This Week on the Central Coast…
Seaside adds signs to main roads, MPUSD helps teachers with housing, Marina High is getting a football field, and Mi Tierra is finally making progress on its renovation.
Monterey
Eight Large, Heart-Themed Artworks Donated to Shuman Hearthouse
Local artist Peter Hiller donated heart-themed artwork to the Shuman Hearthouse last week. The Shuman Hearthouse is a recently-opened home for women and families in need, providing a living space for up to six months, as well as meals and counseling. The organization added the artwork to each resident’s room and around the common rooms to provide some character and color.
“The artwork that was just recently added showcases hearts in different lights which (the program director) told us that it goes perfectly with the name of the organization.”
Seaside Considering New Signs and Lights
The city of Seaside discussed adding new signs at key intersections in order to draw more attention to various landmarks.
One sign will be at the southern end of General Jim Moore Boulevard at the gateway to Seaside from Del Rey Oaks. Another will be on the corner of Broadway Avenue and Del Monte Boulevard, directing people to the downtown area of Broadway. This intersection will also feature lights on the cypress tree growing there, meant to draw more attention to the sign and match the lighting on Broadway.
Four memorial benches are also going to be placed along General Jim Moore Boulevard, facing the ocean and meant to “help celebrate the views that Seaside offers.
MPUSD Suggests a Bond for Affordable Housing for Teachers
The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District is considering the proposal of a new bond that would help educators afford housing on the Central Coast. If they move forward with it, the bond will be on the November 2024 ballot and would need at least 55% voter approval.
The district explained that housing would help attract talented teachers to the area while retaining the ones we have now. Overall, this would strengthen our schools and provide consistency for students.
Mi Tierra Renovation Finally Making Progress
In the middle of 2022, the legendary market and taqueria, Mi Tierra, closed for remodeling. The plan was to reopen nearly a year later in the spring of 2023. However, that hasn’t happened.
Plans to completely renovate the interior were stalled when construction crews began “removing the asbestos-laden flooring tiles”. The old foundation beneath the floors was so poorly laid out that crews couldn’t simply cut in a straight line without fear of damaging the building’s structural integrity. The entire process had to be cut by hand.
The construction date was moved to August of last year, but then the building permit was pulled to make a change: the taqueria will be moved to the entrance.
Now, with everything in-order, construction has started again. And while the interior is being worked on, the project’s architect has begun plans for reworking the outside, including the parking lot.
Marina Will Finally Get a Football Field
Since Marina High School began operating in 2006, student athletes and fans have never experienced a true home game. The lack of sports fields has caused the football team to play at Monterey Peninsula College and the softball team to play at Los Arboles Middle School. The soccer teams alternated between Seaside High and Marina fields. Now, finally, Marina High School will be getting their own field.
The proposed project features “a combined football, soccer and baseball field with a quarter-mile running track around all the fields.”
The design also includes bleachers for both the football field and the baseball diamond, stadium lighting, a sound booth system, storage and concession stand. The student drop off area will also be moved to a newly redesigned upper parking lot, which consists of 60 spaces, including handicap and electric vehicle charging. A lower lot will consist of 44 spaces and a relocated basketball court, squash court, and a sand pit for beach volleyball.
The plans are still being worked on as the district and community discuss changes and agree on the plans.