City Makes Three Offers
At issue is the fact that Mr. Surfas, a longtime staple in the Washington-National-Exposition area just east of Downtown, has refused the city’s “final” offer of $4.89 million on July 20 for three of his properties. The three addresses at stake are 8824 National Blvd., 8825 National Blvd., and 8801 Washington Blvd. In her letter to Mr. Surfas two weeks ago, Susan Evans, assistant executive director of the Redevelopment Agency, said that if he failed “to file a written request” within 15 days, “the Agency may determine not to hear or consider any evidence which you may have to present.” This language has been standard operating procedure for the Redevelopment Agency in buying up properties in the neighborhood as if they were falling dominoes. City Hall’s first offer to Mr. Surfas last March 27 was almost three-quarters of a million dollars less, $4.17 million. A revised offer of $4.84 million was extended on May 1, the last bid before July 20. Other property owners along National Boulevard have gone away far more quietly.
Just the Facts
In the most bloodless language available, the city’s seizure of the properties — whether Mr. Surfas says yes, no or otherwise — is described “a Resolution of Necessity for the Acquisition of Condemnation of Property.” In more pedestrian phrasing, this means that after the Agency certifies its approval on Monday evening, the matter will be forwarded to a court that will put its approval stamp on the takeover and the land will change hands within 90 days. This legal maneuvering, estimated to cost $400,000, an amount that may ultimately be tacked on to the recent final offer made to Mr. Surfas, a City Hall source said.