Jeffrey-Lynne Revitalization Heads to Council

Pushing ahead with a controversial plan to revitalize a troubled neighborhood just west of Disneyland, the Anaheim City Council tonight will review a private developer’s plan to buy 29 buildings for $12 million and a separate plan to relocate about 1,000 displaced residents.

The Jeffrey-Lynne neighborhood--bounded by Cerritos and Audre avenues and Walnut and 9th streets--has long had problems associated with high crime and overcrowding. City officials have long contended that a complete make-over is the only alternative, and in July, the council voted 3 to 2 for redevelopment despite estimates that as many as 1,000 people could be moved from their homes.

“It’s time for rebuilding,” said Anaheim Mayor Tom Daly. “Most of the buildings are overcrowded and heavily used. I don’t see any other way. We’ve been waiting for the individual owners to take action for years.”

Acquiring the 29 apartment complexes is only the first phase of the plan. Eventually, the plan would target an additional 15 to 20 buildings, said Bill Witte, a partner in the Related Companies of California, the private Irvine developer hired by the city to manage the effort.

Each building has eight one-bedroom apartments. Often, four to 10 people live in a single apartment, according to city officials. The redevelopment plan will require new apartments to have more than a single bedroom and limit the number of people per unit.

The relocation plan was the outgrowth of concerns raised by Jeffrey-Lynne residents who feared that redevelopment would leave them without housing, especially if there were fewer apartments available and rents were likely to increase.

The plan devised by the Jeffrey-Lynne Advisory Committee, which includes neighborhood and city representatives, guarantees that money be made available to help residents afford higher rents. Those targeted would be residents whose rents have risen because of increased property values or those who have to seek alternative housing, but cannot find similarly priced rentals. Under the plan, all existing renters, including undocumented residents, would be eligible for the benefits.

Legal residents can receive federal subsidies for rental costs, or they can opt for a lump sum to go toward the purchase of a house. Undocumented residents can receive funding for up to 42 months from the Anaheim Housing Authority because, by law, they cannot receive federal funding.

The efforts of the city to work with residents in the community have calmed many who say they initially had strong reservations.

“The sad part is that some people will still be displaced,” said Francisco Ceja, a member of the advisory committee. “But at least the plan will be one we’re working on together.”