North Hollywood Redevelopment

* “Heady Plans, Hard Reality” (Jan. 30) shed much-needed light on the Community Redevelopment Agency’s expenditure of $117-million in North Hollywood. However, additional facts should be noted. The reason for the number of vacant and deteriorating homes doubling under CRA’s control was because they were under threat of eminent domain. A property owner’s reinvestment in his property was not protected. Prospective buyers would not purchase the property for that reason.

The CRA did not provide information on how much of the $117 million paid salaries for its 360 staff employees, overhead, plans and studies. They didn’t work for nothing. Now they are about to do the same thing for the property owners in 11 square miles in the northeast Valley.

DON LIPPMAN

Los Angeles

* I believe North Hollywood will experience the same renaissance that Hollywood is now experiencing. I ride the subway frequently and am very happy to see it full; people seem to like it. The city should take a “build it and they will come” attitude. The subway extension into Hollywood opened and I counted at least six projects along Hollywood Boulevard that broke ground the same week.

On Jan. 31 there was a story of illegal food vendors. Why doesn’t North Hollywood develop a farmers’ market where people could open little stands in a sanitary setting? Keep the costs down so that people can afford to open the stalls. Much like Seattle’s Pike Street Market, artists and musicians could also have space to perform or sell their crafts. I am sure the area would be teeming with people attracted to a diverse venue of food and crafts.

ROBERT L. MICHLER

Hollywood