A case of illegally establishing residences in Caltrain station offices

[BCL]

That's bold. I guess there was that Seinfeld episode where George had a bed installed under his desk to nap during the day. But this takes it to a different level.

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wir...harged-building-secret-homes-public-108637800​

Prosecutors said that between 2019 and 2020 Navarro allegedly conspired with Worden and approved $42,000 in building expenses to turn an office into a small apartment inside Caltrain's Burlingame train station.​

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The criminal complaint alleges that Worden used $8,000 in taxpayer funds to build himself similar living quarters inside the Millbrae train station, the newspaper reported.​

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Navarro and Worden allegedly ensured that no invoice surpassed $3,000, averting further authorization from Caltrain and TransAmerica Services Inc., the firm that employed Worden, prosecutors said.​

 

[John Bredin]

Judging from the two stations on Google Streetview, Burlingame depot looks like it would make a nice and cozy apartment while modern Millbrae Caltrain/BART station doesn't. I hope Caltrain tries to recoup their money by renting out the apartments if they can legally (zoning, etc.), especially the Burlingame one.

 

[tgstubbs1]

I wonder if they hadn't used taxpayer funds, would they have gotten caught? I haven't seen any pictures of the apts.

 

[BCL]

I wonder if they hadn't used taxpayer funds, would they have gotten caught? I haven't seen any pictures of the apts.

i was thinking maybe they would supplements in a public filing of the potential charges.

 

[BCL]

Judging from the two stations on Google Streetview, Burlingame depot looks like it would make a nice and cozy apartment while modern Millbrae Caltrain/BART station doesn't. I hope Caltrain tries to recoup their money by renting out the apartments if they can legally (zoning, etc.), especially the Burlingame one.

I think part of it would be the station buildings used to contain ticket offices that would otherwise be empty. I'm guessing that's the space he used. That was discontinued in favor of ticket machines and an interagency fare card.

Millbrae had been a Caltrain station for a long time, so I'm not sure what part of the current structures might have predated BART. I'd used it before, but I don't remember much about it.

 

[Anderson]

I wonder if they hadn't used taxpayer funds, would they have gotten caught? I haven't seen any pictures of the apts.

At the very least, it might have complicated charging them with anything beyond simple trespass.

[I'm wondering if this was an ill-considered attempt to try to gain the apartments by adverse possession. Are the stations owned by the government or by somebody else (e.g. UP)?]

 

[Rasputin]

[I'm wondering if this was an ill-considered attempt to try to gain the apartments by adverse possession. Are the stations owned by the government or by somebody else (e.g. UP)?]

Adverse possession in most states requires open and adverse use and occupation under a claim of right for at least 20 years. And adverse possession against the government is usually impossible. I doubt they would have succeeded.

 

[BCL]

Adverse possession in most states requires open and adverse use and occupation under a claim of right for at least 20 years. And adverse possession against the government is usually impossible. I doubt they would have succeeded.

I think it’s 7 years in California, but it also requires paying property taxes by the adverse possessor. It’s really meant for abandoned properties.

I think they’re also owned by the joint powers authority that owns Caltrain, so yeah, government owned.

 

[BCL]

I think it’s 7 years in California, but it also requires paying property taxes by the adverse possessor. It’s really meant for abandoned properties.

I think they’re also owned by the joint powers authority that owns Caltrain, so yeah, government owned.

OK. It’s 5 years and has a bunch of things including paying property taxes. Trying to hide won’t cut it.

https://schorr-law.com/adverse-possession-requirements-california/