Costa Mesa : City Makes $605,000 in Surplus Land Sale

The City Council made a quick $605,000 this week by approving the sale of surplus property at the corner of East 19th Street and Newport Boulevard.

The 16,544-square-foot parcel was purchased by Dr. J. Brennan Cassidy, who plans to build a medical office building on the lot. Cassidy was one of two bidders vying for the property, considered surplus by the city.

Although the windfall comes at a time when the city is facing a fiscal crisis, it won’t be used to offset the current budget deficit. In a unanimous decision, the council agreed to put the money in a special fund until a decision is made about what to do with it.

“I don’t want the money to go into the general fund and be used for operational costs,” Councilman Joe Erickson said Monday night.

In fact, 16% of the money is restricted to special projects like parks and recreational needs. However, the remaining funds can be used on whatever the council wants. Members, including Mayor Sandra L. Genis, expressed interest in using the money to help provide recreational services.

Earlier this year, the city entered into an agreement with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District to share school fields after a report showed an overwhelming lack of recreational space in Costa Mesa. In exchange for using the fields, the city agreed to help pay for upgrades and maintenance. Putting the money into that fund is one option, officials said.