Eminent-domain foe offers development plan in Grand Terrace
01:12 AM PST on Friday, February 17, 2006
By MASSIEL LADRÃN DE GUEVARA / The Press-Enterprise
A resident who has opposed the use of eminent domain to acquire land for the Grand Terrace Town Center now seems to want her property included in the project, officials say.
Until now, Jo Stringfield has resisted condemnation of her 1.9-acre property within the proposed Town Center project site so that she could stay in the home where she grew up and planned to retire. She has been helped by about a dozen volunteers who have formed a group called No Eminent Domain for Private Gain.
To keep some control over what her property is used for, Stringfield said, she submitted her own plans last month for the 20-acre Town Center project. The plans call for Stringfield to give up her house.
Last month, however, City Council members expressed hesitation about using eminent domain for the project.
And City Manager Tom Schwab said he has since met with Stringfield's attorney, C. Robert Ferguson, to inform him that an option being considered is a smaller Town Center so that Stringfield can stay in her home.
"I mentioned that it appears that we might only develop the 15 acres to the west of (Stringfield's) home and basically leave her alone, and that's when he started asking about her proposed project," Schwab said.
If the council agrees to develop only 15 acres, Schwab said, Stringfield's proposal wouldn't be considered because her property would no longer be involved. Under the Redevelopment Act, homeowners facing eminent-domain proceedings have the right to submit their own plans for the redevelopment of their properties.
"Now that it appears they might get what they say they wanted, they are fighting us because they want to develop the entire 20 acres themselves," he said.
Ferguson said by phone that because it appears that the city will not condemn his client's property, he is putting together a package to submit to the city and move forward. He declined to elaborate further.
The City Council is scheduled to evaluate both plans within the next few months.
The proposed Town Center project includes a Lowe's Home Improvement store and a Stater Bros. market. Stringfield's plans include a Best Buy, office supply store and pet store, but no Stater Bros. Market.
Stater Bros.Officialss have signed a letter of intent to relocate to the Town Center once it is built.
The volunteers of No Eminent Domain for Private Gain are using a vacant store at the Stater Bros.Shoppingg center as headquarters.
Chuck Hornsby, who has volunteered at the store for about 25 hours a week, said he thinks the group has been successful at raising public awareness.
"I know the store has influenced public opinion. People give us words of encouragement and tell us they believe in what we are doing," he said.
Reach Massiel Ladran De Guevara at mdeguevara@PE.com or (909) 806-3054.
Grandpaterraces' Reading and Opinion on the Above Article.
One must assume Officials Say is City Manger Tom Schwab Says, as he is the only Official Quoted, if this is not the case it would be nice to know who the Official is.
At the Council Meeting Mr. Schwab precluded the "Piece Meal Development of the "Property". Yet, he failed to disclose that the most current General Plan or Specific Plan for that area, includes drawings that do just that. Jo'Property and those to the east are developed separate from the ones to the west. Theoriginall Town Center Plan Did not include Jo's Property.The Town Center Plan is revised and revised continuously. If the City Council was not considering the option of Eminent Domain they could have rejected the Evaluation of the Value of Jo's Property. They could have used that opprotunity to direct the City Manager to stay out of the negotiations between the Developer Jacobsen and Jo. No the City Council went forward with the first step of using Eminete Domain on the Recommendation of City Staff, a staff lead by City Manager Tom Schwab. That step has not been reversed, it is still over shaddowing the ownership of the property and Jo's interest in protecting her rights and the full benefit of the property's use and value.
In addition, we must note that the Plan that was presented for the Savon is not what is being built. The public was not informed that there would be an ugly block wall mid town. The building is not attractive, does not add to the small town quality of central GT. Nor is it in line with the Specific Plan. Let's hope big trees are part of the plan as it stands it is UGLY and a half. It looks like the little sister of the Empty Kmart down the hill in Colton.
Second of all. Jo has been put through the proverbial wringer. She has been forced into contemplating all the possible options available to her. Particularly when she faced a string of continued threats or at least innuendos of the use of Eminent Domain to obtain her property for the sole purpose of providing it to another private developer. It was after this torment she began to think, of other options which may better use the property and provide an income for herself. Included in her plan is a multiplue use feature which would put residential units above comercial office space. She would continue to live on her property if this was permitted. It is not her desire to move. This has never been her first choice.
Jo is not some how immoral, illegal, or unreasonable. She is being reasonable, sound, and intelligent. It is City Manager Tom Schwab's tone and defensivenesss which is offensive. This whole situation is offensive. Shame on the City Council, Shame on the City Manager. Shame on any business willing to locate on land obtained this way. The city should have never been in bed with Jacobsen in the first place. Now this Social diseasee is spreading to Private Land Ownership Rights, and it must stop.
A word to Jo and the NEDFPG folks:
Jo regardless what action you take from hence forth, you have stood your ground, exercised your rights. Folks in Grand Terrace should thank you as your actions directly affect their property rights. The group now formed at the No Eminent Domain For Private Gain, have taken up the cause. Perhaps that same momentum can call into account the city's operations and misuse of RDA funds. This property issue is the straw which may break the back of back room meetings, decisions, conflict of interest and corruption in Grand Terrace City and Redevelopment Agency Operations.
Let's Hope.
