By Margie M. Palmer | Reportero SDUN

The California Parks Department has its eye on property owned by CalTrans.

The 2.5-acre in question is located adjacent to the Old Town State Historic Park, and park representatives believe that its acquisition would round out the historical tale of Old Town.

California Parks Representative Clay Phillips said the land beneath the vacant building on the lot, formerly used as the CalTrans headquarters, is what’s of most interest.

“Basically, if you could picture the Old Town State Historic Park as a big square pizza, the CalTrans property is basically a big chunk in the upper left-hand corner,” Phillips said. “Because Old Town is this unique display of history, this property isn’t about just a point in time but a span of history of the Mexican era of the 1820s all the way through the transition of the American era in the 1870s. What’s underneath that building
is an important part of the story to add to the people who don’t really understand what Old Town is.”

Although CalTrans and the Department of Parks and Recreation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the transfer of the land in Oct. 2008, the deal was never consummated. The terms of the MOU provided for an initial cash payment of $2.5 million with an additional $8.2 million being paid within ten years of the property’s transfer date. Currently, The Parks Department has $2.5 million available for a down payment for the property, but due to budget cuts it cannot guarantee that it would have the balance within ten years.

The Parks Department, although still interested in acquiring the CalTrans property, believes the parcel of land has since devaluated.

In a Sept. 7 Broker Opinion of Value report prepared by Colliers International, the condition of the building was described as being “fair to poor”. The report states, “Based on [a] report prepared by the Department of the State Architect the rehabilitation of the existing structures is financially unfeasible even if the property were to be given away.” Phillips further points out that the building would need to be demolished and therefore should not contribute to its fair market value assessment.

CalTrans, who currently pays an annual $50,000 bill for maintenance of its former headquarters, is now evaluating other and perhaps more lucrative means of sale. Notice of the sale will be made public.

“Prior to selling it we [will] send out a letter to [public] agencies to let them know this is what’s available and to find out if anyone is interested,” said CalTrans spokesperson Ed Cartagena.

In a July 1 letter to CalTrans District 11 Deputy District Director Bruce April, San Diego Senator Christine Kehoe appealed for the property to be transferred to State Parks.

“It is unfortunate that CalTrans has backed away from the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on October 15, 2008 between [CalTrans] and the Department of Parks and Recreation, and is proceeding with the potential sale of the former CalTrans property,” Kehoe wrote.

“The transfer of the property from CalTrans to Parks would allow the creation of a welcoming ‘front door’ for Old Town State Park and allow the direct connection with the San Diego River, whose banks were originally
along the site of the former CalTrans building. Expanding the park would allow a representation of what Native American life along the river was like, showing the connections with the life-giving river such as early gardens and landscapes. It would enhance pedestrian access to Old Town State Park and allow for safer pedestrian access to the City of San Diego’s Presidio Park,” she added.

Chuck Ross, owner of Old Town’s Fiesta de Reyes shops and restaurants, agrees.

“Transferring the property to State Parks makes perfectly good sense,” Ross said. “Putting it on the retail market is a bad decision all around. The building is worthless and it’s really an eyesore. This is for the betterment of the community.”