SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego City Council members will meet later this month to discuss the sale of the Mission Valley stadium site.
Leaders will meet on May 29 to take action on the city's pending sale of the 132-acre site to San Diego State University, according to Council President Georgette Gómez.
Last week, school and city officials voiced frustration with the city over the delay in making a sale of the land when the issue was not placed on the May 19 docket.
RELATED: CSU: City is dragging its feet on Mission Valley stadium site
"This is the time to make this deal, now. Before we get mired in the economic mess of cutting budgets and looking at all the projects that could potentially be cut. The time is now for the city to take advantage of this," said California State University Board of Trustee Member Jack McGrory. "To realize $87 million in acquisition proceeds. To take a $12 million stadium liability away from them and put it on the CSU side ... but we need to do it now. And we're not going to wait any longer. We're not going to go back to extended, endless negotiation."
Then this week, the city approved a contract extension for the law firm tasked with facilitating the land sale on the city's behalf. The law firm — Kane, Ballmer & Berkman — was initially contracted for $250,000 to assist city attorneys and complete the sale.
Tuesday's amendment added another $150,000 to the bill.
RELATED: Council extends legal team's contract for SDSU stadium sale
Now days later, Gómez says the council is ready to make a move on the issue.
"As Council President, I am pleased to be able to call a special Council meeting on what will be a historic opportunity to transform one of San Diego’s communities. I have worked hard during the past few weeks to ensure the best chance for a successful agreement," Gómez said. "As an SDSU graduate, I am elated to play a role in helping my alma mater expand its institutional footprint, enhance its educational prestige, increase our supply of workforce and student housing, and create a River Park for all San Diegans."
The sale of the land to SDSU will pave the way for the school to begin construction on the 35,000-seat capacity Aztec Stadium.
RELATED: Aztec Stadium plan approved, leaving sale of Mission Valley land (and pandemic) left
The sale also allows SDSU to start developing a Mission Valley campus, which will also include an innovation district for school education, research, entrepreneurial, technology, and athletics programs; a river park; about 4,600 residences, 400 hotel rooms, 95,000 square feet of community-serving retail space; and public transit.
"SDSU Mission Valley is critical to the future of our university and enables SDSU to expand its economic and educational impact in our region," said SDSU President Adela de la Torre. "SDSU leadership worked diligently with the City over the past 18 months to reach a fair and balanced agreement that protects the public interests we both serve. We look forward to the Council’s consideration of this agreement and to making this project a reality."
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The sale was approved by voters in November 2018 under Measure G.
