RDA and Jacobsen Family Development the Cost

Mt Springs Resorts in Highgrove is not being built. The public should be made aware of the cost of the City's Redevelopment Agency Buy in to the Jacobsen Family Development Plan and perhaps hold the Council Members, Realtors and others accountable for their actions.

Approximately 120 Citizens and their homes and mobile homes were destroyed, removed and vacated by the Developer. Some of these under the threat of the use of Eminent Domain by the City's redevelopment Agency. Of these homes the mobile home park provided housing for low or moderate income individuals some of which were seniors and others who wanted to live in Grand Terrace.

These homes represent Consumers that no longer pay sales tax in Grand Terrace. These lost citizens represent lost business for all our local shops and stores.

The RDA owning the property causes a deferment of the taxes so the property taxes on RDA held property is no longer an income source.

The vacant field now is a weed abatement problem and the loss of large trees causes other negatives to the appeal of the drive past the property and the overall environment. Neighbors complain of added dust caused by the dry field being disturbed by the weed abatement methods.

How many years have we lost the benefit of the Citizens who have been lost. How many years income has been lost. How much has the RDA Paid in Interest Cost for the Property that Jacobsen said he would buy from the city but has not? How much has the value of the property decrease due to the economy. Will Jacobsen pay the RDA Cost plus Interest for the land the RDA Acquired for his development? The RDA and City Need Money... perhaps it is time he pays up.

Then there is Jack Brown. Where is that new store? Is the store going to be nixed because there is not the added demand by the Spring Mt Resort? Let's face it even in the best of times our local shops, restaurants and services have ample competition, in Grand Terrace and just down the hill in Coley Ranch. Without the Highgrove build out there is not sufficient demand to increase supply. In addition the 215 right of way needs to be fixed so the people investing and building have a better idea of traffic conditions so the EIR documents are not so lame.

We are seeing the City take RDA Funds for its operations to balance the budget. The RDA has Debts so we are just tipping the funds acquired by a Debt Bond to the City General Fund and then spending it. This is not a balance, it is a tipping of the balance, digging a budgetary hole twice. The interest payments on the loans exceeds the interest the city can earn on the funds... This is a speculation that has not shown to be wise on many levels and outcomes.

The land where the defunct OAC was planned has accomplished much the same. A loss of people and productive farm land use. In return the city has over priced or undervalued land and a home, and stiffed smaller self sufficient development and use. This has not paid off for Grand Terrace. When the 215 lay out is there may only be a strip of land big enough for Billboards or better Wind Mills to capture the up draft from the freeway, and a sign GT Green City...

The Council Members / RDA Board Members who have lead us down this path should hear from the voters, not the Realtors and Self Interested Developers.