Family moved to make way for new housing
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com
A longtime Moorpark residenwas forced to move out of her rental home last week because the Moorpark Redevelopment Agency plans to build a multifamily condominium complex at the site.

But even as the resident said she's satisfied with her new accommodations, the relocation stirred a debate in downtown Moorpark. Some people don'think the redevelopment agency acted appropriately.

Last year the agency purchased from the Area Housing Authority for $400,000 the house in which Lisa Ventura and her three children have lived for the past several years. The structure will be razed to make way for the multifamily housing complex that will occupy a half block of Moorpark Avenue across the street from the Civic Center.

The complex- which will include both marketrate and affordable units- will have two- and three-bedroom units with a view and a common recreation area or private rear yards. The new project will house 20 or 25 families.

Twenty to 50 percent of the homes will be sold for $100,000 to $175,000 to people who qualify for the city's First Time Homebuyer program and the rest will be sold at market rate.

Ventura was asked to move this month because the city needs to complete environmental studies before construction can begin in 2008. The project should be completed by summer 2009, according to David Moe, redevelopment agency manager.

Although Ventura had to move to make way for the new project, she's still more fortunate than most people who rent homes, according to city officials.

The city spent about $15,000 to provide relocation assistance to the mother who works two part-time jobs.

"The assistance included helping Lisa understand what she was entitled to and providing her with a list of available rental units in the surrounding area," said Moe.

Only two out of 72 units available within a 10mile radius were in Moorpark, Moe said, and the Ventura family has

hree large dogs. The city worked hard to keep them in the area, he added.

In the end, Ventura found a home only six miles from her

ormer residence.

"I'm very happy with where we've been relocated," she said.

But Dale Whitaker, who owns a business in downtown Moorpark, said the matter wasn't handled well.

"They (the agency) may have spent $15,000 of their time but the

enant only got $2,000," said Whitaker. He chairs the Project Area Committee that was created

o make recommendations on an eminent domain amendment proposed by the agency.

Eminent domain enables pub

ic agencies to acquire properties without the owner's blessings.

Since Ventura found her own place, Whitaker said, "the reloca

ion outfit was useless. They did nothing except handle the evic

ion, in my opinion."

Whitaker also wanted to know why Ventura wasn't relocated to another city-owned house on Charles Street that's been vacant for years.

"The city wasn't very proactive or creative with this thing at all," said Whitaker. "I'm sorry that Ms. Ventura had to be the test case, but this situation will promote a lot of questions from the Project Area Committee about relocation."

According to Moe, "the committee reviewed the relocation plan for Lisa Ventura and they approved it with no comments."

The vacant home on Charles Street is in "horrible shape" and it would cost $150,000 to remodel, Moe said.

He also said that Ventura will have an opportunity to purchase one of the units in the new condominium complex through the First Time Homebuyer program because she was displaced by a redevelopment project.

"Ventura's relocation is not an eminent domain procedure," said Moorpark Councilmember Keith Millhouse.