Fullerton : Redevelopment Fund Proposal on Agenda

As part of an ongoing redevelopment project in the Orangefair Business District, the City Council is expected to consider a proposal tonight to approve about $2 million in Redevelopment Agency funds for a 31-acre commercial project.

If approved, the money will be used for street and storm drainage improvements as well as assisting the developers, Anaton Associates, in acquiring leases from businesses currently occupying the area, according Terry Galvin, city redevelopment manager.

The project, at the southwest corner of Harbor Boulevard and Orangethorpe Avenue, will include more than 200,000 square feet of commercial space.

Galvin said the project, when completed next year, is expected to generate about $74 million yearly in additional sales taxes and $22.5 million in property tax increment money.

Also under consideration tonight will be a staff recommendation to purchase a one-acre parcel of land at 125 E. Wilshire Ave. for the proposed Fullerton Museum Plaza in the downtown area. Galvin said the seller is seeking $200,000 for the site.

The City Council approved the concept of the plaza project last November and authorized the city staff to begin land acquisition. The proposed plaza--bounded by Pomona, Wilshire and Chapman avenues and Harbor Boulevard--will include a 400-seat special-effects film theater, a 600-seat outdoor amphitheater, specialty restaurants, shopping galleries and an outdoor art display area.

As a second measure, Galvin said, the staff also is asking the council to hire an architectural firm to prepare a site plan for the plaza and a traffic engineer to conduct a traffic and parking study of the area.

Also, the council will consider a proposal to allocate up to $10,000 in Redevelopment Agency funds as the city’s share in a Los Angeles-San Diego rail-corridor study. The study, due to be completed in two years, will examine the efficiency and effectiveness of Amtrak services to the Fullerton area, Galvin said.