By A.J. Hazarabedian
We reported on this project back in November and have since found another news article, providing updated information on the situation in Lemon Grove.
Property owners are not taking property acquisition lightly in Lemon Grove. Businessman Salvatore D’Anna plans to fight the city, according to an article in the San Diego Reader entitled, “Sour Situation in Lemon Grove.” The situation is that the city is planning a highway realignment which, as planned, requires D’Anna’s commercial property, as well as the neighboring businesses within the small strip mall. The article explains, if the city wins the fight, “the multimillion-dollar project to realign the Lemon Grove Avenue exit ramp from highway 94 is on and an initiative to redevelop and improve the look of downtown Lemon Grove is one step closer.”
Mr. D’Anna believes “city officials are using the highway realignment project as a ruse to seize the properties” and that the project would make traffic worse.
Things aren’t looking too good for the affected property owners, however, as the article mentions they were served with a Motion for Order of Possession by the Lemon Grove Development Agency. The hearing is scheduled for March 19, 2010 at the county courthouse in El Cajon. Mr. D’Anna will be heard in an attempt to “quash the city’s request to seize any properties.” We’ll stay tuned.