A redevelopment project coming to town is evicting business owners from their current locations in the Otay Mesa community in San Diego.
The town is forcing dozens of businesses to relocate to make way for an airport that the city says will provide economic benefits to the community and create more job opportunities.
Business Owners Were Told to Leave
Business owners in Otay Mesa say they were told to leave without warning earlier this month. “May 10th, we were here minding our business, doing our installations, and all of a sudden the sheriff came and shut our whole operation down,” said Alfredo Garcia, the co-owner of Heritage Auto Glass to NBC 7 San Diego.
These business owners were given little time to gather their belongings and find a new space to work.
Business Owners Didn’t Have Much Time to Leave
“We did bring out the most important things,” Garcia said. “Our forklifts and stuff, and after that our communication systems like phones and a desk and paperwork, and after that, they put the chains and that’s it.”
Garcia and other business owners are trying to shift their operations to a new location.
San Diego’s Response to the Accusations
According to the City of San Diego, this eviction follows a multi-year public-private partnership to redevelop BrownField Airport.
This airport will “include the construction of state-of-the-art commercial and aviation facilities,” the city staff says in the statement to NBC 7.
The Tenants Were Not Supposed to be There
The city also clarified that they did not evict tenants without warning, stating that they informed the leaseholder of the redevelopment plans and the eventual need to vacate the property as early as 2019.
The landlord terminated the lease agreement in May 2022 to allow redevelopment plans to proceed. However, the lease owner ceased responding to the city.
The Project Promises More Jobs
“This project will serve as a gateway for international trade and will provide economic benefits to the community and create sustainable jobs,” the city says.
Additional development includes more than a million square feet of commercial and industrial buildings and a new hotel with restaurants.
Expanding the Community
The project, which will encompass 331 acres, will build a new Fixed Base Operator terminal building, individual airplane hangars, and new roads in the community over a 20-year phase.
This agreement is in partnership with Aero-Abre, which had subleased to tenants for storage space on the property.
City Pursed Legal Action
The city took legal action against the master leaseholder to evict the remaining tenants, who lacked authorization to use the property due to the absence of a legally binding agreement between the leaseholder and the property owner.
“Occupants who had been leasing space from the master leaseholder are being notified directly and notice will continue over the course of the next six weeks,” the city says.
City Lends a Helping Hand to Business Owners
“If the occupants are not able to move their property by the date listed on the eviction notices, they can contact city airport staff and arrange for the removal of their property,” the city adds.
The city is also providing a phone number with the notices delivered to the occupants.
The Future of the Brown Field Airport
The city of San Diego’s long-term project to redevelop BrownField Airport could have a massive impact on the community of Otay Mesa following Air Center San Diego’s acquisition of San Diego Jet Center’s FBO assets.
This acquisition encompasses all FBO facilities, including the main terminal building, from which Air Center San Diego has commenced providing FBO services.
Expanding San Diego’s Community
“We are so excited and grateful to welcome San Diego Jet Center’s knowledgeable, reliable team members to the Air Center family,” said Brittany Favero, customer service manager of Air Center San Diego.
“Their contributions are pivotal in facilitating a smooth transition to the Air Center brand. We look forward to modernization and streamlined approaches while keeping intact the commitment to customer satisfaction that defines the operation.”
The Perks of an Upgraded Airport
Californians and other flyers will continue to have access to all services, including ground handling, transportation, U.S. Customs, and other specialized requests as this project continues to grow.”
“This airport could offer a wide range of benefits for many customers, making it a perfect place for those flying into the southern part of San Diego.”
