Redevelopment will revitalize

While the word redevelopment has struck fear into hearts of many

Southeast Huntington Beach residents -- who suddenly had visions of

more industrial giants billowing pollutants and of a city government

turned overly powerful -- the designation could mean a needed

revitalization to the area.

Residents, who have long felt that their section of the city has

been a dumping ground of sorts, are equally eager and skittish.

The City Council will have to act wisely, openly and carefully to

ensure that the fears of redevelopment don’t develop into reality for

those living within this zone, which is bounded by Newland Street to

the west, Hamilton Avenue to the north, Magnolia Street on the east

and Pacific Coast Highway on the south.

So far, plans for the area only cover repairing the cracked and

crumbing streets and sidewalks.

While these are essential repairs, and certainly the first step

toward fixing up the area, residents eagerly await the next phase and

hope for aesthetic improvements.

Residents in the Southeast have complained that while other areas

of town have lush, landscaped medians, theirs are ugly concrete

slabs.

Another major complaint and concern is that the Southeast has

become the industrial center of the city. The area houses the Orange

County Sanitation District and the AES Huntington Beach power plant.

Now, Poseidon Resources Corp. has proposed a desalination plant to

be built there.

The Southeast is also the site of the toxic Ascon waste dump.

It is easy to understand why these residents feel as they do.

But the future is bright.

Ascon is on its way to being cleaned up, which would be a major

boon to the Southeast.

Residents have proven themselves active and interested, which will

go a long way in seeing that things get done right. They need to

continue to be watchful, yet open-minded as talks with the city move

forward.

And city leaders need to be sure they are listening to the

residents of that area and not just fixing the area up as they see

fit to enhance city coffers.

The two factions need to be patient, calm and build consensus. The

redevelopment is a positive thing that can benefit the residents and

the city.