Around Lakeside – Lindo Lake surprise and Lakeside’s M.A.R.A.

Lakeside residents and the community in general have been waiting many years for the restoration of Lindo Lake, the namesake of our fair town.  The Lindo Lake Subcommittee has been working diligently for months now, trying to mold the many and often disparate ideas into one realistic and doable plan. The plan is now at the 90% stage. It’s almost done.

Lakeside residents and the community in general have been waiting many years for the restoration of Lindo Lake, the namesake of our fair town.  The Lindo Lake Subcommittee has been working diligently for months now, trying to mold the many and often disparate ideas into one realistic and doable plan. The plan is now at the 90% stage. It’s almost done.

While it is probable that no one will be in total agreement when the restoration is complete, it can be said that many will be largely surprised at one feature that has recently come to light: the necessary inclusion of a large, fenced siltation retention basin on the north side of the lake.

One of the main problems with maintaining the lake water is the silt (and other garbage) that builds up, generally a result of the natural and man-made runoff. A retention basin is required to gather and prevent the silt from entering the lake. Such a basin is designed so that it can be regularly cleaned out (by the County, in this case). For an example, one only has to look at the current retention basin at the east end of Lindo. 

A new siltation basin for the west end comes with the restoration; however, the initial design has now, unfortunately, been deemed as too small to be effectual. The new basin will be a narrow and fenced off feature, running parallel (but not right next to) Lakeshore Drive, from the dyke west to the end of the parking lot. There seems little way around this. Without this basin, the restoration will essential be a waste, as the new, clean lake will quickly degrade to its current condition. Then we will have to address the same issues – again.

Another concern is the designed landscaping. The plan calls for native plants and shrubs, but the issue is visibility. Many of these natives can grow quite large and become an obstruction. They could actually hide the lake from view and raise security problems that are inherent with such potential concealment. The process does call for an eventual review by the Sheriff’s Department, with an eye toward crime prevention through environmental design. This may solve the issue.

While the conclusion of the Lindo Lake restoration project is near, there are still a lot of unanswered questions: The lake will be dredged – where will the dredged materials go? Exactly what type of landscaping will be used? How long will the project take? And the restoration project must still undergo environmental review and eventual construction will be constrained by the bird breeding season. But progress is being made, so stay tuned.

Of note: Lakesiders will see drilling equipment arrive at Lindo Lake near the end of January, at the north end of the dyke and at the east end of the lake. The drilling will identify where the water table is currently. (FYI: estimates put the table at about seven feet; the investigation will go down to ten feet.)

Have you ever heard of M.A.R.A.? It stands for Maine Avenue Revitalization Association and it’s a very homegrown, very impactful organization.

If you haven’t heard about MARA, you have most certainly seen their work. Since 1992, they’ve been involved with Downtown Lakeside, supplying building awnings and paint, town murals, signage, dumpsters and trash receptacles – among many other civic improvements. Perhaps their most visible contribution to historic Downtown Lakeside: the undergrounding of utilities on Maine Avenue and the installation of old fashioned street lights. That project was a ten-year commitment that came to fruition in 2015.

MARA’s mission is straightforward: To revitalize and preserve Lakeside’s Historic Maine Avenue Business and Downtown District. A 501c3 non-profit community service organization, MARA is led by its co-founders, Betty McMillen, who you may recognize as one of the presidents of the Lakeside Historical Society. Betty is a constant and consistent voice for historic preservation in town. She volunteers her time and efforts to many a Lakeside group and cause. In 2016, the Chamber of Commerce for her unselfish dedication and commitment to the community honored Betty.

The impetus for MARA sprang from a 1992 County meeting in which Lakeside was described as blighted and a slum. Betty and Susan Manire were both in attendance and didn’t like what they heard. The two women decided something needed to be done to change that perception. They started to concentrate on the historic downtown and sponsored a street dance to kick off their fundraising drive. They earned enough to purchase some window awnings and paint two buildings. Each year they built upon their small successes until finally they attracted the attention and approval of County Supervisor Dianne Jacob. Ms. Jacob liked the potential of the MARA’s work and formed the Lakeside Revitalization Steering Committee, which still brings together community leaders and County staff to identify and solve nagging Lakeside issues.

If you want to get involved with MARA, you can contact Betty McMillen at (619) 443-1133 or you can email her at scoopmcmillen@aol.com.

Lakeside Bits & Pieces: The five unit project at 9145 Winter Gardens Blvd, approved seven years ago, has been given a two year extension by the Lakeside Community Planning Group (LCPG). Plans call for five dwellings on two acres at Winter Gardens and Pueblo Avenue, currently a vacant lot … The San Diego County Sanitation District is proposing a sewer rate increase to begin July 1, 2017 … From the Design Review Board: more apartments coming soon. An eight-unit complex at 12584 Laurel Street and a six-unit project at 12330 Lakeshore Drive are in the approval process.