We’re trading butterflies and their habitat for a roundabout? First, no one in the city loves it more than student hovel builder Ed St. George. It’s sad he’s so misunderstood. The facts: “I grew up in this town ? I love this town. I could have left ? and made lots of money.” Wait, doesn’t he own hundreds of units in Isla Vista? He grandly stated, “Apartment buildings don’t really do it for me. They don’t resonate with me.” Didn’t he purchase “Beach City,” plaguing Mesa residents with an overcrowded, overparked dorm-style building where residents stopped him from stuffing it with 1,500 students? Yet, he opined that he’s “No fan of developers stacking as many rental apartments as possible…” Um, weren’t closets in Beach City transformed for more beds? Second, evidently, rentals make no money, and belts need tightening given the housing shortage. He shoulders a burden: an incredible love of students. In fact, he’s so concerned that 36 city-owned eucalyptus trees, aka butterfly habitat, had to come down to “protect” his tenants (and make parking). His penalty was about $91,000, but he negotiated a reduced fee of about $67,000, which he insisted goes to “study the roundabout” at Loma Alta and Cliff Drive. Third, the selflessly important can dictate to the city how penalties are spent. I’ll try that next time I get a parking ticket. Poor, poor Ed St. George. Only four properties to develop: 517 Chapala, 302-308 W. Montecito, 1032 E. Mason and 217 Milpas. Time for a GoFundMe campaign. Who’s in?
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