From our friends at the voice:
http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2009/09/20/government/237park092009.txt
An excerpt:
They moved into the unfinished, developing community expecting that as it grew, public facilities like schools, parks and libraries would follow. With reason: it says so in the community plan.
But the city’s budget woes haven’t been any more sparing on unfinished communities than the rest of the city. So while neighborhoods citywide worry over mayoral warnings that their parks and libraries could become casualties of future budget cuts, residents here would be satisfied if only they had a park to worry about, too.
Plans for a 5-acre neighborhood park, which residents say is overdue and sorely needed because of the community’s density, have languished. They say the city has reneged on its obligations to provide basic services as a tradeoff for higher density.
Public facilities for new developments like Pacific Highlands Ranch are financed with special assessments on developers. The city collects a facilities benefit assessment for each parcel granted a building permit, and those assessments are reflected in homes’ purchase prices. This year, the FBA for a single family unit parcel is almost $80,000.
The city is doing the same to Mission Beach. We approved a traffic improvement of $300,000 with developer fees already paid. Still No work three years later.
I wonder how much money San Diego has used of Facility Benefits for the running of the city.
Somebody needs to do an audit big time.
I can give an example of how long it can take to get things promised and paid for by the residents/builders…
When my parents purchased in University City in the early 60’s there was only 1 road in or out – Regents road to the south. There were plans for Genessee southbound, Gennesee northbound, and Regents northbound. 805 and 52 were future plans. There were 2 elementary schools – Marcy and Curie. There were plans for Standley Jr. High and UC High school. My parents were told the jr. high and high school would be in place for my older sister to attend.
I’m 4 years younger than my sister, and I attended Marston Jr. High and Clairemont High School. Standley opened after I was in High School. The first class at UCHS graduated well after I was in college. (Yes, I’m old.)
Regents Rd to the north has been on the master plan for years. A combination of NIMBYism and the city having a death grip on the funds has prevented it from being built – despite the fact that fire and ambulance services are limited to Gennesee or 805 – where the Regents Rd bridge would make their response time quicker.
The City Council voted to go forward with another “study” of the bridge – rather than killing it. This allows them to hold onto the money that was paid by the developers in the 60’s. 40 years later still no bridge. Despite it being on the master plan from the 60’s and paid for at the time of the development in the 60’s.
Good luck to Pacific Highlands… They’ll need it.
Maybe the NAR can help?
Call them collect and ask for Lawrence. Tell them I sent ‘ya…
Enjoy your view of a dirt lot. Just image a park there, like imagining the USA isn’t bankrupt.
You’re Welcome.
So who’s gonna get the money first…
1. City union employees and their pensions?
2. The people/city the union employees worked for?
My money is on those in the “know”.
Too bad about the park, but it’s a good thing those PHR houses have big lots with yards for the children to play – oh . . . uh, well at least they have low fees . . . er, never mind. Regardless, it’s CV so it’s immune.
Hey when’s that PHR shopping center going up?
That is just wrong, on so many levels. 🙁
Interesting that it’s always libraries and parks that get cut first, never six figure pensions and benefits and salaries for unionized employees.
I wonder how much that park would take to maintain if it was run by the private sector instead of by public union employees. Probably a fraction of the cost.
I hope any of you aren’t drinking this kool aid!
The deals were at 6500 not 10000.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/32953821
Nice to see discussion on this issue.
I wrote the story, and am seeking additional examples of this issue city-wide.
http://voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2009/09/21/this_just_in/477facilities092109.txt
Send me an e-mail at adrian.florido@voiceofsandiego.org.
Adrian,
Please take this as it is meant. There’s this entire infrastructure here in the free world sometimes called the fourth estate, sometimes the free press. In it there are legions of people called reporters who stake their livelihoods on doing the job you want us to do for free. If the bloggers keep displacing reporters there might come a time when there are no longer reporters. That would be sad.
I think it is reasonable for a reporter to ask the public for leads / tips on potential stories.
And look at the “leads” being offered here.
Sheesh.
Most great stories evolve from a tip. The story about the bank executive holding parties in what was supposed to be an REO happened because outraged neighbors called the LA Times.
Isn’t Prop 13 wonderful?
Did the neighborhood get together and offer to increase their taxes to pay for the maintenance of the park? No? Then why are they surprised?
Taxes revenues are down due to recession. Cash strapped cities barely can afford to maintain what already exists, let alone new projects.
Adrian,
La Costa Valley middle school is an older example of the same thing. Mello-roos was collected by the school district with promises to build a central middle school and the baren land still sits fenced off. There is even a “bridge to nowhere” that the HOA paid for in anticipation of the school. When homes were still being sold the bridge had a large sign on it saying, “Future home of LCV middle school”.
This is happening more and more across San Diego so I am pleased you are going to investigate it. It would be interesting to find out ALL the facilities that have never been build by the city/school district and tally the total cost to the citizens of the broken promises.
Adrian,
I suspect that Encinitas Ranch has a similar situation but am not sure. A large piece of land lays barren and fenced adjacent to the development.