by nohat00 on 6/14/25, 6:10 AM
They should AirBnB these units out. this guy creates a whole new revenue stream for Caltrain. This story is pretty crazy, this guy built not one but two secret livable apartments with bathrooms and kitchens inside daily, actively used train stations?
by ch33zer on 6/14/25, 7:43 AM
If you were wondering like me how this dude was making so much working for a public railroad, this was (maybe) his job: (1). Chief Engineering and Project Delivery, making $209,903.00 - $314,855.00. I'm just basing this on the fact that it's an open position in the right salary range.
(1) https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/smctd/caltrain/jobs/4...
by zxexz on 6/14/25, 5:49 AM
This would have been excellent had he not misappropriated public funds, IMO.
Also, maybe it’s just perspective, but those photos don’t depict what I would call a “snug” apartment? I mean, there are more windows than most places I’ve lived! Looks like a pretty substantial amount of space.
by ZoomZoomZoom on 6/14/25, 10:20 AM
Am I lacking some common knowledge here? I expected some plans and explanations of the circumstances that lead to this specific piece of property staying hidden for so long. Was it an abandoned wing? Where's the entry? Was the door hidden or disguised in some way? TFA has only photos of the inside and lots of $ numbers. Pretty disappointing.
by Aurornis on 6/14/25, 6:53 AM
> Navarro earned $235,000 in 2021, plus $95,000 in other pay and benefits,
Over $300K compensation and zero rent. Guy probably thought he was accelerating his retirement funds.
I wonder what he planned to do with the space when he finally retired. Spend more funds to demolish the evidence?
by kristopolous on 6/14/25, 6:03 AM
reminds me of an office i put together about 10 years ago. On the 3rd floor we put in a full bedroom, shower, closet ... we didn't actually use it much - turns out people just wanted to go home. Making the office more comfortable doesn't change that.
by Stratoscope on 6/14/25, 6:26 AM
by moralestapia on 6/14/25, 6:06 AM
The guy was making 300k+ a year, wow.
by bredren on 6/14/25, 5:57 AM
It seems like an estimated market value of such a dwelling is not included in the "cost" to taxpayers. How much would such a unit be worth?
by raymondgh on 6/14/25, 6:30 AM
by readthenotes1 on 6/14/25, 7:22 AM
Only $42k? They should get that guy to tell California how to build for the homeless
by mo_s on 6/14/25, 2:31 PM
Now this is what I call mixed use development!
by betimsl on 6/14/25, 9:31 AM
Awesome.
by datavirtue on 6/14/25, 11:45 AM
"Stealing" is a big stretch here. He should have lawyered this into oblivion. Nonetheless, the benefit is non-returnable and the prison sentence is basically nil so he made out.