In September 2023, Cushman & Wakefield SoCal Retail Advisors made a notable announcement on social media, revealing that they were leasing a long-vacant property on Fletcher Parkway to QDOBA, a thriving Mexican restaurant chain.
The property, a defunct gas station and smog testing site located at the corner of Fletcher Parkway and Jackson Drive, has been empty for over a decade and residents are eager for it to be revitalized.
Local employee Manuella Fatho, who works at Petrino’s Greek Restaurant across the street, expressed her frustrations, stating the lot has become an “ugly” and “waste of space.”
The vacant land, which formerly housed La Mesa Auto Spa Smog Test & Repair, has remnants of its previous life, including a dilapidated sign and a building that is falling further into disrepair.
According to City of La Mesa records, the business license for La Mesa Auto Spa expired nearly ten years ago, and a city statement revealed that the gas station shut down around the time San Diego County conducted site investigations to address soil contamination concerns.
City officials confirmed that site compliance was achieved in 2012, indicating that the premises have been unoccupied for at least thirteen years.
Nearby business owner Oscar Villaseñor, of El Azteca Taco Shop, noted that while competition would increase with the arrival of another Mexican restaurant, he remained untroubled due to having a loyal customer base for nearly 30 years.
Fatho pointed out additional issues stemming from the empty lot, highlighting that it attracts unhoused individuals, with broken windows and police visits disrupting the area’s peace at night.
The La Mesa Police Department confirmed they have interacted with unsheltered individuals in that vicinity, and residents have voiced their concerns regarding the property’s maintenance.
Manuel Guajardo, contracted by the property owner to maintain cleanliness, stated he checks on the site monthly, expressing frustrations about the trash and the presence of unhoused individuals.
“They contract with us to try to keep it presentable,” Guajardo remarked.
However, he admitted that the site was looking “so bad” recently, plagued with litter and the presence of three unhoused people.
In response to ongoing issues, the city mentioned that it refers any individuals found in the area to the Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team for assistance and that property owners have been cooperative in maintaining compliance.
Records from PropertyShark indicate that the property was sold in February 2019 to a company named 8303 Parkway Drive LLC, which is not a registered business entity in San Diego.
Cali Quest Corp., which owns QDOBA, has turned in a project design for the site that received City Council ratification in August.
While grading plans are currently under review, building plans for the new restaurant have not yet been submitted.
However, a spokesperson for QDOBA disclosed that development at this location is currently “on hold,” without providing further details.
Fatho expressed her hope for a community garden in place of the restaurant, pointing out that the concrete-laden area lacks enough greenery and would benefit from added foliage.
“It would be so nice to make it feel more like a community,” she said.
She also raised concerns about how a restaurant could exacerbate existing traffic issues in the already congested junction.
City records indicate the property is situated in a General Commercial zone, designated for retail businesses, services, and offices.
According to Fatho, the potential for establishing a green space depends on residents advocating for such a change, emphasizing that the community desires a livable city more than profit-driven developments.
“They want money,” Fatho said. “But the problem is that we want a city to live in.”
image source from：timesofsandiego
