How the Redevelopment Project Area in North Park impacts you:

A multi-part series to help you understand the organizations that affect our community

There are many popular myths on television, in print, and around the Internet about what Redevelopment is in San Diego and how it impacts you. Did you ever wonder what Redevelopment actually is in San Diego? Do you want to know how Redevelopment decisions affect the North Park community? This article will give you some of the basics here in North Park and let you know how to get more information.

The North Park “project area” is an area defined by local government to have met the definition of being blighted (i.e. economic and physical distress) at the time the area was created. The North Park project area is bounded by Interstate 805 to the east and Park Boulevard to the west and stretches as far north as Adams Avenue and as far south as Upas Street.  

Why does the North Park Project Area matter to me?
According to Kirsten Clemons, a former Chairperson of the Project Area Committee (PAC), there are two key reasons the project area matters to you:
--The PAC makes recommendations to the City Council (technically it is the Board of the “Redevelopment Agency,” but in San Diego the City Council has both jobs). These are well-thought out and debated suggestions that are based on information supplied to the PAC about how redevelopment funds in North Park should be spent. With board members representing community organizations, business owners, homeowners, and renters, the PAC serves as the community’s voice for the future of redevelopment in North Park.
--The PAC meetings provide an opportunity for the residents of North Park to provide direct input and suggestions to the board on potential new housing and commercial projects. These projects will shape the future of North Park so public input is essential to ensure that development in North Park reflects the priorities and character of the community within the confines of redevelopment law. Each meeting has a specific “public comment” period, so you should ask for an agenda to know when you can make your voice heard.  

How do I know what my tax dollars are used for?
The PAC is made up of residents, businesses, and community groups here in North Park who care about making sure your interests are represented. The NPCA has a representative on the PAC—David Cohen.  You can always contact the PAC directly or contact the NPCA Board of Directors to get updates and find out how to attend meetings. This money can be used only for certain types of projects to improve the community or in exchange with a neighboring community that affects North Park. Examples of key projects the Redevelopment Agency has helped to fund in North Park include:

--The North Park Theater
--The North Park Parking Garage
--La Boheme
--The Renaissance at North Park

How can I learn more?
In California, redevelopment has a very specific meaning that comes from a State Law, the California Community Redevelopment Law. It allows local governments to create project areas—portions of neighborhoods that are determined by a local government agency to be blighted. In this context, “blight” is defined by law but includes things like abandoned and trashed lots and economic distress. For more specific information, visit: http://www.sandiego.gov/redevelopment-agency/overview .