Two Floors Removed To Bring Building In Under 160 Feet

A year later, and two floors lower in stature, the Kearny Mesa office tower has finally been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and is no longer a hazard to airplanes landing at San Diego's Montgomery Field (MYF).

Montgomery Field is less than a mile from the new office tower, making it a potential hazard to aircraft landing in bad weather, according to the FAA, which pushed for the building to be reduced in size after complaints from pilots, and San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders.

Construction firm Sunroad demolished the top two floors bring the structure down to 158.7 feet, meeting the FAA’s safe-height limit of 160 feet. "This is the final, maximum height of the structure," said a letter from the company's consultants to the FAA.

The FAA designated the building as a hazard last year when it reached 180 feet. The agency had warned the company not to build it to that level, but the city had issued permits to allow it.

Sanders admitted the city made a mistake in granting building permits for the project... but only after lawsuits and negotiation forced him to, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

As ANN reported, Sunroad's work to eliminate the upper floors began in September, at an estimated cost of $1.1 million.

City building officials will only issue Sunroad permits for the roof and complete interior when FAA has removed the hazard designation.

FMI: www.sandiego.gov/airports/montgomery/index.shtml