Olivenhain Apartment Tenants Demand Stables

Prospective tenants in the colorfully named Encinitas Boulevard Apartments have united to demand horse stables as part of the project.

If approved, the project will be built near the intersection of Encinitas Boulevard and Rancho Santa Fe Road. That puts it in Olivenhain, which is known for its horse properties.

“Since I would be living in Olivenhain,” said prospective tenant Inya Croup, “I want a stable stall for my gelding. And I’m not the only one. Most of our group members want stalls.”

The proposed by-right project started out as 277 apartments. But the developer withdrew that plan and came back with a 283-unit complex. If the developer accepts the stable demands, how the number of apartments, the giant parking garage, grounds and access lane would be affected is unknown.

“That 283 is a huge number of units,” said Croup. “It’s far more than any apartment house in Encinitas. The developer can easily cut back so he can include stables.”

Attempts to reach the developer for comment failed.

“Lima beans and olives are part of Olivenhain’s past,” said Croup, “but horses are the present. Plenty of people in the community have them. Apartment tenants could ride their horses for nearby errands. That would reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Collecting the horse chestnuts and giving them to local gardeners would help create rich soil and produce bumper crops.”