Operation Oceanside

Since 2007, the city of Oceanside has been crafting a plan to update the streets of Oceanside and bring improvements to their residents. Though actual renovations for the Coast Highway Vision and Strategic Plan (as it is known) did not begin until recently, the changes are predicted to have both short term and long term benefits to Oceanside.

Among the redevelopment plans are a hotel on the bluff, downtown links to the waterfront and pier, 288 low-income housing units (a development by the I-5 called Mission Cove) and a plan to help new small businesses thrive. In total, the project encompasses approximately 485 gross acres of land in Oceanside.

Also under renovation is the Oceanside Transit Center, which is undergoing a series of upgrades worth $24 million. Once everything is completed, this new and improved train center will include three tracks, a new platform and better amenities. Currently underway, the project has a late 2017 completion time. This particular train and bus station is one of the most widely-used in the state––it’s the southernmost point for L.A.’s MetroLink, and the northernmost point for San Diego’s Coaster––and the expansion will help make an Oceanside commute more enjoyable for riders.

Though the initial plan for Oceanside’s growth focuses intently on a nine-block area (bound by The Strand, Cleve- land Street, Seagaze Drive and Civic Center Drive), the goal is to revitalize Oceanside as a whole, bringing it back to the shining example of a coastal city that it used to be. Originally brimming with residents and tourists alike, Oceanside attracted flocks of people as far back as the 1920s. Forty years later, however, the Vietnam War drew protesters to nearby Camp Pendleton, and the further south city of Carlsbad began to thrive; Oceanside’s status as a prominent coastal town was quickly lost. Nowadays, many Oceanside neighborhoods are lower-income and plagued with crime and gang violence, something the city of Oceanside hopes the renovations will change. 

The renovations have been in motion for years; around the time of the recession, a plan to update and improve Oceanside began to take shape. Though that plan was initially postponed due to the country’s economic downturn, the city is slowly moving forward with their efforts to build up Oceanside into a thriving seaside town.

One unique aspect of the proposed renovations includes "nodes" (or activity areas) at specific intersections. These nodes are pieces of beauty in the middle of the city, with wide sidewalks and bulb-outs at corners. Each of the four nodes will have a unique identity––whether that be entertainment-driven, artistic, hospitable, etc.

Oceanside is also designing a new Arts, Technology and Environment District between Wisconsin Avenue and Oceanside Boulevard. The district is meant to emphasize Oceanside’s unique Southern California identity: an eclectic, creative and innovative beachside city. The new district provides for a concentration of studios for artists, galleries, professionals, software designers and more within easy walking distance.

The city is hopeful these new developments will turn Oceanside around. The goal of the Coast Highway Vision and Strategic Plan is to turn Oceanside into a pedestrian-friendly and transit-oriented city that will benefit both the local community and incoming travelers. By filling in some of the empty lots and storefronts, the city hopes to attract small businesses, which will ultimately promote jobs and economic growth for the city.

With Oceanside crowning San Diego proper, revitalization sets the stage for all who live and enter the county from the north. The full, 118-page document detailing Oceanside’s upcoming revitalization goals is available on- line at cityofoceanside.com. 

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