Mission Bay Motel up for sale for first time

A Pacific Beach Landmark Is Up for Grabs After 60 Years

If you have been walking Mission Boulevard long enough to remember when gas cost a quarter, you might also remember when the Mission Bay Motel first opened its doors. Built in 1945, the 50-room motel at 4221 Mission Blvd has been under the same ownership for more than six decades. Now, for the first time since Eisenhower was in the White House, it is officially on the market.

CBRE Hotels listed the property, which sits just one block from the Pacific Ocean on a corner lot spanning roughly 28,300 square feet. With over 330 feet of street frontage along one of Pacific Beach's main corridors, this is the kind of real estate that makes developers do the math twice.

And that math gets interesting fast. The site is zoned for a mix of commercial uses and residential development at up to 29 units per acre, though any major changes will require a coastal commission review. Translated from real estate speak: someone could potentially redevelop this into condos, a boutique hotel, or a mixed-use project, but they will need to bring patience along with their checkbook.

The location practically sells itself. Crystal Pier is a short walk away, Sail Bay is right around the corner, and the Pacific Beach Promenade Shopping Mall is nearby. It is also about five miles from San Diego International Airport and eight miles from downtown, putting it in a sweet spot for both tourists and locals.

For now, the motel continues operating. But with PB land at a premium and coastal properties rarely changing hands, whoever picks this one up will be getting a piece of San Diego history along with their investment.

Interested parties can reach out through CBRE.

Sources: Hotel News Resource | Hospitality Career Profile | Yelp | Mission Bay Motel