Costa Mesa redevelopment study approved

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- The City Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency, on

Monday approved a study to determine whether rundown city areas qualify

for redevelopment.

“We have identified the places we want looked at to find out whether

they are blighted, whether they are economically and feasibly possible

and whether there is support in the community to redevelop them,” Karen

Robinson, agency member, said. “The consultant will tell us [those

things] and then we will decide if we want to redevelop those areas.”

The redevelopment study, which will also list the costs and benefits

of redeveloping each area being considered, was originally proposed as a

Westside study.

Virtually all commercial, industrial and multifamily properties on the

Westside will be included in the study.

The Westside properties, divided into seven areas, include West 19th

Street from Anaheim Avenue to Monrovia Avenue; Placentia Avenue from

Victoria Street to 19th; West 18th Street near Wallace Avenue and Pomona

Avenue; Pomona and Wallace from 19th to Hamilton Street; industrial areas

surrounding 17th Street and Placentia; the industrial area between

Monrovia Avenue and Whittier Avenue; and the industrial area west of

Whittier Avenue.

The Redevelopment Agency voted last month to consider adding areas

outside of the Westside to the study, as well, and Monday decided to

include more areas that were not discussed last month.

The areas added Monday include the neighborhood south of Hamilton and

north of 19th Street, between Meyer and Charle streets; the neighborhood

between Victoria Avenue and Hamilton Street, from Pomona Avenue to Harbor

Boulevard; and a high-density housing area just south of Victoria Avenue,

across the street from State Avenue.

Eric Bever, a Costa Mesa resident who suggested that the agency

include the three additional areas, said he was in favor of including

them because of they included high-density, odd-sized parcels.

“Oddball sizes, a hodgepodge of lots, is one consideration for

redevelopment,” he said. “Consolidating some small lots to bigger

complexes [could result in] more open space and more parks. Less

driveways, more trees.”

Other areas outside of the Westside that will be included in the study

are 19th Street from Federal Avenue to Whittier Avenue; Placentia Avenue

from Victoria Avenue to the city’s north border; the Canyon Drive and

Pacific Avenue neighborhood from Victoria Avenue to the city’s north

border; the Joann and Miner streets neighborhood; Filmore Way and

Coolidge Avenue; Mission Drive and Mendoza Drive, Filmore Way and

Coolidge Avenue; Baker Street from Monrovia Drive to La Salle Avenue.

Redevelopment, expected to take at least a year if it is ultimately

approved, could involve the city using the area’s property taxes to

improve the area or take land using eminent domain.

To qualify to be redeveloped, areas must be considered physically and

economically blighted.

In another action, the Redevelopment Agency appointed a committee that

will select a consultant to conduct the study.

The five-member committee will begin interviewing candidates after the

city staff collects bids for the project.

The committee members are Linda Dixon and Chris Steel, both agency

members; Muriel Ullman, neighborhood improvement manager for the city;

Don Lamm, deputy city manager and director of development services; and

Mike Robinson, planning and development manager.