from proposal submitted to Clairemont Planning Group in 2014

Clairemont Village shopping center (outlined in red)

After 26 years, in January the lease expired on the Keil’s grocery store located on Clairemont Drive (there's another in San Carlos). An extension was granted until April by Kleege Enterprises, which purchased the Clairemont Village shopping center for $27.3 million in 2012.

Meanwhile, Kleege has proposed a mixed-use development for the center. In April, utility locators marked up the shopping center, a landscaper toured the grounds, and land surveyors were seen onsite.

On April 19, a worker told me that Keil’s was expanding; minutes later, several Keil’s employees refuted the claim.

On June 14, two Bobcats dug up part of the parking lot in front of Keil’s. An American Asphalt & Concrete worker told me, “We’re cutting the concrete bases around the trees so someone else can come in and take them all out. We’ll be doing this for the entire lot the next two weeks.”

On June 15, the trees were removed and the holes were framed with shopping carts. The next day, the holes were filled with dirt.

An online search of the city's Development Services Department pages turned up no permits for the work being done on the parking lot. I asked Anthony Santacroce from the city if a permit was required and he said, “It depends” but wouldn’t comment further without research.

On June 17, 23 merchants in Clairemont Village said they hadn’t been notified by Kleege or CBRE (their leasing agent) about the work in the parking lot or the proposed redevelopment.

One tenant said, “We are all just kind of figuring it out as it goes.” Another said, “I’ve heard some rumors, but nothing from Kleege directly.” Sonia from tenant Edward Jones said, “Usually you hear from a landlord, but not here. I came in this week surprised to see all the trees going.”

I also talked to a Keil’s manager about their lease. He said that the owner is in the middle of negotiations. When asked about the proposed redevelopment, he said, “I have no idea what’s going on.”

On June 17, Stacey Hansen from Kleege confirmed that the development plans presented to the Clairemont Planning Group in January 2014 were in line with current plans. The 2014 plan proposed construction of 156 residential units in a five-story structure and a four-story structure with retail shops on the first floor.

In 2001, a prior owner had plans to do something similar but withdrew their application due to height restrictions. Hansen said she hadn't heard about any pushback regarding the proposed project height; while zoning allows for 45 feet, the project has a height variance of 57 feet.

When asked about the work in front of Keil’s, Hansen said, “We’re trying to take care of the damage to the parking lot. The trees are really old. We’re also going to increase the number of parking stalls, narrow islands, and install more drought-tolerant plants.” She said work was only happening in front of Keil’s.

When asked about Keil’s lease, Hansen said there’s nothing new on that front. She would not confirm nor deny that they have been courting other grocery-store chains.