|
History of the El Cajon Redevelopment
Agency
Since 1948, every California city and county has
had the authority to establish a redevelopment
program. Both the State of California and its
residents recognized that municipalities were
beginning to experience financial and social impacts
from deteriorating urban areas, and felt that
these problems could be addressed at the local
level. The first redevelopment projects were affordable
housing for military personnel returning from
World War II. As the benefits of local agency
control over the removal of blight became apparent,
redevelopment as a tool for commercial and industrial
development was instituted.
 |
Redevelopment
Initiated in El Cajon
In 1971, the City Council established the El Cajon
Redevelopment Agency, and appointed the City Council
the governing body of the Agency. During that
year, the City Council also adopted the Central
Business District Redevelopment Project Area to
stimulate redevelopment efforts in Downtown El
Cajon. The 50-acre redevelopment project generally
included those properties adjacent to the existing
Civic Center complex. The Agency’s first
redevelopment venture involved a joint partnership
with the County of San Diego and Grossmont Community
College District to develop City Hall, the East
County Regional Center, and the East County Performing
Arts Center. It was the Agency’s hope that
this public investment would stimulate corresponding
private redevelopment activity in the downtown;
the Redevelopment Agency’s effort, however,
did not prove to be enough.
 |
The
1987 Amendment
In 1986, the Agency commissioned a review of the
Central Business District Redevelopment Project
Area to identify methods in which the Agency could
further stimulate private redevelopment activities.
This review concluded that the existing 50-acre
project area was too small in size, and that the
revenue generated could not support a wider redevelopment
effort. Further, this review identified other areas
and needs in the community that could be addressed
through redevelopment. In 1987, the Agency adopted
the El Cajon Redevelopment Project Area that encompasses
1,548 acres of commercial, industrial, and residential
properties. Since adopting the 1987 amendment, the
Agency has actively pursued new redevelopment projects
in conjunction with the private sector. These projects
are funded through tax increment financing.
Dissolution of all Redevelopment Agencies
The El Cajon Redevelopment Agency (RDA) was dissolved as of February 1, 2012. While the Agency no longer exists, the Successor Agency (City of El Cajon) has assumed responsibility for administering enforceable obligations of the RDA, completing existing projects, and ultimately to wind down RDA operations over time.
Click here for Project Redevelopment Map
|
