San Mateo Ice Rink on Brink of Closure

By Angela Swartz

Ice Chalet at Bridgepointe Shopping Center is likely going to shut down on June 1 after a long struggle by the community to keep the rink open.

The property owners, SPI Holdings, who’ve owned the center since 2005, are letting the lease run out on May 31. 

More than 3,000 people have signed a Change.org petition asking the mayor to ensure the rink stays open. Those in favor of saving the rink have held multiple rallies and created a Facebook group.

On April 29, Peter Meier of SPI wrote a letter to the city, withdrawing their May 2012 pre-application to change the zoning of the rink, which would have allowed them to put in retail stores after the city stalled on the plan. 

The 1998 master plan for Bridgepointe, requires an ice-skating rink or similar recreational use. SPI’s new plan would allow the company to provide amenities elsewhere in San Mateo, such as a synthetic-turf playing field and a bathroom at Mariner's Island Park. Without the city’s consent, demolition of the rink is not permitted though.

The source went on to say that SPI believes that the economics of ice rink are underutilizing facility since Ice Center Enterprises, the operators of the rink, pays below market rate. They said that even prior to buying the rink, SPI told the operators that when lease expired in 2013, SPI was not going to renew it.

“SPI withdrew its pre-application to amend the master plan so we could take possession of the property and then assess our options,” a spokesperson for SPI, who asked to remain unnamed, said. “Once we have control of the space, we will work with our engineers, design professionals and city staff to determine what type of recreational and retail uses it can accommodate.”

City Manager Susan Loftus wrote a May 21 letter on the city’s website to clear up incomplete and inaccurate information circulating about this topic.

“It is important to understand the distinction between the City’s ability to restrict the use of the property versus requiring the owner to provide continued operation of the rink,” Loftus wrote. “In order for the owner to change the use, an application would need to be submitted to the City and a public review process conducted for consideration by the City’s Planning Commission.”

Mayor David Lim published an op-ed in the San Mateo Daily Journal on May 23 to let the public know that the ice rink’s closure is out of his hands. He said his biggest concern was that people were spending so much time lobbying him rather than the people in charge of the rink.

“I just felt bad because members of public came to public comment and talked about items not on agenda; I didn’t want their pleas to go unanswered,” Lim told Patch, explaining why he decided to write the piece. “There was a huge misunderstanding that city council had more power, in this case, we don’t have any ability to change their decision. It would be huge infringement on ice rink owner.”

Still, many are sad to see the rink go. Jamie Hazelton skated at the rink from 1993 to 1996, when it closed the first time. 

“When I heard that the rink was closing I was shocked because of how hard people fought to keep it,” Hazelton said. “I didn't realize the city said the land was for 'recreational space.' I thought the rink had to stay. I don't understand how they can close it without having a plan for a new recreational facility in the same spot.”