ANAHEIM : Creative Ideas Urged for Abandoned Lots

Concerns about blight caused by the proliferation of abandoned and vacant lots at major intersections has prompted the City Council to seek innovative solutions, such as converting the sites into mini-parks or landscaped areas.

In calling for city staff members to “be as creative as possible” with their suggestions for beautifying the often trash-strewn lots, Mayor Tom Daly said Tuesday that failure to address the problem could adversely affect the city’s business climate.

The 23 lots in question are in the central and western areas of the city along well-traveled roadways that include Lincoln and Katella avenues, Anaheim and State College boulevards, Brookhurst and Euclid streets, and Ball Road.

Some of these locations are the sites of abandoned gas stations that are undergoing state-mandated environmental cleanups.

One of the preliminary proposals from city staff members is for Anaheim to purchase the half-acre lots and develop them into mini-parks with play areas, fountains, landscaping, walkways and other amenities. City officials estimate this plan would cost about $460,000 per lot, along with $5,000 in annual maintenance expenses.

Another approach would be to purchase the sites and add landscaping, such as trees, shrubs and turf at a price of about $442,000 to $487,000 per lot. Annual maintenance costs would range from $1,500 to $4,000.

Councilman Lou Lopez said the city should contact the owners of the vacant and abandoned lots and ask them to beautify the sites.

“If they don’t,” Lopez said, “we could work with the city attorney to make them clean it up.”