East Harbor Island Redevelopment
As part of efforts to enhance and activate the San Diego Bayfront, the Port of San Diego is working to redevelop portions of East Harbor Island, adding public access and commercial recreation where there is not any today. This area offers an unbeatable combination of water access, stunning coastal views, and proximity to San Diego International Airport. Harbor Island currently offers land and water recreation – paddle boarding, sailing, jet-skiing, bike riding and more – along with premier restaurants and hotels.
Your Request for Proposal (RFP)
To stay informed about the East Harbor Island Waterfront Development Opportunity, register as a vendor on PlanetBids.
To review relevant Board of Port Commissioners Policies regarding this opportunity:
Want to reach out directly?
- James Hammel, Department Manager, Real Estate
- Stella Karl-Ruiz, Asset Manager, Real Estate
Current Phase - Draft EIR Public Review & Comment
The Port of San Diego is the lead agency in preparing the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed East Harbor Island Redevelopment/Topgolf and Waterfront Park Project. The Draft EIR is now available for public review and comment.
- Online: portofsandiego.org/public-records/port-updates/notices-disclosures/ceqa-documents
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In person at the Port of San Diego Office of the District Clerk, 3165 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101 or at the San Diego Central Library at 330 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101.
The public comment period closes at 5 p.m. on August 24, 2026. Written comment letters stating specific environmental concerns with the Draft EIR can be emailed to mhamilton@portofsandiego.org or mailed to the Port of San Diego, Attn: Megan Hamilton, Development Services Department, 3165 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101-1128.
Next Steps
To date, no project, including the proposed Topgolf facility, has been approved by the Board of Port Commissioners. Port staff will review the comments received on the Draft EIR and responses to these comments will be incorporated into a Final EIR. In late 2026, Port staff anticipate taking the Final EIR and a Port Master Plan Amendment (if the Port Master Plan Update isn’t certified) to the Board for consideration. For the proposed Topgolf portion of the project, staff will also bring an Option to Lease agreement to the Board for consideration. Additionally, Port staff anticipate issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for parcels adjacent to Topgolf. The timeline for issuance of the RFP is to be determined.
East Harbor Island Redevelopment/Topgolf and Waterfront Park Project
The East Harbor Island Redevelopment/Topgolf and Waterfront Park project calls for a new public waterfront park and public promenade, an entertainment district anchored by Topgolf, and supporting infrastructure. The site is in the east basin area of Harbor Island adjacent to Harbor Police Headquarters and across from the airport. It is currently used for off-airport surface parking, rental car facility operations, and temporary airport construction support operations. The project proposes the following:
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New public waterfront park (10.1 acres) with a 20-foot-wide waterfront promenade and active and passive uses (such as plaza areas, a pavilion, playgrounds, cultural uses, seating, shade structures, public art, and restrooms)
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Entertainment district (16.5 acres) with Topgolf (9.8 acres see more details below) and additional “eatertainment” concepts that are to be determined via a competitive public solicitation process
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Realignment of Liberator Way, which would also include new public parking, pedestrian sidewalks, planting buffers, reconfiguration and/or modification of intersections at North Harbor Drive and Harbor Island Drive, and landscaping and supporting public infrastructure and utilities
Topgolf Proposal
Topgolf operates golf-themed restaurant, entertainment, and party venues across the country. The proposed East Harbor Island site is the southwest corner of North Harbor Drive and Liberator Way.
Topgolf venues feature high-tech gaming, outdoor hitting bays, chef-driven menus, hand-crafted cocktails, music, corporate and social event spaces, and more. For the proposed East Harbor Island location, Topgolf is proposing a three-story venue housing over 100 hitting bays with an event/stage area, outdoor patios, additional games and entertainment, and more. Topgolf will also contribute toward the public infrastructure around the site such as parks and promenades.
On December 5, 2023, the Board of Port Commissioners authorized staff to sign a non-binding term sheet with Topgolf, which provides staff with a negotiating framework for any potential future real estate or lease agreement to be submitted for future consideration by the Board.
Sunroad Harbor Island East Hotel
In addition to the proposed entertainment district anchored by Topgolf and new waterfront park and promenade, Sunroad HIE Hotel Partners, L.P. is planning to develop Sunroad Harbor Island East Hotel on an approximately 7.55-acre site on what's known as the Elbow Parcel at the northeast corner of Harbor Island Drive and East Harbor Island Drive west of Safe Harbor Sunroad Marina.
The project includes a 450-room hotel with two yet-to-be-determined brands: a 12-level wing with extended stay rooms and a 15-level wing with limited-service rooms. Amenities open to the public would include a walk-up restaurant and bar area accessible via the sidewalk on Harbor Island Drive, designated public parking spaces, a 15-foot-wide waterfront promenade, and temporary and permanent mini destinations to draw people to and through the hotel and amenities by creating various activating uses, such as artwork, benches, mobile carts for retail/specialty items and/or food and game/exercise spots. Amenities for hotel guests include an outdoor swimming pool with a jacuzzi spa and outdoor private function space, a fitness center, retail shops, and meeting rooms and ballrooms.
Harbor Island Redevelopment Timeline
Port issues public solicitation for the redevelopment area on East Harbor Island consisting of the East Basin Industrial Subarea and Elbow Site.
Board of Port Commissioners moves forward two proposals, OliverMcMillan, Inc. and Sunroad Enterprises (Sunroad).
Board directs staff to enter into an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Sunroad for the Elbow Site and OliverMcMillan for the East Basin Industrial Subarea on Harbor Island.
Board receives an update and provides direction to staff to work with OliverMcMillan to include a consolidated Harbor Police Headquarters, but not a replacement Port Administration Building, in their development program for the East Basin Industrial Subarea.
Sunroad delivers its first submittal to Port staff, which requires a preliminary project description, preliminary site plan, and development cost estimate and pro forma financial analysis.
Sunroad delivers its second submittal, which requires a detailed project description, site plan, colored architectural exterior elevations, and at least three conceptual renderings and a detailed Pro Forma.
OM submits its first submittal.
OM notifies Port staff it is withdrawing from the OM ENA for the East Basin Industrial Subarea.
Sunroad submits its revised second submittal.
Port staff presents Sunroad’s latest redevelopment proposal for preliminary project review and Board feedback and receives direction from the Board to begin environmental review of the proposed project.
Board grants Sunroad an Option to Lease Agreement (Option) for a 66-year lease as well as an Addendum to the 2014 Revised Final Environmental Impact Report.
Board grants concept approval and authorizes issuance of a Coastal Development Permit for Sunroad's 450-room hotel development.
Port enters into a two-year Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Topgolf for their proposed project on the north basin side of East Harbor Island.
Board votes to advance the proposed Topgolf project to environmental review.
A Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report and Port Master Plan Amendment is issued for the East Harbor Island/Topgolf Redevelopment project.
The Board of Port Commissioners directs staff to issue one or more Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to create an entertainment district on a portion of eastern Harbor Island and authorizes staff to sign a non-binding term sheet with Topgolf.
Port publishes Draft EIR for public review and comment. Comment period closes August 24.