The Jeffrey-Lynne Redevelopment Dilemma

* How will the dilemma of Jeffrey-Lynne be solved?

You point out (Nov. 8) that Anaheim “has tried to clean up the area for years but with little success.” The fact is that these efforts have been Band-Aid attempts. The overall condition of Jeffrey-Lynne remains the same as always and is the major cause of depreciated home values in the surrounding residential area.

It is a sordid story of crime, decrepit buildings, mismanagement by absentee landlords, overcrowded apartments, and social dependency, which has been well documented. It continues today.

Many of the decrepit buildings are beyond reasonable economic repair and should be replaced. The absentee landlords do not have centralized management, which causes major code enforcement, tenant screening and property maintenance problems. Single management control is an absolute minimal necessity.

Population estimates have been made for the 700 apartments at between 5,000 to 7,000 residents, or 7 to 10 per apartment. Considering that many of the apartments are one-bedroom, the magnitude of problems is evident.

The timing for resolution could hardly be more opportune. Disney is spending billions in their new expansion and Anaheim is spending millions to revitalize the city’s neighborhoods. The city also has a major reworking of the Jeffrey-Lynne area under consideration.

Every effort must be made to keep this major project substantive and not let it degrade into more Band-Aid works.

Involvement of private organizations, primarily Disney, might reasonably be a high priority in redevelopment of Jeffrey-Lynne.

The ghetto character of Jeffrey-Lynne and its proximity to Disney property directly across the street is in direct conflict with the opulence of Disney’s and the city’s planned “world class” resort.

Disney and Anaheim have vested reasons to join together in a total revitalization of the Jeffrey-Lynne area.

BOB BALL

Anaheim