San Diego

At the urging of an overflow crowd of angry and confused Southeast San Diego residents, the San Diego City Council on Tuesday decided to put off until Feb. 11 a decision on an ambitious redevelopment plan in a mile-long corridor once designated as the site for State Highway 252.

The council agreed to the long extension to make sure that local residents could discuss the redevelopment plan with the Southeast Development Corp. (SEDC).

More than 200 angry Southcrest area residents filled the council chambers and a second meeting room to complain that they had not been included in discussions about the proposed redevelopment, which would involve 5,000 people in 1,200 homes in an area bounded by Logan Street, Interstates 15 and 5, Vesta and Gamma streets, and 44th Street. Some homeowners also said they feared that SEDC would condemn their property.

The state had hoped to build a highway though the area to connect Interstates 5 and 805, but the project was abandoned in 1982, prompting local officials to look at the corridor with redevelopment in mind. Councilman William Jones, whose district includes the Southcrest area, warned, however, that in December the state Transportation Commission will consider a last-minute proposal to resurrect the highway proposal.