A Superior Court judge rejected a request by the De Anza Cove Homeowners Association, which represents residents at the De Anza Cove mobile home park, that the city pay $48 million in relocation costs when the park is closed.
This is another step in a 26-year-old legal battle to close the park and return the public land for public use.
The ruling affects more than 325 mobile homes at the northeast corner of Mission Bay.
According to the City Attorney’s Office, the city must follow the city’s mobile home closure ordinance and provide relocation assistance.
The ordinance requires compensation for relocation. The guidelines for the amount received by owners and tenants will be set by the judge.
Two “special masters” ” which are legal professionals, such as retired judges ” must oversee the park’s closure. A relocation impact report must also be prepared and submitted to the overseers for review.
The city will also retain a relocation director to help people with relocation and assist residents with special needs.
Previous steps to close the park two years ago created a tense situation with the tenants when the city began removing trees, towing residents’ cars and hiring armed security guards to patrol the park. The City Council eventually replaced the management company behind the aggressive actions after the homeowners association filed a suit against the company.
To view the recent Superior Court ruling, visit www.sandiegocityattorney.org.