THE VACANT former Coco’s restaurant at Valley View Street and Cerulean Avenue in West Garden Grove (OC Tribune photo).

West Garden Grove may be the city’s most affluent area, but in recent years its main commercial drag along Valley View Street has suffered from a series of high-profile vacancies such as the now-closed Coco’s Restaurant and other businesses in the stretch between Cerulean and Chapman avenues.

In an effort to inform residents about the city’s efforts to attract new business to the area and otherwise foster more commercial activity, a West Garden Grove Economic Development Open House has been set for Wednesday at the meeting center in West Grove Park from 6-8 p.m. The address is 5372 Cerulean.

FOR LEASE sign at a vacant commercial building on Valley View Street in West Garden Grove (OC Tribune).

“There’s been a lot of interest in this from residents of the area,” said Gregg Blodgett, senior project manager for the city. The open house will present information about development opportunities and efforts, and will include a question-and-answer segment.

Mayor Steve Jones and other city council members – including Kris Beard, who represents the westside First District – are expected to be on hand, along with city staff.

Also prominent among vacant buildings on Valley View are a former buffet restaurant just south of Chapman on the west side of Valley View, along with an empty strip mall building just south of Lampson Avenue on the east side.

Although redevelopment is no longer available as a tool, there is a state law allowing for cities to attract new economic development through tax-sharing, according to Blodgett.

For more information on the meeting, call Grace Lee at (714) 741-5130.