Connecting You to Your Community
Lodi, California •

Indexes


February 8th, 2010
February 6th, 2010
February 5th, 2010
February 4th, 2010
February 3rd, 2010
February 2nd, 2010
February 1st, 2010
ADVERTISEMENT
Ron Bramlett, of Morada, may have to move his 7,000-square-foot garage that houses 20 Mustangs and guest living quarters because the Highway 99 frontage road may be realigned through his property. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

'We are in limbo'

Moradans want answers on new highway route

By Ross Farrow
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 12:18 AM PDT

Comments (38 comment(s))

MORADA — Ron and Cindy Bramlett own a house on Greenoak Lane with a garage large enough to house 20 classic Ford Mustangs and three Harley Davidson motorcycles.

However, that garage that seems to be the Bramletts' heart and soul may become history as the eastern Highway 99 frontage road is realigned as part of a larger, wider Morada Lane interchange. Whether the garage just east of the frontage road will meet the bulldozer isn't known at this time.

"The way it is now, we are in limbo. This is the third year of not knowing what's going on," Ron Bramlett said. "We can't sell the property. We can't improve the property."

The city of Stockton has developed three options on how the interchange and frontage road would be realigned. Two of them take out at least part of the Bramletts' beloved home for their Mustangs. Their house is safe no matter what, although several neighboring houses could meet the bulldozer.

"If they take the building, they take the reason for having this house," Ron Bramlett said on Monday. "The most extreme option goes right through the garage and takes out the house behind."

The Bramletts moved from Chaparral Road west of Lodi to Morada in late 2001 so they could find a home for their Mustangs. They constructed the large garage in 2006.

The city of Stockton, in conjunction with the California Department of Transportation, plans to improve the Highway 99 interchanges at Morada Lane and at Eight Mile Road. Depending on when money is available, Stockton officials hope to construct one of the interchanges within five or 10 years, according to Alex Menor, Stockton's engineering manager.

Depending on which option is chosen for the two interchanges, it could cost $75 million to $100 million to acquire property that lies in the way, Menor said. Much of it lies on the east side of Highway 99, which is outside the Stockton city limits.

An informational meeting on the projects is planned for Wednesday night at Morada Middle School.

Ron Bramlett said that Stockton and Caltrans have kept him informed, and that he has no complaints with them when it comes to communication.

"They were supposed to know in April whether it was going to impact us. Now they put it off until August," Ron Bramlett said. "That's what I want to clear up at Wednesday's meeting."

The Bramletts have another problem if the city of Stockton wants to go through their property. The leach field for their septic tank is right in front of the Mustang garage, right near the frontage road. Something would have to be done about that.

Other residents who could be in the new frontage road's path aren't too thrilled about what's going on.

"I'm a country boy," said Frank Kawakami Sr., who has lived in a small house along the frontage road south of Morada Lane for seven years. "That's an awful lot of work to do for Bay Area commuters. Put up a couple of stoplights."

Diane Lopes, who has rented a home along the frontage road the past four years, is unhappy about her situation as well.

"There are nine units in this complex," Lopes said. "It's going to wipe a whole bunch of us out."

Reader Feedback

Journey wrote on Apr 2, 2009 9:11 AM:

" To LodiReader.......Kids in Morada went on to Lodi High School in 1962. I lived on Hildreth and went to LUHS ...... "

Report Abuse

rlarskit wrote on Apr 1, 2009 7:07 PM:

" p.s. It's been Morada, CA 95212 for many years. If you address mail as Stockton, CA 95212, it still gets there. There used to be a Morada, CA sign on the edge of Morada with the population count. I'd have to look to see if it still there, but that should help. Not sure why this is so important today, but it seems to be and thot I'd add my 2 cents. "

Report Abuse

rlarskit wrote on Apr 1, 2009 7:01 PM:

" Morada, CA (which is on the East side of Highway 99 between Bear Creek and the Calaveras River) is unincorporated land governed by San Joaquin County. It shares a zip code with some addresses West of the freeway, but is not in the Stockton city limits.

Local Realtor, just thot I'd mention it. "

Report Abuse

fawn lebowitz wrote on Apr 1, 2009 6:35 AM:

" No one is saying it is inside the city limits, I think people are laughing at your sensitivity. "

Report Abuse

Cogito wrote on Mar 31, 2009 8:30 PM:

" What part of "outside the city limits" do you morons have a hard time wrapping your brain stem (and not much else) around? "

Report Abuse

Cogito wrote on Mar 31, 2009 8:27 PM:

" Morada is not part of the city of Stockton. But, everyone has the right to be ignorant I guess. "

Report Abuse

fawn lebowitz wrote on Mar 31, 2009 8:06 PM:

" There are residences in the heart of "Stockton" that are governed by the County AND when you send a letter to these people you have to write "Stockton" on the envelope. I guess they don't live in Stockton by some of the logic I see here. "

Report Abuse

tired wrote on Mar 31, 2009 7:33 PM:

" Yes, it's Stockton, California, 95212 last time I checked. "

Report Abuse

Cogito wrote on Mar 31, 2009 7:07 PM:

" My parents live in Morada. They receive no bills from the city of Stockton. Therefore, they are not part of the city. If you are a resident of a city, you get a city bill people. "

Report Abuse

Cogito wrote on Mar 31, 2009 7:05 PM:

" Dennisdd, I think I know who you are and all about you. I know about your inheritance debacle and your foray into motivational speaking. I know you don't work, but you should. "

Report Abuse

Ross Farrow wrote on Mar 31, 2009 5:42 PM:

" Morada, which is considered to be the east side of Highway 99 between Bear Creek and the Calaveras River, is unincorporated land governed by San Joaquin County. It shares a zip code with some addresses west of the freeway, but is not in the Stockton city limits. Almost all of Morada is in the Lodi Unified School District. "

Report Abuse

Curveball wrote on Mar 31, 2009 5:07 PM:

" 1972 was the last yr Morada folks went to Lodi High "

Report Abuse

MomofTwo wrote on Mar 31, 2009 4:37 PM:

" HappyDays94:
What do you mean what side of Morada? I am thinking you live on the West side of 99? "

Report Abuse

HappyDays94 wrote on Mar 31, 2009 4:19 PM:

" Wow many of you people are wrong about morada kids going to McNair, depends on what side of morada you live on, my son goes to tokay and we live in morada "

Report Abuse

commonsense1 wrote on Mar 31, 2009 2:36 PM:

" How disgusting to think the Bramlett's have all of those Mustangs and nice property. Just because they work hard and smart doesn't mean they are entitled to anything. And, don't think for a minute your home in upscale Morada is any nicer than Stockton. What nerve. I think Obama should take 19 of those Mustangs and all of the motorcycles give them to folks in Stockton. "

Report Abuse

jramagic wrote on Mar 31, 2009 2:33 PM:

" Wow...that's one EXPENSIVE and Classy DREAM garage! Big as Sears Automotive! Hydraulic floor lifts! CALTRANs will have to pay a bundle for it when they condemn it to Eminent Domain to build the freeway... "

Report Abuse

Robb wrote on Mar 31, 2009 1:56 PM:

" you live is stockton "

Report Abuse

MomofTwo wrote on Mar 31, 2009 1:36 PM:

" But I do have to say that Morada does kind of have the elite reputation. As often as I have visited Morada, I will have to say that it has been pretty quiet, even on a Friday Night.

But...they still are a part of Stockton. I am sure if they call about their rates on their car insurance their broker would tell them they are a part of Stockton. "

Report Abuse

LodiReaderFromStockton wrote on Mar 31, 2009 1:26 PM:

" Yeah, at 40 years here I'm new to Stockton. Morada is Stockton pure and simple. It's NOT it's own little town between Lodi and Stockton. And Journey no, the kids from the Morada area don't go to Lodi high and never did. They used to attend Tokay but now they go to McNair. And crime in the Morada area and in Lodi is just as bad as it is in Stockton, so saying one over the other doesn't make you better. "

Report Abuse

MomofTwo wrote on Mar 31, 2009 1:24 PM:

" journey:
Kids that live in Morada actually attend Ronald E. McNair High School on Morada and West Ln.

Morada Res:
I have many friends that live in Morada and their address is actually Stockton.

I too would have to agree that the Bramlett's have worked very hard for what they have...don't be haters just because they have something nice. If your homeless...well...I hate to say it but thats your choice.

Weezer:
I do think that this is news worthy. Put yourself in their shoes. Wouldn't you like to know what could happen to a piece of your property regardless what was on your property? "

Report Abuse

Whoa Nellie! wrote on Mar 31, 2009 1:18 PM:

" I've known plenty of families from Morada over the past 40yrs and none of them think of themselves as Stockton residents. They've always shopped in Lodi, gone to Lodi schools (public & private), church, etc...

Only new Stockton residents would think of Morada folks as Stocktonians. "

Report Abuse

tanner b wrote on Mar 31, 2009 12:20 PM:

" by now, this guy should be used to mustangs getting no respect. they are nice girls cars, thats about it. "

Report Abuse

denisdd wrote on Mar 31, 2009 12:20 PM:

" Weezer you are right this is not even news-worthy. And Cogito I am so happy this guy can afford a 7000dq home for his cars and I mean that, but just stop crying the blues, Cogito you said you bet he earned this on his own right! I'm sure he is smart enough to work it out, and your right I do'nt work..........because I do'nt have to. "

Report Abuse

tanner b wrote on Mar 31, 2009 12:19 PM:

" frank kawakami sr. is funny! "

Report Abuse

MoradaRes wrote on Mar 31, 2009 11:47 AM:

" I love when people talk as if they know exactly what they are talking about. Morada is its own seperate city. It has a city limit sign, we write morada ca on our letters, and we DON'T/ CAN'T vote for any measures in Stockton, and Stockton can't vote for any measures in Morada... so why would we associate ourselves with Stockton? "

Report Abuse

scottie wrote on Mar 31, 2009 11:42 AM:

" Sure you say that nothing is stopping him from selling the property, but who is going to buy it when there's a good chance that they'll lose it in a few years. Even though he will be compensated if they do take his property, it will still be a pain in the a&& to relocate. Also will they buy his whole property or just the part they need to the interchange? If they only buy half of it, will he have to relocate his garage to a lot somewhere else? And stop complaining about how much money or how many cars he has, he worked for them and earned them on his own I bet. "

Report Abuse

journey wrote on Mar 31, 2009 11:41 AM:

" BTW, Obama. I don't think that it's fair that someone has 20 classic Mustangs when I don't even have one! Can't ya do something to make things more equal for the rest of us???? :) :) "

Report Abuse

journey wrote on Mar 31, 2009 11:38 AM:

" Nobody wants to admit to the outside world that they live (understandably so) in Stockton. Look at the stats for crying out loud! Thankfully, Morada kids go on to Lodi High -- or at least they did when I lived there more than 40 years ago. Even today, many states away, I say I'm from Morada and Lodi -- NEVER Stockton. :) "

Report Abuse

Robb wrote on Mar 31, 2009 10:39 AM:

" You live in stockton "

Report Abuse

LodiReaderFromStockton wrote on Mar 31, 2009 9:21 AM:

" It cracks me up how some people who live in Morada talk about it like it's a seperate town. Even the LNS put Morada in the city area of the story. Get over yourselves people, those of us who live in the "Morada Area" live in Stockton. Stop trying to make it sound like you don't. "

Report Abuse

journey wrote on Mar 31, 2009 9:02 AM:

" "...depending on when money is available... within five or 10 years...." I would bet big bucks that Stockton will NOT have the money during the Bramletts' lifetimes. By the time it does (if ever), the homeowners most likely will be retired, will have downsized, and the cars sold and gone. "

Report Abuse

Cogito wrote on Mar 31, 2009 8:50 AM:

" Denisdd and weezer, you sound like a couple of pathetic losers, jealous because someone else actually achieved something in their lives. Get a job. "

Report Abuse

Audi 5000 wrote on Mar 31, 2009 8:41 AM:

" By law he will be fairly compensated for his loss, plus compensation for damages and for the inconvenience he will occur through the demolition and rebuilding of his improvements.

Nothing is preventing the sale of his property except his desire to do so. "

Report Abuse

weezer wrote on Mar 31, 2009 8:30 AM:

" denisdd, I agree.
Makes me wonder if it's now my turn to ask, "is this even news-worthy?" "

Report Abuse

denisdd wrote on Mar 31, 2009 7:49 AM:

" to the guy in limdo. My heart bleeds for anyone that can house over 20 cars, when so many others are homeless. Do you leave the big screen on to keep the car's company? I am sure after you are paid for that portion of property you can find another home for your cars, stop crying! "

Report Abuse

jramagic wrote on Mar 31, 2009 7:21 AM:

" Hey, got a driver's side mirror for my 66 'stang? "

Report Abuse

T & C wrote on Mar 31, 2009 6:25 AM:

" I live in a small hotel room in Lodi. I would happily trade places with them. They have far, far greater wealth than I do. "

Report Abuse

T & C wrote on Mar 31, 2009 6:23 AM:

" To play the Devil's Advocate"; One would look ahead at possible Hwy 99 expansion possibilities when buying a home or business next to Hwy 99. I feel for them. A Septic Tank can be pumped out and re-located. I doubt very much that the owners will NOT be compensated for their property loss. They knew abot the interchange plans for three years. "They constructed the large garage in 2006". Doing the math... they had the option to locate the garage elsewhere and chose not too. "

Report Abuse

Comments on this story are now closed.

Special Sections

Sentinel Silver 2010

Photo Reprints

Find Ads




Services

Contact Us

Office

125 N. Church St.
P.O. Box 1360
Lodi, CA 95241
(209) 369-2761
Fax: (209) 369-1084

Newsroom

E-mail

(209) 369-7035
Fax: (209) 369-6706

Subscriptions

Subscribe

Problems with your subscription?
(209) 333-1400

Advertising

E-mail

(209) 369-2761
Fax: (209) 369-1084

Classifieds

Place an ad E-mail

(209) 333-1111
Fax: (209) 369-1084