Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap--Elsewhere.

(It's all about the Growth Machine after all.)

From an online press release:

Statement by Main Street Association, Garden Grove, Calif.: What's Worse Than Imminent Domain? The Taking of Property WITHOUT Compensation ... That's What!

GARDEN GROVE, Calif., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- And that is exactly what happened when the City of Garden Grove's Redevelopment Agency decided to sell off a community owned parking lot at a discount to one of their campaign contributing developer friends. Garden Grove's Historic Main Street is about to become history after some 100 years of community service.

Recently, the mayor and members of the Garden Grove City Council voted to demolish the Main Street parking lot serving the merchants and businesses of the Historic Main Street shopping District. They voted to take the parking lot, and allow a developer to use the land to build a 5-Story, 100-Unit Condominium complex.

This action was taken against the wishes of the City Parking Commissioners, the business community, the property owners, and citizens of Garden Grove. During the council meeting, the public spoke OVERWHELMINGLY against this proposed project. All felt that loss of parking would not only cause existing businesses to close down or move away, but would also discourage new business from investing in this 100 year old historic area which predates the City by more than 50 years.

What was probably most disconcerting however, was the stipulation by the Council that all of the proceeds from the sale of the lot would be funneled into the City's coffers, rather than back into the Parking District as specified under California State Law. Not only has this entire "due process", or lack of it, rubbed the citizens of Main Street the wrong way, but has prompted them into action in an attempt to protect theirs rights and livelihoods. The Main Street Association has sued the City and its developer. This is a true "David versus Goliath" case.

"The cost of justice is not cheap, however," says Mike Silva, property owner, Association Member and major financial contributor to the lawsuit."The association is into this battle more than $25,000 so far and we have not even gotten to our first court hearing. The City and Sheldon are fighting us tooth and nail, and the legal fees could run up to $100,000," Silva continues. "That is why we have gone public with our plight. If we could just get $1 from everyone who loves or has visited Main Street, we figure we can go the distance!" So far the Association has been able to beat the City on two earlier rulings that has allowed the case to proceed, against the wishes of the City and its Developer.

Complete details at Save Historic Main Street
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Note I would think that this could work actually, by paying for structured underground parking to serve the commercial district, which is what ought to be done with the funds earned from the sale of the property.

Surface parking, even to support a commercial district, is not a preferred use.