City to Pay $1.2 Million for 21 Acres in Blighted Area

LANCASTER — Local officials have approved their largest expenditure yet in the city’s multimillion-dollar campaign to clean up a blighted neighborhood, agreeing to buy a mostly vacant 21-acre parcel for $1.2 million.

The planned purchase is part of the city’s Operation High Desert Storm. The campaign, launched in October, aims to redevelop a crime-ridden residential area centered on Cedar Avenue between avenues H-8 and H-12.

Sitting as directors of the Lancaster Redevelopment Agency, the five city council members voted unanimously Monday night to approve the land purchase and budget an additional $3.5 million for the overall campaign, bringing its total budget authorization to $4.75 million.

City Redevelopment Director Steve Dukett said the final cost for the effort will be higher. But Dukett added that he could not provide a total cost until early next month, when he plans to present the council with proposals for rebuilding the area.

Previously, city officials had agreed to purchase 10 of 20 run-down four-unit apartment buildings along Cedar Avenue and relocate remaining tenants at a total estimated cost of $1.8 million. Dukett said the city is negotiating to buy the remaining buildings and other parcels.

Lancaster officials appear headed toward a plan that would involve demolishing the apartment buildings once they have been bought by the city. The units had become a haven for drug dealing and prostitution. City officials have been discussing rebuilding the area with owner-occupied housing.

The purchase approved Monday night involved three parcels totaling 21 acres west of Beech Avenue and south of Avenue H-12. The property is owned by DeLois Tuck, Mary Jane McQueen, Merton Schwartz and Elaine Marshall. Dukett said the city will relocate the one small business on the property.

Dukett said the city’s payment, which equals $57,142 an acre, is reasonable and supported by a city-commissioned appraisal.

Lancaster officials recently expanded the project area to include the 21 acres and other nearby vacant property, saying the additional property was needed to make up a parcel large enough to support new development.