THOUSAND OAKS LEADERS SUPPORT DRIVE TO RENOVATE AGING HOMES.

Byline: Sonia Giordani Daily News Staff Writer

With dozens of the city's 40- and 50-year-old homes visibly deteriorating, Thousand Oaks officials are looking to expand rehabilitation programs into older neighborhoods to make houses safer and more attractive.

Officials will meet next week to discuss ways to target neighborhoods with aging houses and apartments. One proposal would send city staffers to look for building code violations in older homes, and to notify owners that the time to start making repairs is now.

``Rather than allowing the condition to continue and spread throughout a neighborhood, my idea is to let people know that they have to keep up the level of maintenance,'' said Councilwoman Judy Lazar.

Homeowners also would be told about existing housing rehab programs, said Lazar, who wants the council to adopt a proactive program for a six-month trial period.

The City Council last month indicated a renewed interest in housing, particularly in increasing affordable housing in Thousand Oaks. The council allocated $2.7 million to Many Mansions, a nonprofit housing advocate, to help acquire and rehabilitate the Island Village apartment complex.

On Tuesday, the council is expected to create a Housing Issues Committee that would include representatives of Many Mansions, the Council on Aging and the Area Housing Authority. The housing committee would advise the city on affordable developments and would work with the city to improve aging residences.

Additionally, the council is scheduled to reconsider drafting an ordinance to crack down on landlords who allow the apartments to deteriorate.

``In view of regular concerns with unsafe and unsanitary housing in the city, this item is of utmost importance and it should be prioritized and expedited,'' Councilman Andy Fox wrote in a memo to city officials.

The issue of ensuring safe and affordable housing has been a growing priority among city officials. In the early 1990s, the city worked with Many Mansions to rehabilitate the Shadow Hills complex.

``At that time, the city considered it a rogue project. The fact is that all through California and especially Southern California, private rental housing has become the housing of last resort for many low-income residents. They tend to get overcrowded. The landlords sometimes don't maintain the complexes,'' said Olav Hassel, housing services manager.

With more than 5,000 rented apartments in the city and about a quarter of the city's condominiums and homes also leased - accounting for roughly 35 percent of the city's housing stock - Hassel said the city's priority now has turned to making sure all residential communities are maintained.

``This City Council meeting is really addressing the fact that Thousand Oaks will not take it lying down. Apartments and all rental units will maintain high standards,'' he said.