SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : Council to Discuss Sale of Some City Properties
The City Council tonight will discuss the viability of selling some city-owned property.
Since the early 1980s, the city has spent several million dollars on land and buildings, some of which are designated as historic structures.
Cassandra Walker, the city’s community development administrator, said at least three of the properties on a list of two dozen are being recommended for sale, including the downtown train depot.
The city bought the depot in 1987 for $1.1 million. The property has been vacant for the past three months since the failure of a restaurant on the site.
Some council members have argued that the depot and other properties are costing taxpayers too much money in overhead and other expenses.
City Councilman David M. Swerdlin said Monday that selling some of them would be prudent. “It’ll get the city of San Juan out of the business of being in business,” Swerdlin said.
City Councilman Gil Jones agreed: “I think we should try to sell all the property that we can.”
Some of city’s properties were purchased for a proposed commercial center, overnight lodge and public park. That project is pending, and the properties that would be involved are not being recommended for sale.
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