Dozens of senior residents at Serra Grove, a 64-unit complex previously known as Olive Tree Apartments, say they received notices to vacate late this month. Online listings now show newly available one-bedroom units advertised at about twice what many long-time tenants have been paying. The notices cite plans to “substantially remodel” the apartments and describe a 45-day renovation timeline, leaving renters anxious about being displaced and about paying deposits they say they simply cannot afford. City officials say they are racing to fast-track protections while legal staff and the city attorney figure out how to respond.
Mayor and council timeline
Mayor Alysson Snow has directed the city attorney to prepare emergency ordinance language and has indicated the city intends to move quickly in response to tenant concerns. The City of Lemon Grove notes that the council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., which puts the next regular meeting on Feb. 3, when an emergency proposal could land on the agenda.
Notices at Serra Grove
According to notices delivered to residents, management plans to “substantially remodel” apartments, including upgrades such as new plumbing and electrical systems and the addition of in-unit washers and dryers. Most tenants were given roughly 60 days to move, while Section 8 recipients received 90 days, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The same outlet reports the property sold in November for about $14 million and that some newly vacant one-bedrooms are now advertised online at around $2,450, which tenants say is about double what long-term residents currently pay. Property profiles and listings on Apartment Finder list Serra Grove at 3280 Olive St as a 64-unit complex.
How an emergency ordinance would work
Under California law, a city can adopt an urgency ordinance that takes effect immediately if four-fifths of the council votes in favor and the measure includes a statement of the facts creating the emergency. That requirement appears in Government Code §36937. Statewide, the Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) caps most annual rent hikes at 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index, with a hard ceiling of 10%, which functions as a basic statewide rent control framework described in the legislative text. Several nearby cities have layered on stricter rules. For example, Chula Vista requires relocation assistance payments and has stronger “just cause” protections in many no-fault eviction situations.
Tenants and legal resources
Residents say the timing and cost of moving are already hitting them hard. Some seniors report signing leases for new apartments just to avoid becoming homeless, then scrambling to cover security deposits and fees that can climb into the thousands of dollars. Mayor Snow has told tenants the pattern appears aimed at sidestepping rent-control protections and has encouraged them to contact housing-rights attorneys, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Local nonprofits, including the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, provide eviction counseling and can help tenants understand what their notices mean, whether relocation assistance applies, and what other protections may be available.
What happens next
The Lemon Grove City Council could consider a draft emergency ordinance at its Feb. 3 meeting. If the council adopts it as an urgency measure, it would take effect immediately and could temporarily require relocation assistance or pause some no-fault move-outs while longer-term policies are evaluated. Residents who want to follow developments or speak at the meeting are encouraged to review the posted agenda or contact the city clerk for details, as outlined by the City of Lemon Grove.
