Blight Ideas
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VOLUME 9 ISSUE 8 Aug. 23 – Sept. 26, 2019 Follow us on social media Get up to date on sdnews.com exciting local events Page 17 INSIDE Adult-use THIS ISSUE cannabis B FEATURE Sculpting La Mesa draft plan released By JEFF CLEMETSON | La Mesa Courier On Aug. 15, the city of La Mesa held a public workshop to discuss its draft plan to legal- James Porter shaped bronze statues ize recreational cannabis sales. and city government. Page 9 The new adult-use plan is a final step to decriminalize marijuana that began with B FOOD & DRINK Measure U, the citizens’ ini- Brigantine turns 50 Blight ideas tiative that made medical can- nabis use legal in the city, fol- Erik Egelko brokered the sale of The Light Bulb Centre building to developers that are turning it into loft apartments. lowed by Proposition V, which (Photo courtesy Erik Egelko) set up a taxation framework for both medical- and adult-use Local broker proposes ways to clean up west La Mesa cannabis. Although the plan present- By JEFF CLEMETSON | La Mesa Courier will turn them into businesses or and brokering a deal to turn a for- ed at the workshop is similar to housing. The real estate broker mer retail building into a housing the rules set out in Measure U, West La Mesa resident Erik has found some recent success in project. there are some key differences Mt. Helix restaurant celebrates history Egelko has found a niche business this department, finding buyers Revitalizing La Mesa’s west side — and one that cannabis indus- of fine seafood dining.Page 11 in his home neighborhood —tak- for an El Cajon Boulevard proper- and replacing blighted properties try members who attended the ing run-down properties and mar- ty that had most recently housed event said would adversely af- keting them to developers who an illegal marijuana dispensary SEE BLIGHT IDEAS, Page 2 fect dispensaries that the city B ART has already approved. Honoring her heritage The proposed measure will beef up restrictions on where Council approves Jefferson La Mesa recreational retail cannabis shops will be allowed to oper- By JEFF CLEMETSON | La Mesa Courier ate. Unlike Measure U, which restricts medical dispensaries More housing is coming to La from operating near sensitive Mesa’s downtown area. areas like schools, churches On Aug. 13, La Mesa City and parks within 1,000 feet Racquel Gabuya’s painting bring Filipino Council voted to approve measured by path of travel, the culture, contributions to life. Page 12 Jefferson La Mesa — a mixed- proposed adult-use plan would use housing project between measure that 1,000 feet from Baltimore Drive and Nebo Drive. property lines. The new rules B ALSO INSIDE Despite a large contingent of lo- would also more clearly define Opinion 6 cal union carpenters who spoke what areas or businesses are Politics 6 against the project’s plan to hire sensitive and child-centric. Books 12 non-union contractors, and a What that means, said La Sports 13 failed motion to delay approval Mesa Director of Community Education 14 of the project that was only sup- Development Kerry Kusiak, is Classifieds 18 ported by Council members Colin that there will be fewer areas Theater 19 Parent and Dr. Akilah Weber, the in the city that will be allowed Village Voices 19 An artist rendering of the Jefferson La Mesa housing project that will be built Puzzles 19 SEE JEFFERSON, Page 16 between Baltimore and Nebo drives. (Courtesy City of La Mesa) SEE ADULT USE, Page 4 B CONTACT US HAPPY ENDINGS Center For Family Health & Dermatology Editorial and a More than half of San Diegans over 65 (858) 270-3103 x130 NEW BEGINNING will develop skin cancer at least once. [email protected] Annual skin checks are the best way to prevent skin cancer, call today to make an appointment. Advertising By Michael J. 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Schedule your visit today: www.sdnews.com Book Signing Event September 14th 11AM to 1PM at 6280 Barnes & Noble Grossmont Shopping Center La Mesa San Diego Community Newspaper Group Jackson Dr. STE 8 619-464-1607 Aug. 23 – Sept. 26, 2019 2 La Mesa Courier NEWS because of a “serious lack of co- approved and the amount of mon- Blight ideas operation” on behalf of the city ey they were spending trying to CONTINUED FROM Page 1 in terms of issuing a permit for go through the process was com- any kind of business moving in. pletely eating into the profits they with thriving businesses or hous- The property fell out of escrow were going to see if they were able ing is something that Egelko be- five times before being bought by to build it.” lieves can be accomplished. a developer who is consolidating That development group even- “There are maybe 20 troubled it with a neighboring property tually sold the property to DLS properties in west La Mesa, and into an already planned housing Investments, a larger development that’s it,” he said. “It’s a super development. company, who are converting achievable goal to take these prop- “I had so many people who tried the building into La Mesa Lofts erties and put something better to [previously] buy this [proper- — a seven-unit housing project there. And with each one we do, ty], but because the city’s process that will be a mix of studios and more people are going to be inter- to get a permit was so expensive apartments. However, large devel- ested in these properties.” and so lengthy to get approval, it opment companies or a neighbor- Although he sees the goal of wasn’t feasible for anyone to make ing project coming in to scoop up turning around the west side as a deal there.” these small distressed properties Egelko described this El Cajon Boulevard property as the La Mesa’s most achievable, Egelko also thinks the One prospective buyer was a car and turn them around is the ex- blighted and difficult to sell because of the city’s permit process. (Courtesy Erik city could be doing more to help dealership, which Egelko thought ception, not the rule, according Egelko) make properties along University would make permitting easy con- to Egelko. Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard sidering there was another car “Pieces of blight like this are In other words, only smaller permit,” Egelko continued. “The more attractive to brokers and dealership there as early as 2016 too small for a major developer developers would be interested in landlord is not going to tie it up developers. that operated the same use and who has the patience and the these blighted properties, but only for eight months hoping someone required the same permit. resources and capacity to deal larger ones have the resources to is going to close on it. No one is RED TAPE WOES “But [the city] wanted this guy with all the city bureaucracy,” he do anything with them. going to pay rent on it for eight Egelko points to his experience to get an architect, to do a traffic said. “Most of the pieces of blight months hoping they’re going to in brokering two west side prop- study, to do a noise study — spend in La Mesa are smaller properties SOME BLIGHT IDEAS get a permit.” erties as reasons for his criticisms tens of thousands of dollars on that it doesn’t make the financial Egelko believes that La Mesa La Mesa City Manager Yvonne of La Mesa’s red tape problem for consultants to get a permit to put sense to go through all the fixed could make itself more attractive Garrett said that the city does offer developers. in a business there that was pre- red tape that’s associated with to small developers with a few a “quick check” process for simple, Before it was brokered off to viously there.” them.” changes to the permitting process. small projects that typically result a housing developer, 7640 El Another property, the old Light It is that conundrum that wor- One would be to consolidate in an over-the-counter approval. Cajon Blvd. was a gas station in Bulb Centre at 7735 University ries resident and activist Craig down the types of businesses that The real issue with the former the 1950s, then a car dealership, Ave., Egelko had to broker twice Reed, who leads a group called need a conditional use permit car dealership property getting and then an illegal marijuana because the first buyer ran into Envision La Mesa that is dedicated (CUP) to open. a quick permit for another car dispensary. red tape that prevented the devel- to revitalizing west La Mesa. “Right now, tons and tons of dealership had more to do with “Then [the dispensary] got shut oper’s plan to turn the building in- “West La Mesa, with the way businesses require conditional zoning. down and it was La Mesa’s worst to housing from being profitable. things are now, requires a certain use permits,” he said. “Whereas, “The particular matter that piece of blight — there was grafit- “They exhausted themselves level of sophistication,” Reed said. in San Diego, many of the busi- concerned Mr. Egelko was the re- ti all over it, there were homeless trying to get the city on board “Mom and pops who come in, who nesses that require a CUP in La quirement for a CUP to establish people there, there was trash.” to do this,” Egelko said.