The City Council has authorized a study to determine whether Live Oak Avenue meets redevelopment law requirements of being a blighted area and whether to include businesses along Live Oak in the central city redevelopment district.
Arcadia loses a redevelopment battle with Los Angeles County. The ruling stated that the Las Tunas Drive - Live Oak Avenue area in South Arcadia did not meet the criteria to be declared blighted in order to receive redevelopment funds.
Arcadia City Council rejected objections filed by Los Angeles County and declared a redevelopment district for South Arcadia. The district, which covers business properties along Las Tunas and Live Oak, will be operated as a non-contiguous part of the Arcadia downtown redevelopment district. The City Council declared the area does suffer from both economic and physical blight, and hope to spend $12 million to upgrade the district.
Arcadia wants to declare a section of Live oak Avenue and Las Tunas Drive in south Arcadia a redevelopment zone to qualify for county funding. The County says area is not blighted and does not meet qualifications for funding.
The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency will review proposals by four developers interested in building multi-family homes on Live Oak Avenue for low-income residents.
Op-ed on the South Arcadia redevelopment and why the County should not be challenging the city's request for the area to be changed to a redevelopment zone in order to qualify for county funds.
The City of Arcadia wants to assist in the redevelopment of South Arcadia businesses around Live Oak and Las Tunas. The city will hold a hearing July 3 for the environmental impact report on a plan that has been proposed. The area in question covers 75 acres.
Habitat for Humanity proposed building 20 homes on city-owned land in South Arcadia that was previously used by the Arcadia Police Department horseback unit. The parcel's access would be via Live Oak Avenue. Assembly Bill 637 requires Arcadia to develop low-income housing. City Council did not make a decision, leaving options open.
City of Arcadia lost its lawsuit against the county to establish a redevelopment area in South Arcadia. The county determined the area did not fit legal definition of a blighted area.
The Arcadia City Council unanimously approved a General Plan update that aims to make the future Metro Gold Line station the heart of a revitalized downtown and the plan includes a revitalization of Live Oak Avenue.
Arcadia city officials will consider changes to its General Plan, a 25-year blueprint for land-use decisions. The new plan aims to revitalize the city's downtown (First Avenue and Huntington Drive) as well as the Live Oak Corridor in the city's southern end. "We're making it easier to develop the downtown and the area around the (future) Gold Line station," said Council Bob Harbicht. If approved, it would allow for mixed-use commercial and residential complexes, commercial square footages could double and the height limit would increase from 40 to 45 feet.
Santa Ana winds estimated at up to 80 mph, toppled 29 utility poles along Live Oak Avenue from Santa Anita to 10th Avenue in Arcadia. Arcadia was the hardest hit of the San Gabriel Valley cities.
Issues discussed at City Council meeting included redevelopment of South Arcadia along Live Oak Avenue and Las Tunas Drive, between just east of 6th Avenue and west of the Arcadia wash. The meeting lasted 18 minutes.
Southern California Edison (SCE) officials say that the Santa Ana winds caused the third largest power outage in the company's 113-year history. All electrical services are back along Live Oak Avenue in Arcadia.