CRA/LA THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

MID-CITY RECOVERY REDEVELOPEMNT PROJECT

The Mid-City Recovery Redevelopment was further characterized by stagnant Project is located west of downtown Los property values, low rents, lack of Angeles. The project consists of five community services and amenities and non-contiguous areas, including the high unemployment rates. Other commercial corridors along Pico, conditions of blight present included Venice, Washington, Adams, Jefferson defective design characteristics, Boulevards generally between Western prevalence of incompatible uses such Avenue and Fairfax Boulevard, and as auto-related uses in close proximity Crenshaw Boulevard between the Santa to residential uses, schools and Monica Freeway and Martin Luther churches, parking and circulation King, Jr. Blvd. deficiencies, and inadequate or The Redevelopment Plan goals include deteriorated public improvements. increasing employment, business and Key Accomplishments investment opportunities; encouraging the development of social service · Commercial and Industrial facilities; attracting private investment Earthquake Recovery Loan Program and promoting a thriving commercial (CIERLP) funds in the amount of environment to enhance economic $3,635,900 were allocated and opportunities, in consultation with the utilized for the completion of Project Area Committee and community commercial rehabilitation of three members and Council District 10 Office. properties located at 3911 W. Jefferson Boulevard, 5040 W. Washington Boulevard, and 5071 W. Conditions at Time of Adoption Washington Boulevard. At the time of adoption, the Project Area had suffered the impacts of the April · CIERLP funds in the amount of $3.1 1992 civil unrest which caused damage million are allocated for the proposed to 74 properties in the Project Area Washington Boulevard Performing emphasizing a need for assistance. Half Arts Center and Artist Lofts. The of those properties suffered more than Agency acquired the former Ebony 50% damage. Showcase Theater complex located at 4708-4722 Washington Boulevard As revealed in a detailed blight survey and proposes to construct the conducted by Agency staff in May and Washington Boulevard Performing June of 1995, the Project Area was Arts Center at this site. Additional found to be in the grip of serious funding for the theater includes $3.0 physical and economic blighting million in City Seismic Bond funds conditions. Approximately 87% of the and $650,000 in CDBG funds. In parcels in the Project Area exhibited February 2001, the City Council took more than one condition of blight. action to expedite the construction of Almost 84% of the commercial the theater complex. The Agency structures and 83% of all residential brought on Tishman Construction structures were in need of some Company to expedite pre- measure of repair. The Project Area construction activities. Design plans MID-CITY RECOVERY REDEVELOPEMNT PROJECT

Key Accomplishments (Continued) · were completed in March 2001. The · providing funding assistance in the project was put out to bid in April form of a $4.3 million bond issue. 2001. Construction started November 1, 2001. Completed alley · The Agency provided assistance in vacation and easement agreements the form of permit review, for the alley south of Washington redevelopment plan compliance and Boulevard between Vineyard and entitlement processing to expedite Harcourt avenues and will proceed the new commercial development with public improvements to complex at the northeast corner of reconstruct the center line gutter and LaBrea Avenue and Rodeo Road. repave the surface. This project was completed in 1997 and includes a state-of-the-art Rite- · Agency staff has supported the Aid Drug Store, Albertson’s Jefferson Park Los Angeles Supermarket and other retail stores. Neighborhood Initiative (LANI) Program and spearheaded the · The Agency provided assistance in Washington Boulevard TNI Program. the form of permit review, The Jefferson LANI project has redevelopment plan compliance and received $450,000 for public entitlement processing to expedite improvements and beautification the City review and approval process programs. leading to the new construction of 100,000 square feet of commercial · The Agency is continuing space at the northwest corner of negotiations with Adams La Brea Crenshaw Boulevard and Coliseum Development, LLC to develop a Boulevard which includes a Pep retail-commercial project up to Boys auto parts store and a Sav-0n 270,000 square feet on an 11.66- drugstore. acre site on the north side of Adams Boulevard from La Brea Avenue to · The Clean and Safe Program Redondo Boulevard. The developer provided funding for the clean up of has secured letters of interest from sidewalks, gutters and alleys and for Federal Express, Food 4 Less and graffiti removal in the Project Area. Wal-Mart, and is negotiating with A Graffiti and Litter Zero Tolerance other prospective tenants. Program commenced in the summer of 1997 in the Project Area and · Agency staff is working with a private continued to provide services to the developer on the Pico Plaza Mid-City commercial corridors until Commercial Center mixed-use FY99. development concept that will consist of approximately 200,000 As a result of the establishment of the square feet of commercial retail Targeted Neighborhood Initiative (TNI) space and will incorporate the Program in July 1997, additional funding relocation of the existing was received in the amount of $3 Metropolitan Transportation Authority million. The allocation for the (MTA) Bus Terminal into the Washington Boulevard TNI area is development. The Agency is designated for several revitalization and economic development programs. The

MID-CITY RECOVERY REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT · Retention of industrial/manufacturing Key Accomplishments (Continued) land uses. TNI area is bounded by Venice Boulevard on the north, West Boulevard · Providing strategies for image on the east, La Brea Avenue on the building through clean and safe west, 21st Street on the south and programs and graffiti zero tolerance including a portion of Crenshaw zones. Boulevard from the Santa Monica Freeway to Olympic Boulevard. · Economic development opportunities Construction started on October 24, 2001. The project is under construction The Mid-City Recovery Redevelopment and on hold until issues with the Project, located in Council District 10, contractor on tree lighting is resolved. was adopted on May 14, 1996. The 725- acre redevelopment project, west of · Washington Boulevard TNI Action downtown Los Angeles, consists of five Plans completed the following: non-contiguous areas, including the Streetscape Design Specifications, commercial corridors along Pico, Street tree planting on LaBrea Venice, Washington, Adams and Avenue, Mural Program, Commercial Jefferson Boulevards generally between Signage Program (Banner Program), Western Avenue and Fairfax Boulevard, Business Marketing Program, and and Crenshaw Boulevard between the Business Incentive Grant Program. Santa Monica Freeway and Martin On-going work includes the Luther King, Jr. Blvd. implementation of Streetscape The Redevelopment strategy in the past Design construction, construction four years has focused upon enhancing phase of the Commercial Façade and cleaning up the physical and Signage Program, and the environment to make it more attractive installation of street trees along for businesses and to promote a positive Washington Boulevard. community image. Together with the Five-Year Goals Targeted Neighborhood Initiative (TNI) program that is focused upon · Stabilization of existing housing Washington Boulevard and the through residential rehabilitation programs and provides additional proposed new construction of the Washington Boulevard Performing Arts affordable housing. Center, the goal is to make Washington · Identification and development of Boulevard a destination area and a hub new anchor commercial sites. for entertainment and shopping. Efforts are also underway to facilitate · Commercial rehabilitation – continue the development of major commercial programs for the rehabilitation of the projects at Adams Boulevard and La facades of existing commercial Brea Avenue and at Pico and San buildings aimed at improving and Vicente Boulevard. The overall goal is enhancing commercial street to stimulate economic development in environments. the Mid-City community by attracting a · Establishment of incentive programs variety of commercial retail and to attract new commercial entertainment uses.

· investments and for the retention of viable existing businesses. MID-CITY RECOVERY REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

For More Information: Mid-City Recovery Redevelopment Project Office 354 S. Spring Street, Suite 300 Los Angeles, CA 90013 Tel (213) 977-2633 Fax (213) 687-9546 CRA Communication & Public Affairs Tel (213) 977-1951 www.lacity.org/CRA