Richard Beauchamp and Justin Papa are helping shape the future of one of San Diego Bay’s most recognizable boating destinations while preserving the community that built it.
Few places embody San Diego’s boating culture quite like Harbor Island.
Stretching into San Diego Bay between downtown San Diego and Point Loma, the narrow peninsula has long served as a gateway to the harbor, the Pacific Ocean, and the waterfront lifestyle that defines much of Southern California boating. For generations of boaters, Harbor Island has been a place to launch fishing trips, begin coastal cruises, service vessels, gather with fellow mariners, and enjoy some of the most accessible boating infrastructure on the West Coast.
At the western end of the island sits Harbor Island West Marina, one of San Diego Bay’s most recognizable marina communities and a property that is now entering a new chapter through a comprehensive redevelopment project designed to serve boaters for decades to come.
While new docks, upgraded infrastructure, expanded amenities, and modern waterfront facilities are part of the story, the marina’s future is also being shaped by the people behind it. The redevelopment represents the continuation of a family legacy rooted in marina ownership, waterfront operations, and a deep personal connection to boating.
That legacy begins with Richard Beauchamp.
As President of Beauchamp Leslie Development and Management, Beauchamp brings nearly six decades of experience spanning marina development, waterfront operations, real estate development, and property management throughout Southern California. His career has touched some of the region’s most significant recreational boating destinations, including Dana Point Harbor, Ventura Harbor, and San Diego Bay.
Yet despite the scale of the projects he has overseen, Beauchamp says his path into the marina industry began with something much simpler.
“For me, it really started with a love of the water,” Beauchamp said. “I have always been drawn to and love the ocean, and that naturally led me into marina development and operations.”
That passion evolved into a career that would help shape portions of Southern California’s boating infrastructure.
After graduating from the University of Southern California School of Business in 1967 and beginning his career in commercial banking, Beauchamp transitioned into real estate development and management, eventually becoming involved in large-scale marina projects throughout the region.
Along the way, he learned that successful marinas require far more than docks and slips.
“Early on, I learned that a marina is not just docks and slips,” Beauchamp said. “It is a working waterfront, a service business, and in many ways a community.”
That philosophy continues guiding Harbor Island West today.
Over the years, Beauchamp has watched boating evolve dramatically. Vessels have become larger, wider, and more technologically sophisticated. Expectations for amenities and customer service have increased. Waterfront properties have become increasingly valuable, and marina operators have faced growing pressure to modernize while preserving the communities that make boating destinations unique.
For Beauchamp, the answer has always been long-term planning.
“Marinas need long-term thinking,” he said. “You have to understand the boaters, the harbor, the infrastructure, and the local community. A marina can’t be developed for only the next few years. It has to be built and operated with the next generation in mind.”
That philosophy is particularly evident at Harbor Island West, where construction is now underway on a comprehensive redevelopment project that will transform approximately 3.8 acres of land and 22 acres of water while maintaining marina operations throughout phased construction.
The project includes upgraded dock systems, enhanced fuel facilities, concierge services, fitness amenities, crew facilities, expanded parking, retail space, public waterfront access, and a new promenade designed to strengthen connections between the marina and the surrounding community.
When complete, Harbor Island West will feature approximately 623 slips accommodating vessels from roughly 20 to 140 feet in length.
For Beauchamp, however, the redevelopment is about more than physical improvements.
“The existing Harbor Island West has a legacy, and we respect that,” he said. “Many people have spent important parts of their lives at this marina. They have raised families around boating, made friendships here, and built routines around being on the water.”
He emphasized that preserving those relationships remains one of the project’s central goals.
“The redevelopment is not about replacing the spirit of the marina,” Beauchamp said. “It is about giving that spirit a stronger foundation.”
Helping guide that vision into the future is Justin Papa, Vice President of Development at Beauchamp Leslie Development and Management.
Representing a younger generation of waterfront leadership, Papa brings both development experience and a personal connection to life on the water. A graduate of the University of California, Irvine, Papa’s background includes competitive athletics, surfing, fishing, and spearfishing—experiences that continue shaping his perspective on marina planning and waterfront use.
Papa views Harbor Island West not only through the lens of development but also through the eyes of someone who understands how boaters actually experience the waterfront.
“I have been fortunate to learn directly from my grandfather and from others in the company who have spent their careers in marina development and management,” Papa said. “Dick has seen multiple cycles of the business. He understands the long-term nature of these assets and the importance of getting the details right.”
That relationship between mentor and successor has become an important part of Harbor Island West’s evolution.
Beauchamp sees Papa as someone capable of carrying forward decades of experience while helping the marina adapt to changing expectations.
“Justin brings energy, perspective, and a real personal connection to the water,” Beauchamp said. “He grew up around this business, but he has also earned his way into it. He did not just step into a title. He has taken the time to learn, and continues to learn, the development side, the operations side, and the relationships that matter in this industry.”
Papa believes the partnership works because each brings a different perspective to the table.
“I think where we complement each other is that he brings the depth of experience, and I bring a perspective from the next generation of boaters and waterfront users,” Papa said. “I care deeply about the history of Harbor Island West, but I also think about where boating is headed: better service, better amenities, stronger infrastructure, and a more complete experience for people who want to spend time on the water.”
That future-focused approach is visible throughout the redevelopment plans.
At a time when many marina owners are focused solely on infrastructure upgrades, Harbor Island West is pursuing a broader vision centered on the entire boating experience.
The marina currently offers approximately 620 slips ranging from 21 to 100 feet, along with a fuel dock, sailing academy, sail repair loft, deli, swimming pool, spa, sauna, laundry facilities, gated access, barbecue areas, free pump-out services, reciprocal privileges with Ventura West Marina, and office support that helps boaters connect with local marine vendors and services.
Programs such as a child life vest loaner program further reinforce the property’s family-friendly atmosphere.
The redevelopment seeks to build upon those strengths while creating a more comprehensive destination for modern boaters.
“We want Harbor Island West to feel familiar in the ways that matter, but elevated in the ways boaters deserve,” Papa said. “The community, the relationships, and the connection to San Diego Bay should remain at the heart of the marina.”
At the same time, marina leadership sees an opportunity to raise the bar for marina development throughout the West Coast.
“We want to push the standard for what a West Coast marina can be,” Papa said. “For us, the future of Harbor Island West is not just about having new facilities. It is about creating a premier marina experience while keeping the sense of community that made the place special in the first place.”
That commitment to improvement has helped Harbor Island West remain relevant through decades of change.
According to Beauchamp, adapting while preserving core values has been essential to the marina’s longevity.
“Boats have gotten larger, wider, and more complex,” Beauchamp said. “Expectations for service and amenities have also changed. Harbor Island West has stayed relevant because the marina has continued to adapt while holding onto the things that matter most: access to the bay, a strong boating community, and a high level of care in the way it is operated.”
Papa believes much of the credit also belongs to the people who interact with boaters every day.
“Eric Leslie, Natasha Delamere, and the marina team have been a big part of maintaining the culture and relationships at Harbor Island West,” Papa said. “A marina’s reputation is built through everyday interactions. It is how people are treated, how issues are handled, and whether boaters feel like the marina is looking out for them.”
The marina’s location remains another defining advantage.
Positioned less than a mile from San Diego International Airport and only minutes from the Pacific Ocean, Harbor Island West provides immediate access to downtown San Diego, Liberty Station, Point Loma, the Embarcadero, marine service providers, provisioning opportunities, and some of the region’s most popular cruising destinations.
For Beauchamp, the marina’s role within San Diego Bay carries a responsibility to maintain high standards.
“San Diego is one of the finest natural boating destinations in the country,” he said. “The bay, the climate, the access to the ocean, and the overall boating culture make it truly unique.”
Papa shares that belief and sees Harbor Island West as part of a much larger waterfront story.
“San Diego deserves world-class marina development and management,” Papa said. “As we redevelop the marina, we see an opportunity to help set a higher standard for what waterfront infrastructure and marina hospitality can look like in San Diego.”
Ultimately, Harbor Island West’s story extends beyond a redevelopment project.
At a recent groundbreaking ceremony, four generations of the Beauchamp family stood together to celebrate the beginning of construction. For both Beauchamp and Papa, the moment represented something larger than a marina upgrade.
“This project is very meaningful to our family,” Beauchamp said. “It is not just about a marina redevelopment. It is about legacy, continuity, and carrying forward a family commitment to the waterfront.”
Papa agreed.
“For me, the generational aspect is one of the most important parts of the story,” he said. “Having four generations of Beauchamps at the groundbreaking made that very real. We are honoring what Harbor Island West has been, while building toward what it can become.”
As Harbor Island West moves through redevelopment and into its next chapter, that combination of experience, family stewardship, and long-term investment continues shaping one of San Diego Bay’s most visible marina communities.
For today’s boaters, Harbor Island West remains more than a place to keep a vessel. It is a gateway to the bay, a gathering place for the boating community, and increasingly, a glimpse at the future of waterfront hospitality and marina development on the West Coast.
For more information, visit harborislandwest.com.
