By A.J. Hazarabedian
A thrift mart in Cathedral City is facing eminent domain to make way for future downtown development, reports The Desert Sun. Angel View Thrift Mart has been operating at the East Palm Canyon Drive location since before the city was incorporated. And now, if the city gets their way, the store will be forced to relocate.
The article, “Cathedral City plans to push Angel View move” quotes the store’s General Manager Tracy Powers stating, “[they] don’t want to stand in the way of the city accomplishing their goal [but they’re] distressed in that the city is not more forthcoming in details on what they can do for [them].”
The thrift mart was offered $750,000 for their property but Powers says he is less concerned with the money and more interested in finding a suitable place to relocate the business which will maintain the store’s revenue.
As for a possible relocation site? The city had offered Angel View another building on East Palm Canyon Drive over a year ago. However according to the article, Powers and the city weren’t able to come to an agreement regarding the necessary repairs the building would have required. Now, Powers has learned that this same proposed relocation site is slated for demolition.
Where does this leave the Angel View Thrift Mart? For now, they’ll have to wait for Cathedral City’s council meeting on September 14th when the issue is expected to be discussed.