ANAHEIM : Big A Is Designated Redevelopment Area

The City Council on Tuesday approved a plan to designate Anaheim Stadium and its parking lot a redevelopment project, setting the stage for a possible renovation of the facility and construction of a new stadium.

City officials, however, said the designation primarily is intended to help finance repairs to the stadium that were caused during the Jan. 17 Northridge earthquake.

No commitment has been made to either refurbish or build a new stadium.

A new stadium or renovation of the existing one is believed to be a key element in any effort to prevent the Los Angeles Rams from moving out of the stadium, some city officials contend.

Ram officials have said Anaheim Stadium is obsolete and they are looking to move to another city with a better facility and greater financial opportunities. The team exercised a 15-month escape clause in its stadium lease in May.

During the earthquake, the stadium’s 17-ton scoreboard toppled and caused up to $10 million in damage. Because of that damage, the city is allowed to create a redevelopment project without making the required findings in the area of blight, crime and other community deficiencies.

With the declaration, the city will be able to use any increase in tax revenue for future development on the 150-acre stadium land. City officials say the project may eventually help finance a stadium remodeling or even a new facility.

The city’s action Tuesday started the redevelopment process, which still requires several public hearings before it can go forward.