A gas station at 1606 Market St. in San Diego’s East Village has been approved for expansion, despite concerns from city staff and community members over traffic safety. The gas station, which has seven driveways, will be allowed to keep all of them, despite city regulations that aim to reduce the number of driveways and improve pedestrian safety.

Background

The gas station was built in the 1950s, and its owners, the Brikho family, have been trying to expand it since 2020. However, city staff have consistently raised concerns about the impact of the expansion on traffic safety, citing the high number of driveways and the proximity of the gas station to a busy bus stop and a 12-story affordable housing complex.

Despite these concerns, the City Council voted to approve the expansion in April 2026, with only two council members, Joe LaCava and Sean Elo-Rivera, voting against it. The council’s decision was made after the Brikho family hired lobbyists to press their case, including a former San Diego city councilmember, Jim Madaffer.

Community Concerns

Community members have expressed concerns about the impact of the expansion on traffic safety, citing the high number of accidents in the area. The Downtown Community Planning Council, a group of elected volunteers, denied the project in November 2023, citing concerns about the impact on the city’s Climate Action Plan and Vision Zero goals.

The city has been working to improve traffic safety in the area, including the adoption of Vision Zero, a policy aimed at eliminating all traffic deaths by 2025. However, the city is still far from meeting this goal, and the expansion of the gas station has raised concerns about the city’s commitment to traffic safety.

Original reporting: Voice of San Diego — read the source article.