Considering the options

He is a Westside resident. He won his seat on the Costa Mesa council

largely in part of grass-root efforts from his friends in that part

of town. But when it came down to one of the biggest votes regarding

the Westside on Monday, Councilman Allan Mansoor had to leave the

room.

The Costa Mesa City Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency,

voted 3 to 1 to scrap its plan to add an odd-shaped portion of the

Westside to its existing downtown redevelopment area, which includes

the highly visible Triangle Square complex, saying revitalization is

better achieved through other options.

Monday’s vote took the steam out of a redevelopment plan that had

been building momentum for years. Proponents of redevelopment argued

loudly that the only way to repair what they saw as broken and

blighted parts of town was to declare a redevelopment zone, which

would freeze property taxes at the rate of the current fiscal year

and redirect 70% of future tax increases to the agency to be

reinvested in the community.

Mansoor could not vote on the issue because he owns property

within 500 feet of the area being considered. A turn of events that

could have been considered a mixed-blessing, considering many

proponents of redevelopment voted for Mansoor in 2002 and would

perhaps be disappointed to learn which way the Westsider would have

gone.

Columnist Lolita Harper caught up with Mansoor Saturday to find

out what would have happened, had he been at his council seat Monday.

What do you think about the council’s decision to scrap plans to

expand the redevelopment area?

Well, it is going to give us an opportunity to really show how

serious we are about putting incentives forward that will really open

up the door to change on the Westside. I think we seriously need to

look at overlay zones and various other incentives for lot

combinations, and so forth, to stimulate change on the Westside. We

also need to do that in conjunction with our continued efforts to

continue with street improvements, undergrounding of utilities and

landscaped medians. And I think the city has already taken the first

step in that.

How would you have voted?

Well, I have always wanted to give revitalization a shot first,

before going forward with redevelopment. We have always looked at all

the options but I think we have never really given revitalization a

complete chance. This is really going to put us in a position to do

that.

Are you saying you would have voted with the majority of your

council members?

I think I answered your question. I mean, there are other options.

Any council meeting regular knows you like to explain why you did

or did not support something. If you would have been able to cast

your vote Monday, what would your explanation have been?

That I really want to see the city put its money where its mouth

is and think we really are starting to do that now. As I said

earlier, I want to continue in that direction with infrastructure

improvements but also come up with unique ideas to incorporate

options such as artists lofts and mixed-use types of land use

alternatives. These options may well be very viable.

You campaigned on improvement of the entire city but considering

you were largely backed by members of the Westside Improvement Assn.,

and that you live on the Westside, would it be fair to call that part

of the city a priority for you?

Well ... For example, there are many streets that needed repair

throughout the whole city and the city has a schedule that puts them

in the proper order, as far as priority. However, the Westside

clearly has some areas that need specific attention and will rightly

get that No. 1 priority. But I will also say that I do have a goal of

putting something forward to focus on “undergrounding” utilities in

the entire city. In other words, the Westside is definitely in great

need of repair but I think we are seeing improvements citywide also.

What was it like having to sit back and watch a decision being

made about a portion of the city you care a lot about without being

able to weigh in?

Actually, I had to leave the room. It was frustrating but I am now

able to jump back into the mix and you will see that. I will continue

to put these issues front and center.

What do you say to those of your supporters, who looked largely to

you and Councilman Chris Steel to gather a majority for substantive

change on the Westside, which included redevelopment?

I would point out that I have followed through with putting issues

of importance on the agenda, such as the Job Center. And as anyone

who follows city issues can see, I don’t always agree with the

direction that Chris Steel wants to go. But at the same time I will

continue to put these issues forward and resolve them. I think this

recent vote simply opens up the door for private revitalization and

investment by the city.

Do you trust the industrial property owners will continue to make

improvements, independent of the fear of redevelopment?

They told me they would, so only time will tell. I have had some

discussions with them and willing to at least see what they want to

put forward.

The council left 19th Street on the table for possible

consideration for redevelopment. What do you think would need to be

done there to help make the Westside more viable?

Well, there are things that were done, for example, on Newport

Boulevard in the area known as “demonstration block,” where funds can

be used to make changes to the exterior of the buildings. That is

just one of many options so it will just be a matter of looking at

everything that staff brings forward and figuring out what will work

the best.

Speaking of improvement on the Westside, how is your house coming

along?

It’s been on hold for the most part. I just do a little here and a

little there. I really have been putting in a lot of time on city

issues and the house has been a back burner-type thing. Plus, it is

mostly finished.

According to your mini bio in the DP 103 section, you like reading

staff reports (wink, wink). Which one tops your pleasure-reading

list?

(Laughing) I can’t be forced to pick one. I think I like all of

them equally, they are just so chock-full of excitement I just can’t

contain myself. I burst with excitement every time I read one.