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1,000 potential homes could ultimately move July 4 fireworks in Santee

Posted at 5:50 AM, Jun 27, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-27 09:31:54-04

SANTEE, Calif. (KGTV) - Roughly 1,000 new homes could come to Santee over the next several years to help to alleviate San Diego County's housing crunch, but the houses could also force the city's annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration to move.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Tuesday will vote whether to put three separate pieces of land in Santee up for bid. The three parcels, totaling nearly 40 acres, could sell for as much as $34 million. Under current zoning, they could hold up to 1,000 homes and apartments.

"I kind of figured that was going to happen. I knew that this was eventually going to be developed," said Santee resident Greg Box.

Box lives across the street from one of the lots on Cottonwood Avenue the county may sell. It's the lot from which the city launches its annual Fourth of July fireworks. Box said thousands line his neighborhood to partake in the celebration.

"People come from everywhere," he said. "(They) line up their chairs and everything right out there in front of the house and down the block, and I just come out with my lawn chair, 9 o'clock, and watch the show."

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Santee City Manager Marlene Best said the city's aware of the potential sale and will work with whichever developer buys it to keep the fireworks in place as long as possible.

Two of the three parcels for sale are just north of the San Diego River, while a third is just south.

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Mark Goldman, a San Diego State University real estate lecturer, called it a great start to get the county some much-needed housing.

A bid opening procedure would start for each of the parcels on Aug. 1 if the county board votes to move forward.

Developers would be required to pay cash.