COD offers to buy the mall but is prepared to use eminent domain, president says.
“College of the Desert plans to transform the defunct Palm Springs Mall, a 48-year-old structure that has sat mostly vacant for years, into a West Valley campus with room for 3,000 students.
The college offered to buy the mall from YTC Investments, a Pasadena company whose owners live in China, about two weeks ago. YTC Investments bought the mall for $9.4 million in 2012.
COD President Joel Kinnamon said the community college would prefer to negotiate a sale with the owner, but the agency would not be precluded from seizing the property through eminent domain if necessary. That, however, could create lengthy court proceedings before campus construction can finally progress.”
Kelman, Brett and Skip Descant. THe Desert Sun 1 April 2014.