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Why did construction stop on Hillcrest housing project?

“It has been an eyesore. It's been a big mystery as to what was going on over here," said Michael Lyons.

SAN DIEGO — People in Hillcrest are wondering why construction on a housing project there suddenly stopped.

The project is located at 4015 Richmond Street.

Construction started two years ago, but neighbors say they haven’t seen workers consistently there in months.

“Why did they stop?” asked one neighbor. 

It's what a lot of people in the area have been wondering lately.

“This went up, and then it was abandoned, and we didn't really know what was going on. So that's why we called you," Michael Lyons told CBS 8.

Lyons reached out to CBS 8 after seeing a story we covered about an abandoned housing project in North Park.

Lyons said the same thing is happening in Hillcrest.

What was once a busy construction site now sits empty — the project seemingly only half-way done.

Aside from the lack of progress, Lyons and others told CBS 8 they've seen unhoused people who frequent the nearby canyon trespass on the property.

They've also spotted trash and other debris.

“It has been an eyesore. It's been a big mystery as to what was going on over here," said Lyons.

"We live next to a freeway corner, people have definitely been taking liberties with the porta potties and the shelter, and I don’t blame them," said another neighbor.

CBS 8 did some digging and found the project listed on the city's website as a four-story apartment building with storage and parking underneath.

After making a lot of phone calls, CBS 8 got in touch with one of the property's owners.

He confirmed the project was temporarily put on hold due to delays involving the builder, as well as SDG&E.

He said they are currently in the process of hiring a new company to finish the job, with work restarting as soon as next week, and a completion date estimated within the next three months.

Once it's done, the complex will hold 19 units, three of which are for low income housing.

As for security, a new camera system was just installed to keep better watch as the project moves forward.

WATCH RELATED: North Park housing project abandoned halfway through (July 12, 2024)

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