ANOTHER STEP TOWARD LURING NFL COUNCIL OKS RESTRUCTURED REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AROUND COLISEUM.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Seeking to send a message to National Football League owners that it is serious about hosting a team, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved a broad restructuring of a redevelopment project to finance improvements around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The council voted 13-0 to approve a 12-year extension of the Hoover Redevelopment Project, making $115 million available for revitalization of the Exposition Park area, including $80 million for below-market housing.

``This sends a message to the NFL that this city is prepared to do its part in terms of bringing professional football back to Los Angeles,'' said Councilman Bernard Parks, who has taken the lead on the issue among city officials.

``This is also about economic development for this area and ensuring that tax dollars raised from this project area remain in the area for development.''

The designation is considered a key to winning the NFL's blessing for creating a new franchise or relocating an existing team in Los Angeles. The league has said it would build a new facility, at an estimated cost of $500 million, within the existing walls of the Coliseum to protect the venue's historic status.

City representatives plan to attend the NFL owners' meeting Oct. 25-27 in Kansas City to make a pitch for bringing a professional football team back to Los Angeles.

Assemblyman Mark Ridley-Thomas, D-Los Angeles, who had begun the effort to bring football back to the Coliseum when he served on the council, praised the move.

``We needed this to tell the owners that we in Los Angeles are serious,'' said Ridley-Thomas, who recently won support from the state Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank for legislation that allows the redevelopment money to be reinvested in the area.

Parks and Ridley-Thomas said they were prepared to defend the proposal against those who question how redevelopment project areas defer property-tax money from the general fund, which could be used citywide for other priorities.

``A city needs more than just a police force,'' said Parks, who was chief of police before being elected to the council. ``A city has to offer recreation and culture and economic development.

``This project will provide housing for people and create jobs that are needed.''

Councilman Greig Smith said he voted for the project because of those reasons - not to lure a football team.

``Quite frankly, I could care less about professional football, but I do care about revitalizing this area,'' Smith said.

NFL officials have been considering for months where a professional football team should be located in Southern California, with the Coliseum and Anaheim considered to be the last major contenders.

NFL team owners had been scheduled to discuss the issue at a meeting later this month, but last week officials said they planned to again put it on hold.

Ridley-Thomas said he hoped the action by the City Council could convince owners to take up the issue.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com