City to foot bill for hotel land

Oceanside OKs loan for Manchester site

By Lola Sherman
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
July 19, 2001

OCEANSIDE -- The City Council voted yesterday to lend its redevelopment agency $3.55 million to acquire property for the proposed Manchester Resorts luxury hotel at the beach.

The council voted 4-1, with Esther Sanchez dissenting. Council members previously voted to condemn the property and must deposit nearly $1.8 million with the court by Aug. 21 to guarantee the city can pay whatever price is set during the eminent-domain proceedings. Joyce Powers, the city's redevelopment manager, said the rest of the money will be used for other expenses in the purchase.

Powers said the redevelopment agency has the ability to sell $13 million in bonds, but it would cost too much in interest and other expenses to sell bonds for the smaller amount needed now. The agency will pay the city 6 percent interest, which Powers said is more than its investment portfolio is earning.

Read this entire article in The San Diego Union-Tribune.