Backroom Land Deals in Grand Terrace

There is a real need for an additional High School to serve the area of Grand Terrace, Colton, etc.

However, some real questions should be asked as to the site selection. The area under consideration boarders the 215 freeway. There are plans for additional lanes on that freeway.... eventually. What are the soil contaminates from the years of leaded gas being emitted from the cars on the freeway? There are houses and of course Grand Terrace Elementary that have higher lead levels along the freeway. In addition to existing lead contamination, there is the added risk or continued risk of particulate pollution from the cars and trucks which will be using the 215. The power plant that is adjacent to the property being considered is used intermittently and is on line for power backup supply during summers. This plant makes noise, as well as some forms of air pollution.

The property currently owned by the city of GT is perhaps the former metal plating plant, which they administered to death and thus prevented continued use or sale. This is true of the lumber yards also. You may be able to get closer to the truth as to how these transactions came about.

However, I do know that arsenic is used in the plating process in addition to other possible pollutants.

There may be a way to prevent air born pollutants if the buildings are closed, and have back up generators for power outages. However, how are the outdoor facilities going to be sufficiently healthy?

The painful truth is that the Town Center property may be the only "safe" place for the High School, if it is to be built in GT. This would put education and teens in the middle of town. It would not build the retail, sales tax businesses the city is hopping for. Commercial or Industrial... jobs would be better suited use for the land along the freeway, where unified buildings could be built and the air quality could be safe for workers. How many people jog next to a freeway?

Just some thoughts on the site selected for the new school. Also, is the GT RDA going to make a bunch of cash for its purchase of the property in the area, or are they going to donate it? Who will pay for the clean up if needed, and sound walls? Who will be standing out along the fence line catching all the particulate matter wafting over the fence?


Why not put the Public Library along with the High School????


One must wonder if the hight home prices in Grand Terrace is truly all good news?

Realtors like increased fees for sales. True
Property Taxes Increase when homes are sold. True

Negatives:

People who live in Grand Terrace must commute to higher paying jobs in LA or Orange County.

Most families in Grand Terrace have two or more incomes supporting them, and no one is left to care for children, particularly children between the 7 th and 12th grades. (There are no after school programs for this age group in the city.)

To increase the value of the property, home owners have sacrificed their rights to enjoy their property as they may have initially intended. Restrictions on pets, RV Parking, and street parking all have negated the enjoyment of resident's property. This also increased the cost of living in GT for those who have been forced by the city to move their RVs to storage facilities.

The city has written codes so that no small or efficiency homes could be built for those with lower income, or the desire to live more environmentally friendly.

The city has not made any significant effort to encourage job development or a live and work in GT program to reduce the time spent away from family, and community. There is not a grasp of the idea of sustainable development, or the development of a diversified economic and social environment in the city. Economic development based on the retail marketing of items made else where and increased consumerism, and resulting tax revenue is short sighted at best.

What moral right do we in Grand Terrace have to exclude opportunity to enjoy living in Grand Terrace to only those who can afford the high housing prices?

I recall John Boy of the Walton's explaining what a Depression was. The answer was when rich folk have no money they get depressed. The Walton's however were able to fall back on the fact they owned their house, could raise some chickens, goats and a pig or two. We are ill prepared for adversity in GT. We have eliminated our basic economic resources in favor for building more expensive homes. We have debased the basic values of family, community productivity, and economic interdependency within a community.

Is there hope. Yes, but will the folks at City Hall be the problem or the cure? They don't hear the drums approaching.