Keeping an eye on Catalina

In the 2200 block of Catalina Avenue, a future for dozens of low-income households will rise from a blighted property where not too long ago, an empty pool was being used as storage.

On Thursday, city officials celebrated the start of demolition and, soon, rebuilding of an affordable housing project that will replace blight with 20 brand-new apartments for people who otherwise could not afford them.

It’s a redevelopment-funded scenario of killing two birds with one stone: Get rid of the old, drag-on-property-values building and replace with a new development that, hopefully, will spark a larger revitalization throughout the neighborhood.

Remember redevelopment agency projects? Projects like the Catalina Development are what Gov. Jerry Brown and the state Legislature are trying to starve of oxygen by putting the lid on local redevelopment agencies.

If this project achieves its goals, including on a community-wide level, may it serve as an example of what local redevelopment agency dollars can truly accomplish.