Project to Start Upgrading of Blighted Area

A $20-million project to upgrade a run-down apartment neighborhood by turning it into a gated community will begin before year’s end, officials said this week.

The neighborhood of about 200 apartment units, built in the late 1950s and early ‘60s off La Palma Avenue near Harbor Boulevard, has suffered from severe overcrowding, multiple owners, absentee landlords, crime and unsafe housing, city officials said.

Under the plan, the area on about 11 acres on North Citron Street between La Palma Avenue and Romneya Drive will be renovated and improved with landscaping, open spaces, play areas for children and a community and recreation center.

“The goal is to revitalize a depressed area and completely rehabilitate structures to provide decent housing,” said Bertha Chavoya, city housing manager.

On Tuesday, the City Council moved the project forward by voting to turn five residential streets into private avenues so that the apartment area can be gated, providing security and controlled access.

About half of the apartments have already been vacated, officials said. Renovation of those will start in late December. The rest are to be completed by late 1997.

The area’s 45 buildings had 40 different owners, officials said.

Residents displaced during renovation are being offered temporary housing, Chavoya said, and will be invited to return to the apartments once the project is completed.

Anaheim Housing Authority has paired with Irvine-based Related Companies of California for the revitalization project.

“The whole concept is to create one coherent property with one owner and one property management,” said Bill Witte, a partner of Related Companies.

The housing authority will own the land and lease it to Related Companies, which will own and manage the apartment buildings.

The city used about $7 million in federal grants and city housing redevelopment funds to buy the properties.

Related Companies will invest nearly $13 million in the project, Witte said.