Boarded up houses bedevil the City Council
“Work in Progress” reads a small sign fronting three city-owned, boarded-up houses on Lakeview Avenue, just north of the Original Pancake House on Yorba Linda Boulevard.
Two similar signs are posted on city parcels on School Street and Valencia Avenue, less-traveled lanes between Lakeview Avenue and Main Street in the historic Old Town area.
Currently, however, some of the “work” involves wrangling among divided City Council members—whose names are listed on each sign—whether to rehabilitate or raze some or all of 12 vacant units controlled by the city’s Redevelopment Agency.
The dozen residences are located on 10 of about 50 city-owned parcels in the downtown area, and were built between 1913 and 1951. The city began buying Old Town property in 1975, but most lots were purchased in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
In a report to the council, Pam Stoker, the city housing and redevelopment specialist, noted, “In order to assemble developable parcels, many of the structures that were on these [50] parcels have been demolished over the years and the land graded.”
An elaborate Town Center redevelopment plan advanced five years ago failed to win broad support among Yorba Lindans, so now, based on recommendations from a 24-member Blue Ribbon Committee, city-hired consultants are mapping new proposals.
Meanwhile, council members are trying to decide what to do with fenced-off, boarded-up units that are drawing negative comments from residents throughout the city. “Eyesores” and “public nuisance” are just two descriptions by recent speakers at council meetings.
Council members have different opinions on if, how and when any or all of the homes should be rehabilitated and rented until Town Center plans are shovel-ready, based on statements each made at a November council meeting.
According to Stoker, rehabilitation costs for the units range from $50,000 to $135,000, with sufficient Redevelopment Agency funding available to complete renovations, but “other agency projects may need to be delayed or eliminated as a result.”
With monthly market-rate rents of $1,245 for one-bedroom, $1,550 for two bedroom and $1,975 for three bedroom units, the RDA could see a positive investment return for most of the properties by the third year, Stoker noted.
The investment return could be extended to recoup additional costs if units are moved to another location, and when maintenance, property management and insurance are added, Stoker stated. Demolition and clean-up costs for the 12 structures are estimated to be from $9,000 to $12,000 each.
Actual progress will be further delayed, since after much discussion council directed staff “to redo the scope of work, removing some of the unneeded items with special preference to the oldest homes, continue the item and bring it back to council at a future meeting.”
Two similar signs are posted on city parcels on School Street and Valencia Avenue, less-traveled lanes between Lakeview Avenue and Main Street in the historic Old Town area.
Currently, however, some of the “work” involves wrangling among divided City Council members—whose names are listed on each sign—whether to rehabilitate or raze some or all of 12 vacant units controlled by the city’s Redevelopment Agency.
The dozen residences are located on 10 of about 50 city-owned parcels in the downtown area, and were built between 1913 and 1951. The city began buying Old Town property in 1975, but most lots were purchased in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
In a report to the council, Pam Stoker, the city housing and redevelopment specialist, noted, “In order to assemble developable parcels, many of the structures that were on these [50] parcels have been demolished over the years and the land graded.”
An elaborate Town Center redevelopment plan advanced five years ago failed to win broad support among Yorba Lindans, so now, based on recommendations from a 24-member Blue Ribbon Committee, city-hired consultants are mapping new proposals.
Meanwhile, council members are trying to decide what to do with fenced-off, boarded-up units that are drawing negative comments from residents throughout the city. “Eyesores” and “public nuisance” are just two descriptions by recent speakers at council meetings.
Council members have different opinions on if, how and when any or all of the homes should be rehabilitated and rented until Town Center plans are shovel-ready, based on statements each made at a November council meeting.
According to Stoker, rehabilitation costs for the units range from $50,000 to $135,000, with sufficient Redevelopment Agency funding available to complete renovations, but “other agency projects may need to be delayed or eliminated as a result.”
With monthly market-rate rents of $1,245 for one-bedroom, $1,550 for two bedroom and $1,975 for three bedroom units, the RDA could see a positive investment return for most of the properties by the third year, Stoker noted.
The investment return could be extended to recoup additional costs if units are moved to another location, and when maintenance, property management and insurance are added, Stoker stated. Demolition and clean-up costs for the 12 structures are estimated to be from $9,000 to $12,000 each.
Actual progress will be further delayed, since after much discussion council directed staff “to redo the scope of work, removing some of the unneeded items with special preference to the oldest homes, continue the item and bring it back to council at a future meeting.”
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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