SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Neighbors in North Park are raising concerns about the effects of construction happening on their street and hope to inspire some change when it comes to how contractors communicate with nearby residents.
“They’ve stated several times to me we want to be good neighbors, but they’re not doing anything to be a good neighbor,” said Christine Kuglen who lives next door to the housing project in development on Mississippi Street.
Construction has been taking place already for the last few months.
“Their workers come and they take parking all over the neighborhood,” Kuglen said.
She and other neighbors have tried sharing a list of concerns with the contractor.
“There’s a lot of dust that pervades the neighborhood often coating cars, the dirt and soil in my plants,” Kuglen said.
Most recently, Kuglen’s fence and backyard plant caught fire.
“They never walked around to say hey is everybody ok or explained what just happened. Anything. Any communication. Any support,” Kuglen said.
Neighbor Ken Sergi suffers from asthma and was home when the fire happened.
“It was surprising how fast the small fire created so much smoke and for me it was a health issue because I couldn’t close my doors fast enough,” Sergi said.
Sergi has also tried reaching the contractor, Premium West Construction, but hasn’t heard back.
“If you’re going to be a good neighbor and you’re going to be here for the next year, maybe consider doing some things for those of us that are most impacted,” Sergi said.
There’s also the issue of just how close the building is going up. Kuglen explains the balconies are encroaching on her property.
According to the zoning for this neighborhood, the side setbacks should generally be five feet. While there may be exceptions, the city’s development services department could not answer any questions related to this project.
The building will eventually be seven stories tall and house dozens of units.
Kuglen hopes by speaking out this contractor and others will work more collaboratively with neighbors.
“It’s a lot for our neighborhood that’s only two stories tall to get a building that’s seven stories tall. We’ve all kind of accepted that this is what our mayor thinks is a good thing for our city. We’re going along with it, but at some point it feels like bullying,” Kuglen said.
Kuglen says she’d like the city to look into establishing guidelines for how contractors of these larger scale developments should interact with the community. She’s also contacted a lawyer to officially establish where the property line is.
FOX 5/KUSI also reached out to Premium West Construction and did not hear back.
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