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New redevelopment zone could be on the horizon for South Lake Tahoe

Elaine Goodman

A new redevelopment zone in the city of South Lake Tahoe — possibly stretching along Highway 50 all the way from the “Y” to Herbert Avenue — could be in place by next summer, under a proposal the City Council will review today.

The council will decide today whether to pay $186,000 to GRC Redevelopment Consultants to move the plan forward.

Council members will also choose areas they want to study more closely to possibly include in a redevelopment zone.



Consultants have already done some research on the Tahoe Valley area around the “Y,” as well as in the Bijou and Al Tahoe neighborhoods.

They’re looking for blight — characterized by unsafe buildings, high vacancies, stagnant or declining property values, an excess of adult-oriented businesses, and high crime rates, among other factors.



Blight is one of the requirements for forming a redevelopment zone.

Based on their findings so far, the consultants are suggesting two changes to the area being evaluated: an additional section of Highway 50 through the center of town, and removing an area near the college.

The redevelopment zone that’s ultimately selected must fall within the area that’s been studied.

Redevelopment is a way to help local governments pay for improving blighted areas. As blighted areas are improved, property values go up, and redevelopment law allows the agencies to keep most of the increased tax revenue.

The city already has one redevelopment zone: the Stateline/Ski Run area adopted in 1988.

The council meeting begins at 9 a.m. today in council chambers at the Lake Tahoe Airport.


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