Crenshaw readies its bid for redevelopment status; officials expect to go to L.A. City Council within year.

The Crenshaw area may soon become the first riot-torn part of Los Angeles to be designated as a redevelopment project area and begin receiving property tax revenue for revitalization.

The Crenshaw Recovery Area Community Advisory Committee is preparing to go to the L.A. City Council with a redevelopment project area proposal in about nine to 12 months, said Roy Willis, director of operations for the Community Redevelopment Agency.

Running "neck and neck" with Crenshaw for project area designation is the Community Advisory Committee for the Broadway/Manchester area, said Willis.

Once a project area designation is granted, the CRA can collect property tax revenues in the designated area that exceed those being collected at the time of the designation. This tax revenue differential, which can be spent on redevelopment projects, is called the "increment."

The CRA board on Sept. 22, after hearing a presentation on the proposed project area's financing mechanisms, authorized the Crenshaw CAC to proceed with the redevelopment process and prepare documents required for submission to the City Council.

The proposed Crenshaw project area includes the areas generally known as Leimert, Santa Barbara Plaza, Crenshaw North and Crenshaw South.

Community leaders in the Broadway/Manchester area also have formed a CAC that is in the process of drafting a redevelopment plan.

The Broadway/Manchester area is south of 84th Street, east of the Harbor (110) Freeway and west of Central Avenue.

"Those two (Crenshaw and Broadway/Manchester) are upfront, ahead of the pack," said Willis. "Both of those groups are very eager to have a redevelopment program. We have some very vigorous community meetings going on."

Earlier this year, the City Council directed the CRA to hold meetings in riot-recovery areas to gauge support for redevelopment. In mid-April, the CRA assigned a dozen staff members to work full-time on recovery plans for the inner city.

Community leaders in four areas -- Crenshaw, Broadway/Manchester, Koreatown and Wilshire Center -- decided to pursue redevelopment project area designation.

CRA Administrator Ed Avila said those four areas could receive project designation in 1994, while five other riot areas may not receive designation until 1995.

Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who represents the Crenshaw area, directed the CRA to hold a CAC election there on July 1. Fifteen members were elected, and Ridley-Thomas appointed four more.

Before a CAC can approach the council seeking redevelopment project area designation, an environmental impact report must be prepared and then studied by the CAC.

Terry Hayes & Associates was recently hired by the CRA to prepare an EIR on Crenshaw redevelopment.

The CRA also has been asked to draft a plan for redevelopment of the east side of town, and the CRA is examining the possibility of a project area in the San Fernando Valley.