Thursday, August 10 | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Dolores Street, Carmel-By-The-Sea (between Ami and Toro Sushi)

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21st Annual Leadership Luncheon presented by Aera Energy

Wednesday, September 6 | 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Portola Hotel & Spa | Monterey

$75 Members | $90 Prospective Members

Presented by Aera Energy, our 21st Annual Leadership Luncheon gives community leaders, local business owners and engaged citizens an opportunity to gain further insight into the current business climate on the Monterey Peninsula.

An impressive panel of federal, state and local elected officials cover topics such as: new projects taking place in their jurisdictions, new business coming to the region and important issues that have impact on the future viability of our local economy.

Register Now >>

CORRECTION: This week, a postcard was sent to Members regarding the 21st Annual Leadership Luncheon. One side of the post card included last year's date & information.

The 21st Annual Leadership Luncheon will be held Wednesday, September 6, 2023 from 11:30 AM until 1:30 PM at the Portola Hotel & Spa.

We apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused.

We will be sending a corrected postcard in the coming days.

Treasure Hunt: The Ride Is NOW OPEN On Cannery Row!

Treasure Hunt: The Ride celebrated its grand opening on Cannery Row. Guests came together for a pirate party in the courtyard by the ride's entrance. The team would like to thank everyone who came out, as well as the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Visit Cannery Row, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Oscar's Playground, DMT Imaging, and Glastonbury AV for their help in ensuring a great time was had by all. 

Car Week Is Coming! Friday, August 11 - Sunday, August 20, 2023

Nearly 90,000 visitors are expect to visit the Monterey Peninsula for one of the year's most anticipated events: Car Week. The economic impact of events like Car Week on our Members and the local business community can not be understated.

Here's too a happy & prosperous Car Week for all!

Car Week kicks off this Friday, August 11. Visit the See Monterey's Monterey Car Week Travel Information pagee for all things Car Week, including an interactive event map.

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