SAN DIEGO — The city of San Diego has reached an agreement with the owners of a vacant Little Italy property to demolish it following years of criminal activity, fires, and medical emergencies at the location.
The agreement concerns the property located at 805 West Cedar Street, which lies between Pacific Highway and California Street, not far from the County Administration Center.
The San Diego City Attorney's Office, which filed a civil enforcement complaint against the property owners, says that from 2019 until early 2023, the property drew dozens of calls to police for reports of disturbing the peace, drug sales, and trespassing.
Firefighters have also responded numerous times to the property for illegally sparked blazes. Medical aid has been provided to homeless people at the site on frequent occasions, including one time when a person died at the property, according to the City Attorney's Office.
San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott said, "Sadly, this property had become an eyesore and a safety threat, with San Diego Police frequently responding to reports of crimes being committed at the site. This agreement will put an end to that activity so that our neighbors and visitors can once again frequent this neighborhood without fear.''
As part of the settlement, the vacant buildings will be demolished and the owners have agreed to pay nearly $4,000 in investigative costs and $200,000 in civil penalties. However, $142,500 of those payments will not have to be paid if the property owners comply with the terms of the injunction and stipulated judgment, which includes keeping the property trash-free, securing the site prior to the demolition and hiring a security guard to patrol the premises.