Lining up the sacrificial lambs of redevelopment

Low and hollow drumbeats echo from the walls of a cavern in the

depths of city headquarters. A dim light from a torch emits an eerie

glow on the faces of leaders, who are cloaked in ceremonial garb.

Behind them, a faithful following begins to chant, anxious for the

ritual to get underway.

Zealous participants gather around the altar of the “good city

gods” and ready for the sacrifice. A select group of commanders step

toward the shrine holding a wriggling lamb in their arms. The fleeced

animal cries loudly, but is unable to overwhelm the voice of the

masses.

Costa Mesa entrepreneurs, whose attractive properties have been

lumped in with a largely blighted area targeted for drastic changes

by the city Redevelopment Agency, say they can identify with the

forsaken animal. Businessmen on the marked portion of the Westside

say they are being unwillingly led to slaughter by those who believe

their demise will improve the city.

Nearly everyone can admit portions of the area marked for

inclusion in the Redevelopment Area is in great disrepair. A drive

along the streets encompassed by the 434-acre tagged redevelopment

area presents a hodgepodge of various land uses, from office and

industrial to residential.

Planning commissioners approved this week its preliminary

inclusion to the redevelopment area, which was formed in 1973 and

includes projects such as Triangle Square and Costa Mesa Courtyards.

Independent consultants established the additional territory

according to industry measures of blight, sketching out a

redevelopment region comprising 627 businesses.

Unruly chain-link fences, peeled paint and discarded tires litter

the exterior of many of the properties in the vicinity, and reticent

homes stick out among ship yards, steel plating shops and auto

painting businesses. Many of the office complexes boast large “for

lease” signs, which publicize high vacancy rates and lead consultants

to believe that portion of the city is underused.

Just down the road, however, stands a nicely kept building with

wonderful landscaping and an attractive facade. Businesses such as

this one are also scattered throughout the area and boast substantial

profit margins, flashy signs and expensive cars in their driveways --

all a testament of success, the owners say.

Why would the Costa Mesa leadership be so eager to punish success?

“The majority of the area is in desperate need of improvement,”

the masses cry out. “Some will indeed suffer for the good of all.”

And who better than the Newport Beach residents, who continue to

make millions in Costa Mesans’ back yards? Blight or no blight,

affluent millionaires who don’t live in the city are the easiest

target and only bolster the argument that Costa Mesa continues to be

a dumping ground for her more prominent neighbor.

Costa Mesa residents who say they have shouldered the blighted

burden for too long are anxious to relinquish their role as the

sacrificial lamb to those who they say can afford it.

Although no definitive decisions have been made, the battle lines

have been clearly drawn: Costa Mesa leadership is marching forward

with its call to revitalize the Westside. And business owners in the

area will fight tooth and nail before their empires pay the price for

the city’s salvation.

Many residents, who are part of the “improvement movement,” have

struck the first blow, getting their two hand-picked councilmen at

the helm of the redevelopment agency.

The business owners took the hit, but have mounted a

counterstrike.

Their voices are growing louder as public testimony is gathered,

but it is still unclear if they can make enough noise to drown out

the majority in favor redevelopment.

Those who think a compromise can be accomplished are wrong. Two

undeniably different schools of thought are debating the

redevelopment issue, and only one thing is certain: Action must be

taken.

Who will pay the ultimate price has yet to be seen, but it

promises to be a bloody fight.

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

and may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or by e-mail at

lolita.harper@latimes.com.