Politics & Government

Hercules City Council Approves Eminent Domain Action On Sycamore North Development

City officials will file court action today or tomorrow to take over land needed for completion of long-delayed project

Hercules city officials have begun procedures to take over a strip of land they say is needed to finish the long-delayed Sycamore North retail/residential project.

Hercules City Manager Steve Duran said city officials will file court papers today or tomorrow to begin eminent domain action on the property known as "R Alley."

The city will have possession of the land in about 100 days unless an out-of-court settlement is reached earlier. If there is a trial, the price the city must pay for the property will be determined later, Duran said.

On Tuesday night, the Hercules City Council approved a "resolution of necessity" to begin the proceedings.

The four-story project calls for 140 apartments on the top three floors and 10,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor.

The development has been held up because of the "R Alley" easement that is needed for emergency access.

The property is owned by the Bayside Home Owners Association, which represents 300 single-family homes near the project.

Association leaders have told city officials they want the top two floors of the partially completed facility removed before they agree to turn over the land.

No agreement has been reached with the association, so the city has decided to forcibly take the land by eminent domain.

The weather-wrapped development, now known as Town Centrale, has been planned for five years. It was first owned by the city, which has spent $35 million on the project.

Last year, city officials began negotiations to sell the property to Presidio Development Partners. That transaction is in escrow.


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