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<\/a>The previous smog station at Fletcher Parkway and Jackson Drive has been vacant for more than 10 years. (Photo by Sophia Sleap)<\/p>\nAnyone who heads down Fletcher Parkway will notice the abandoned gas and smog station at Jackson Drive. It\u2019s been empty for more than ten years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Residents and local businesses are eager to see something there.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a waste of space,\u201d said Manuella Fatho, an employee at Petrino\u2019s Greek Restaurant<\/a> across the street.\u00a0 She and other residents<\/a> have called the vacant lot \u201cugly\u201d and \u201can eyesore.\u201d<\/p>\n In September 2023, Cushman & Wakefield SoCal Retail Advisors<\/a> announced on their Instagram page<\/a> that they were leasing the property to QDOBA<\/a>, a growing Mexican restaurant chain.\u00a0<\/p>\n More than two years later, the property remains abandoned.\u00a0<\/p>\n Remnants of the previous business, La Mesa Auto Spa Smog Test & Repair, are still visible \u2014 its sign remains along with a boarded-up building that has fallen into disrepair.\u00a0<\/p>\n City of La Mesa<\/a> records show that the business license expired nearly 10 years ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n A statement from city officials said that when the gas station closed, San Diego County \u201cconducted site investigations to ensure that any soil contaminants were identified and properly remediated.\u201d<\/p>\n The statement added that the county determined that the site was in compliance in 2012, suggesting that the business vacated the property at least 13 years ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n Oscar Villase\u00f1or of nearby El Azteca Taco Shop<\/a> said that another Mexican restaurant was more competition for them, but he didn\u2019t seem too concerned. Having been there for almost 30 years, he said: \u201cWe have our customers backing us.\u201d<\/p>\n Issues at the site<\/p>\n Fatho said the empty lot attracts unhoused people. There have been broken windows, she said, and she\u2019s noticed the police there at night.\u00a0<\/p>\n The city confirmed that residents have reached out with concerns about maintenance of the property, and the La Mesa Police Department<\/a> has encountered unsheltered individuals in the area.\u00a0<\/p>\n Manuel Guajardo, who is contracted by the owner to clean up the site, said he visits the property about once a month.<\/p>\n \u201cThey contract with us to try to keep it presentable,\u201d said Guajardo. \u201cLast week it looked so bad, so ugly.\u201d He said there was a lot of trash and three unhoused people there.\u00a0<\/p>\n The city said police refer anyone they find there to the Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement<\/a> team for assistance, and that the property owner has been responsive in keeping the site compliant.<\/p>\n According to PropertyShark<\/a>, the property sold in February 2019 to 8303 Parkway Drive LLC, which is not listed as a registered business in San Diego.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cali Quest Corp., which owns QDOBA, has submitted a project design for the site which was ratified<\/a> by the City Council in August. Grading plans are currently under review; however, building plans have not yet been submitted.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, a spokesperson for QDOBA said: \u201cThis location is on hold.\u201d They offered no further details.<\/p>\n A green wish<\/p>\n Fatho said she would love to see a community garden at the site. She said the area is full of concrete, and needs more green foliage.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be so nice to make it feel more like a community,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s so much hotter here than in other parts of the county, adding more green would help out so much.\u201d<\/p>\n She also raised concerns that a restaurant would increase traffic in the area, which is already a congested junction.\u00a0<\/p>\n The city said that the property is located in a General Commercial zone<\/a>, intended for retail businesses, offices, and services.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fatho said the only way it would become a green space is if people push the city for it. <\/p>\n \u201cThey want money,\u201d she said, \u201cbut the problem is that we want a city to live in.\u201d<\/p>\n READ NEXT
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