Salon Owner Sues the City Over Eminent Domain and Relocation Costs

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - A business owner forced to relocate to make way for the De La Vina Bridge Replacement Project is suing the city.

Mishay Hair Salon & Spa is among a handful of businesses whose properties were acquired by the city in 2021 through eminent domain.

Andrea Ridgell, the salon's owner, filed a lawsuit back in August. She said information recently made public by the city is not accurate.

"I'm in no way trying to benefit from this," said Ridgell. "I would do anything to get rid of this situation."

Ridgell said by law, under eminent domain, the city is required to fully reimburse business owners for relocation fees and construction costs. 

She said during her relocation search within the past 5-years, the city rejected 15 sites.

Eventually -- with a judge's approval -- the city signed off on her current location at 1126 Santa Barbara Street, fully aware of the scope of necessary permits and improvements. 

Since then, she said the city has either pushed back or gone radio silent. 

To date, Ridgell said she's received roughly $200,000 but she claims the city still owes her more than $1.5 million dollars.

Ridgell said she and her attorney have documents that prove the city did not follow the letter of the law.

"Because they haven't paid me in years I've spent, I'm spending around $250,000 to $300,000 a year on interest. I'm spending hundreds of thousands on lawyers' fees, on experts, on all of that. So, all the money I'm spending is literally going into just to survive this nightmare that they've put me in."

Your News Channel reached out to the city for a response. City Administrator Kelly McAdoo responded and said because of the pending litigation, city officials could not comment.