SHERMAN OAKS : New Program Aims to Ease Rebuilding

A new program designed to help property owners obtain funds to repair their earthquake-damaged apartment buildings has been initiated by Los Angeles City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky.

The program will be an expansion of the city Housing Department’s project to help property owners in the 13 hardest-hit census tracts obtain reconstruction loans.

Although three of the 13 tracts are in Sherman Oaks, the department has resources to give significant help to only one tract--which includes Willis and Natick avenues between the Ventura Freeway and Ventura Boulevard, according to Alisa Katz, Yaroslavsky’s chief deputy.

Yaroslavsky’s office will present details about the program, as well as a proposal to declare Sherman Oaks a redevelopment area, to community leaders at a meeting Tuesday.

The councilman plans to hire a consultant to help owners of apartment buildings in a larger, as-yet-undetermined area of the town.

The consultant would ask property owners about their financing needs, advise them of governmental loan programs for which they are eligible, and act as a facilitator between the building owners and the loan agencies, such as the Small Business Administration.

The consultant, Michael Jimenez, worked on housing and redevelopment issues as an aide to Yaroslavsky from 1989 to 1992, when he began working at the Community Redevelopment Agency as its liaison to the City Council.

Jimenez will be paid from council office funds that accumulated when the office did not fill staff positions that were open, Katz said.

“Here’s a government program that we’re taking to the people,” Katz said. “We’re not going to wait for people to come to us.

“We’re going to go door to door, saying ‘Here’s what we have to offer.’ We hope it will have a big impact.”

Jimenez will work under a six-month contract. His salary has not been finalized, Katz said. Community leader Jeff Brain said the program would give a needed boost to Sherman Oaks.

“I think it’s a great step,” Brain said. “I can’t wait until it’s in place.

“I’m going to call (the council office) and offer any help I can.”