ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KGTV) — A brand new condominium project could be coming to downtown Escondido but some are not very happy.
Business owners say the city and developers will be taking away one of the city’s biggest parking lots if the project is built.
Bob DePhilippis, the owner of Filippi’s restaurant, says parking is extremely limited especially on Grand Avenue where his business is located. He has been serving the Escondido area for 46 years. The parking lot in question is located directly behind his business.
“I think what they’re trying to do is bad news and bad for the whole block," DePhilippis said.
The city could approve a new condominium project in the area, called “Aspire.” Representatives with the City of Escondido confirm the building will have 106 units, retail space, and 230 parking stalls. Only 76 will be open to the public.
Customer Lorri Wright says she’s been living in Escondido for over 20 years and frequently visits the restaurants in Downtown Escondido. She says removing the parking lot, “would make it impossible to visit these businesses for the fact that there won’t be parking.”
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Businesses in the area, including Filippi’s, have created a petition against the project to present to the city council.
“They think they’re going to make it better, they’re going to make it 100 percent worse,” says DePhilipis.
Representatives for the city tell 10News the land, where the parking lot currently sits, is in escrow pending the city council’s approval of the project. Right now, the project is in an environmental review.
