The repurposing of an off-track betting facility into a mixed-use building that would also house a nearly 1,900-seat concert venue at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is a step closer to reality after unanimous approval by the 22nd District Agricultural Association board of directors.
The board members cast their votes Tuesday for moving ahead with the plan after hearing from a Solana Beach councilwoman and the mayor of Del Mar, Terry Sinnott. San Diego County residents also signed up to speak about their opposition to the project, some addressing concerns about traffic and security, among other issues associated with the building that's now know as the Surfside Race Place.
"The improvements proposed for the project are all internal and primarily consist of renovating the existing space inside by partitioning or dividing the areas to provide adequate space for a concert venue and a history of beer exhibit," according to a report prepared by Dustin Fuller, a supervising environmental planner with the district.
Fuller's report also stated that sound-deadening work would be done on the building to prevent noise from escaping from Surfside.
The board will now seek private funding to finance the project, which is estimated will cost in the range of $13 million.
"In this step, we can search for funding and present the idea to the government agencies involved with the fairgrounds," fairgrounds representative Shawn Feist told NBC 7.
