City fixes on property for fire station

June Casagrande

The City Council on Tuesday approved a plan to use eminent domain, if

necessary, to take over the site of two homes to build a Santa Ana

Heights fire station.

But the city’s belief that the land is worth only $33.75 per

square foot was shattered by the revelation that the 2.1-acre parcel

is already in escrow for $45.50 per square foot.

“That piece of property is probably the premiere piece of land in

that location,” said Geoffrey Payne, a representative of Steadfast

Properties, which is in escrow to buy the land.

The grown daughters of residents Alva and Mary Spann Davis, who

are in their 80s, told the council that the only reason their parents

are willing to sell is because they believed they’d soon be forced

out. A rezoning of the land before the area was annexed changed the

zoning from a residential area to a business park.

“My parents planned on living there until they died,” daughter Kim

Davis said. “We just ask that you pay them what’s fair so they have

some hope of finding someplace else.”

The council agreed that the $45.50 escrow price means the city’s

appraised price should be revisited. They voted 5 to 2, with John

Heffernan and Dick Nichols dissenting, to move forward with the

acquisition. Heffernan said he voted against the move because he

didn’t believe that the city had considered every option for a fire

station location.

Council members said that the vote did not lock the city into any

price, or even mean that they would exercise eminent domain.

Fire Chief Tim Riley said that Santa Ana Heights and surrounding

areas have an urgent need for a permanent fire station and that the

Davises’ property is the best location. The conveniently located

property would give firefighters quick access to a large portion of

the Santa Ana Heights community.

Eminent domain, if a judge rules on Newport Beach’s side, would

give the city the power to take the land from its owners against

their will, paying them “fair market value.”

“I am truly sorry for the displacement of the family,” Mayor Tod

Ridgeway said. “But we have an urgent responsibility to provide fire

service for the area.”

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.