SAN DIEGO — Families in a southeast San Diego neighborhood feel like they’ve been forgotten when it comes to removing overhead power lines.
One homeowner says he’s been waiting 30 years for the city to move the power lines underground.
Larry Young says his Skyline neighborhood has been on the waitlist for decades to move the power lines underground. We’re Working for You to find out what’s the delay and when these power poles will come down.
The Young family moved to Sychar Road in Skyline, south of SR-94 in 1995. Larry Young says since then he’s waited to learn when the power lines will be removed.
“It has been well over 30 years, and we still have not got a solid answer or resolution on why this side of the street does not have underground cables done,” said Young.
In 1985, the power lines on the east side of the street were removed when the southeastern San Diego police station was built.
Today, a new fire station is under construction on Young’s side of Sychar Road, but the lines have only been removed on the construction site. Young wants to know why they can’t remove all of them.
“We are hoping that when they do the final development of Engine 51 that this underground cable would be included in there,” said Young.
His daughter reached out on his behalf and CBS 8 started Working For You. We went to the City of San Diego’s Utilities Undergrounding Program. It lists Sychar Road in Phase 1, Allocation. The city says in this phase, the City Council approves the initiation of a new undergrounding project.
“We have contacted all of our representatives and we had sent a letter to San Diego Gas and Electric,” said Young. “They say we’re on the waiting list and will be another ten years before things happen."
CBD 8 reached out to SDG&E and they say the utility assists in moving the lines but it’s a City of San Diego project.
A rep from the City’s Utilities Undergrounding Program responded via email writing many projects in the Allocation Phase and it’s normal for there to be a long waiting period. The cost for line removal projects can cost roughly $20 million.
Last year, the mayor and city leaders celebrated a milestone by removing the last power pole in a La Jolla Shores neighborhood.
The city says it moves about 15 miles of overhead utility lines underground annually.
"Southeast San Diego gets a negative reputation, this is a strong community, and my kids grew up here and it would add to the beautification of this street,” said Young.
Young hopes the Skyline area gets to benefit the same way other neighborhoods do.
"You look at this street, the houses are well maintained, we care about this community. It’s got to be a little frustrating 10 years, going on 30 years and we’re still waiting for the underground cables to be completed,” said Young.
To review projects in the City of San Diego’s Utility Undergrounding program click here.
At CBS 8, we are always Working for You and our community. This is a station promise that we will go the extra mile to solve a problem our audience can’t solve themselves. We want to hear your ideas on how we can cover and help our community. If you have a story idea, please email us at workingforyou@cbs8.com.
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