Downtown 2000, the redevelopment project that has served as a lightning rod for discontent at City Hall, received an Award of Excellence this week from the California Redevelopment Association.
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.
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.
A proposal before the city Redevelopment Agency board could create 53 affordable senior apartments for low income residents in exchange for a $1.8 million loan. The developer, American Senior Living, would build the complex at 150 W. Las Tunas Drive.
The City Council will vote on approval of a property acquisition plan with Rusnak Arcadia tonight. The opposition, comprised of seven former mayors, don't want Redevelopment Agency money to help a private business buy five nearby properties.
The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency will review proposals by four developers interested in building multi-family homes on Live Oak Avenue for low-income residents.
City Council was briefed on Arcadia's redevelopment efforts which includes the construction of a new police station, creation of affordable housing and improvements to the city's business districts.
The Community Redevelopment Agency is still considering an 11-acre project around the former Foulger Ford property, now owned by car dealer Paul Rusnak.
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.
The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency will vote on awarding $152,126 to Mariposa Horticultural Enterprises, Inc., to build a bus shelter and provide landscaping at the Arcadia Public Library.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich met with Arcadia City Council and the Redevelopment Agency to discuss the Gold Line issues and state funding.
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.
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 Arcadia Redevelopment Agency adopted a resolution approving the land acquisition and development agreement to help Paul Rusnak buy five sites for his Mercedes Benz dealership expansion. The Arcadia Elks Lodge doesn't want to move.
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.