Three portions of Mentone’s historic area are being sold and apparently developed, MM learned recently. Redlands’ Resolution No. 8748 referenced connecting water and sewer to seven parcels, bordered on the north by Florence Avenue, on the south by Nice, and on the west by Turquoise Avenue. The registered owners, who are nameless in County records, give an address in Menifee, CA.
Another apparent development is north of Mentone, bordered by Opal on the west, Topaz on the east and abandoned “Carlsbad” and “Baden” streets on the south and north, respectively. These parcels are east of the Redlands Municipal Airport. The County Assessor’s records provide no name for ownership and a Los Angeles address. “Redlands’ 1956 annexation of Mentone territory went up Wabash to what is now the south side of the Redlands airport runway; then Redlands proceeded east through Mentone’s Section 7 and annexed Mill Creek almost to Bryant in Yucaipa. The ‘strip’ Redlands used in order to take over that part of Mentone was illegal in length and width, according to then-existing law,” provided attorney Joyce Caraway.
According to the Redlands Community News’ Facebook page, Redlands is selling “some of its surplus property” – the somewhat-triangle-shaped area between Mentone Boulevard and Mill Creek Road, measuring 4.67 acres and bordered by Amethyst on the west – to Sartin Properties, LLC, located in Redlands, for $300,000. In the Purchase and Sale Agreement, Sartin promised to retain it as agricultural because of its zoning. One realtor objected to the low sale price of the property, stating that each acre “in that area” should go for “$80,000 to $100,000.” The City Council approved the sale for the agreed amount. MM
