The city of San Diego is eyeing the overflow parking lot of a popular tennis and pickleball center in Point Loma as a potential site for more affordable housing, sparking a heated debate. At the same time, an investigation by the city auditor concluded the facility’s conversion and use of that lot is illegal. The Barnes Tennis Center’s overflow lot is one of 11 city-owned sites the city of San Diego has identified for potential development in its Affordable Home Development Master Plan, aimed at addressing the housing and homelessness crisis. Barnes sent an email to its community members on Thursday, asking for advocacy against the proposal. “This parking is crucial to keeping the facility accessible to the community,” the email reads in part. “It’s how thousands of players, families, and visitors reach the courts every week, and it supports the daily programming, junior development, and tournaments Barnes hosts across tennis, pickleball, and padel.” “We were up in arms,” said Cheryl McGrory, who plays at Barnes a few times a week. “It should not be used for a high-rise. It’s a designated facility to serve underprivileged youth.” “I have mixed emotions,” added Sean Keigwin, who also plays there. “I do want more affordable housing for people, obviously, like rent is crazy in San Diego. [But] Barnes does a great thing for the community.” “The Barnes Tennis Center and the ten other sites are only being considered for further study at this time,” a city planning department spokesman said in a statement in part. “There are no proposed development projects, nor have there been any decisions made regarding any of the sites.” The planning department went on to say that the city will consider feedback as it develops its draft plan and residents will have the opportunity to review that draft plan before any decisions are made. But that lot has also drawn the scrutiny of another city department: the auditor’s office, which just released a 53-page report finding Barnes illegally turned the natural landscape of that lot into gravel parking without permits, and continued to use it as parking after the city told Barnes to stop in 2024. Barnes’ chief operating officer declined an on-camera interview request but said the organization is working on a response to those allegations in the coming days. The investigation came after a complaint to the auditor’s fraud hotline, according to the report, which included a photo of banners neighbors hung from their homes next to the lot that read “illegal parking” and “our kids are breathing your dust.” “It’s always crowded on the weekends,” said Lydia LaManna, who lives behind the lot. “And then there are car alarms going off, people getting towed, people fighting over spots.” “It can be very annoying all day long having people parked out there and, like, right outside our unit,” added Michael Pollmow. Both said the pickleball noise all day is grating, and the addition of the lot has been insult to injury. “I definitely miss when it was just a field,” LaManna said. Another neighbor, though, said he didn’t mind the lot. “I’ve never really thought twice about it. I walk my dog over there,” said Andrew Ashour. “I couldn’t possibly imagine it not being a parking lot. I don’t know where else people would park for, you know, some of their bigger events.” On the housing proposal, residents’ reactions were mixed. “I wonder if it would be quieter than hearing pickleball from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” LaManna said. “Perhaps I would be OK with that.” “I personally wouldn’t be a big fan of that,” Pollmow said. “If I could have my way, it would be nice if that were turned back to a natural lot like it was before.” “I think there should be more affordable housing in general,” Ashour said. “Rent’s way too high. And if that is, like, quite literally in my backyard, then hell, I’m for it.” Barnes’ COO said he didn’t think anyone in the organization opposes affordable housing but said they believe there’s a place to build it that would not impact their work in the community. ...read more read less