Chula Vista is turning the tides of its once-industrial waterfront

Gaylord Pacific (Marriott International)

As Rohr Aircraft Corporation moved their factory to Chula Vista’s bayfront amidst World War II, it would transform the bayfront into a heart of industry, creating jobs and expanding the city. Following the end of the war, SDG&E would build the South Bay Power Plant in 1960 to satisfy the growing demands of the city. However, by the turn of the century, these sites would gradually fall into disuse, sitting derelict beside the San Diego Bay. But there was a vision.

In 2002, the Port of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista signed a joint planning agreement to revitalize the 530-acre bayfront. This agreement culminated in the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan, which was unanimously approved by the California Coastal Commission in August 2012.

Bayfront Master Plan Illustrative (City of Chula Vista and Port of San Diego)

The plan would repurpose the Bayfront into a tourism and recreational destination, permitting the construction of hotels and resorts, commercial spaces, parks and campgrounds, and nature reserves.

Action would be taken almost immediately. In February 2013, the South Bay Power Plant would be demolished to make way for a future resort and conference center. Construction, however, would not commence until 2022.

Development would start with the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center, a 22-story 1,600-room resort and convention center development being developed by Houston-based RIDA Development and built for Marriott-owned Gaylord Entertainment. Beginning construction in 2022 and eventually completed in 2025, it was built as the catalyst for future development on the Bayfront. And development would come.

Gaylord Pacific in August 2025 (Benji Comiskey / BuildSD)

The Amara Bay development, located not far from the resort, is a currently under-construction condo community. It is expected to house 1,500 residents, and will feature a 250-room hotel and over 400,000 square feet of office space. It is being developed by San Diego-based Pacifica Companies.

It was to be built in tandem with the opening of the Gaylord Pacific resort. Construction began on the project in 2024, primarily consisting of road and infrastructure improvements to the surrounding area. However, it is currently unknown when the construction of the towers themselves will begin.

Rendering of Amara Bay (Pacifica Companies)

The Bayfront isn’t just all hotels and condos, though. The plan has also dedicated 230 acres of land to parks, open space, and nature preserves. It will also see the construction of bike trails and pedestrian-oriented promenades which will link the Bayfront together.

The most recent endeavor by the Port of San Diego is upgrading and expanding Harbor Park, formerly known as Bayside Park, from 12 acres to around 25 acres. The brand-new 12-acre south end of the park will be developed first, featuring a new playground, splash pad, and new bike paths and pedestrian links to E Street and H Street. The existing 12 acres at the north end of the park will be upgraded later, though funding for this has not yet been identified.

Harbor Park South Phase plan (Port of San Diego)

Looking toward the south, Chula Vista and the Port of San Diego have discussed adding to the Master Plan the Pangea project, an ambitious proposal to convert the Otay District of the Bayfront Master Plan into a 124-acre sports and recreation complex. Proposed by Pangea Development to the port in February 2024, it would feature an elite tennis facility in collaboration with a yet-to-be-named athlete, an IMAX theater, a water polo academy, four hotels, retail spaces, three office buildings, and a public trail.

Also up for consideration is an 80,000-seat multi-use stadium that may be built in a future stage of development. Previously on this site, the same developers proposed a 50,000-seat MLS stadium, however, this proposal eventually fell flat.

With the new Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan, both the Port of San Diego and City of Chula Vista aim to create a world-class destination along the San Diego Bay, which Chula Vista anticipates will create more than 2,200 permanent jobs, around 7,000 construction jobs, and generate approximately $1.3 billion for the regional economy.