Lawn area declared surplus for festivals, now for sale

CATHEDRAL CITY — As of Wednesday morning, a petition launched July 16 to save the 19-acre Festival Lawn from being sold had garnered 341 signatures. The petition, launched July 16, has so far failed to spark a wave of outrage from residents.

In the second-largest city in the Coachella Valley, with a population of nearly 55,000 people, that’s barely a whimper, let alone a “wave.”

Eri Nox, owner of Cat City Bread, an artisan sourdough bakery in Cathedral City, started the petition after the City Council unanimously voted to sell Festival Lawn in Downtown Cathedral City, which currently has an assessed value of $1.2 million.

“This decision has created a ‘wave’ of concern among residents who view the park as an integral part of our community’s cultural and social landscape,” the petition states. “Festival Lawn is more than just a green space; it is a central hub for some of the city’s most significant events. From LGBT Days and the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival to the Taste of Jalisco Festival, the park plays an important role in bringing people together, celebrating our diversity, and fostering community pride. The proposed sale threatens to lose this valuable asset and weaken the vibrancy and community spirit that Festival Lawn embodies.”

Deputy City Manager Anne Ambrose said none of the events mentioned by Nox will be affected.

“I want to make it clear that continuing the city’s signature events and other events into the future is a priority for the City Council, and if and when this property is ever developed, the City will ensure that Taste of Jalisco, the International Balloon Festival, LBGTQ Days and other events that bring residents and visitors alike to downtown Cathedral City continue,” Ambrose told Uken Report.

How did the city come to this decision?

On July 2, the city issued a notice of availability (NOA) for the Festival Lawn property. Back in 2012, when the state abolished local redevelopment authorities, Ambrose said, cities were required to declare what they planned to do with their remaining properties (whether they had a state use or not). Land that did not have a state use was declared surplus and eventually disposed of under the Surplus Land Act.

The city has determined that Festival Lawn has no government use and will ultimately be sold, Ambrose said. Over the years, various commercial developers have spoken to the city about development opportunities for the property. Before the city can consider offers, it must first begin the Surplus Land Act process, which calls for the property to be made available to low- and moderate-income residential developers first.

In addition, the city had to send the NOA to parks, recreation and open space districts, school districts and other agencies. The city is currently in the 60-day notice process, during which interested parties in the above categories can submit offers to the city. The city would then have 90 days to negotiate in good faith with any interested housing developers. If the city and an interested developer could reach an agreement, the city would enter into an agreement. If the city and an interested housing developer could not reach an agreement, the city would be permitted to sell the property outside of the Surplus Land Act, according to Ambrose.