The city of Anaheim and the would-be owners of the Anaheim Angels stadium site are in hot water with the state of California.
According to the O.C Register, the city is in violation of an affordable housing law with its deal to sell Angel Stadium, which, if left unaddressed, could result in $96 million in fines.
The deal was originally approved in December 2019, when the city agreed to sell the stadium and surrounding land to SRB Management, Angels owner Arte Moreno’s business partnership, in exchange for $150 million in cash and another $170 million in community benefits including affordable housing.
The problem, according to the state, is that the deal violates the Surplus Land Act, which requires local government agencies that want to sell land to first offer it to affordable housing developers. City of Anaheim officials argue the deal is exempt from the law.
The original development plans called for construction of up to 5,175 residential units, a total of 777 affordable units, or 15 percent of the total. The plans also called for the construction of two hotels, shops and offices and either the renovation or new construction of a baseball stadium for the Angels.
According to the O.C. Register, as a way to resolve the concerns, Anaheim officials proposed adding to the affordable homes lot, adding 518 additional units and increasing the share from 15-25 percent, though, the paper notes, those additional units would be built on other properties.
The state has responded in saying city officials could solicit proposals for the entire site from affordable housing developers (as should have been the process originally), put the property out for competitive bidding or significantly change the mix of homes versus commercial development.
Otherwise, pay the fines.