HOUSING STILL MISSING LOW-INCOME UNITS MANDATED BY STATE LAW REMAIN IN PLANNING STAGE.

Byline: Eugene Tong  Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Though redevelopment continues apace in downtown Newhall, with spruced-up storefronts and a new community center, the area still lacks the low-income housing required by state law, according to a project review to be presented this week to the City Council.

The review - required three years after the city Redevelopment Agency's 2002 adoption of a five-year implementation plan for reviving downtown Newhall - found some 14 housing units had been built in the area.

But the neighborhood still lacks two affordable housing units - one for the very low-income - as mandated by the California Community Redevelopment Law, according to a report to be presented Tuesday to the Santa Clarita City Council.

The legislation grants the city redevelopment agency special powers to assemble land and to lure investment.

The redevelopment agency, which has plans to develop the 200-unit Canyon Country Senior Apartments to fulfill part of the obligation, is seeking ways to meet the very low-income housing requirement. Paul Brotzman, the city's planning and economic development director, believes officials are up to the challenge.

``That's going to be a challenge for us,'' he said. ``In terms of affordability over the long term, the more successful the city will be in the area, the more property values are going to go up. ... That affects affordability.''

The redevelopment agency also has pressed facade and screening programs in downtown Newhall's business district along San Fernando Road. Since 2002, the city has completed five building improvements and a screening project - totaling $104,000.

Meantime, construction continues for the new neighborhood Community Center along Railroad Avenue, and the city has spent $1 million on a specific plan - a blueprint - that proposes to transform the dusty, aging neighborhood into a pedestrian shopping and residential district.

City leaders also have proposed earmarking $7 million from the 2005-06 budget for the redevelopment reserve.

Still, the revitalization plans has its opponents, especially the owners of auto-related businesses dotting San Fernando Road. At a recent public session on the Newhall Specific Plan, several protested, claiming they were left out of the city's vision for the neighborhood.

Brotzman believes their concerns can be bridged with further discussion.

``What we have are some people who have been very much on board, and some other people who are just learning about the plan and who are very concerned,'' he said. ``It's communication. The more we're can keep dialogue going, the more we're going to have people on board.''

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

IF YOU GO

The Santa Clarita City Council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday in its first-floor chambers in City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd.

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