Desert Community College District Approves Acquiring Mall for New Campus

PALM DESERT, CA - The Desert Community College District Board of Trustees unanimously voted Wednesday to use eminent domain to acquire the former Palm Springs Mall for a new West Valley campus.

The district wants to demolish the mall building and repurpose the defunct, mostly vacant property into a 330,000-square-foot campus, which would facilitate the enrollment of about 3,000 full-time students.

District officials say a Palm Springs campus would benefit cities in the western Coachella Valley with high unemployment, low incomes and low college enrollment.

Construction would be completed within seven years. Demolition of the mall building would not affect the nearby Camelot Theatres and a Jack-in-the- Box restaurant, which would both be integrated into the overall project, according to a staff report.

An "offer of just compensation" was made to the property owner in July, but district officials said they have not heard back in regards to the $9.579 million offer.

"Since the district's offer has not been accepted and agreement has not been reached with the owner, it is necessary to acquire the necessary interest by eminent domain," a staff report says.

An attorney representing the mall's owner sent a letter to the board last month in opposition to the district's plans for eminent domain, stating that the redevelopment of the property should be a collaborative effort.

Irvine-based attorney Michael H. Leifer wrote that "proceeding through eminent domain, as opposed to working collaboratively with the owner who also seeks to redevelop the site, will add unnecessary and substantial expense to the district's detriment."

— By City News Service. Image via Shutterstock.