Developing new tools for redevelopment

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- The city launched a new, independent Web site this week

designed to inform residents about all things redevelopment -- all the

time.

The official site of the Costa Mesa Redevelopment Agency, which

consists of all five council members, is up and running, offering

everything from detailed pictures, copies of relevant documents, calendar

and meeting information, and links to consultants, state laws, and health

and safety code sections.

Councilman Gary Monahan, chairman of the Redevelopment Agency, said he

was thoroughly impressed with the additional resource tool.

“Folks who have access to a computer will be able to pick up some

really great information on this site,” Monahan said.

Monahan admits he is no Internet-design guru but said he was floored

by impressive graphics and pictures on the site.

Assistant City Manager Don Lamm agreed.

“It’s a beautiful site,” he said.

Lamm said the site allows for greater communication with the community

as Costa Mesa moves though the redevelopment process.

“It’s a very interactive site for the whole community,” Lamm said. “We

are trying to make everything as easy as possible.

Previously, those who wanted to learn more about the redevelopment

process would have to log on to the city’s main Web site and navigate

through various links to find redevelopment information.

Now, residents can go directly to the source, Lamm said.

The Redevelopment Agency was established to revitalize the physical

and economic conditions of downtown Costa Mesa along Newport Boulevard.

The results of that redevelopment project brought the Neighborhood

Community Center, Triangle Square, Costa Mesa Courtyard and Fire Station

No. 3 to the city.

The most recent redevelopment project is designed to revitalize

blighted areas of the city -- largely focused on the Westside but also

including parts of northern Costa Mesa.

Lamm said the Web site will soon showcase the names of about 80

members of the Westside Redevelopment Advisory Committee, which is

designed to advise the agency on the future of the redevelopment area.

At press time Thursday evening, the Web site had 41 hits.

FYI

To access the Costa Mesa Redevelopment Agency Web site, log on to

www.cmredevelopment.org.