CRA/LA
facebook frequently asked questions contact us site map
     
About UsMeetings & AgendasDevelopment OpportunitiesProject AreasPoliciesProgramsDocumentsNewsroomWork With CRA/LA
About Us

How CRA/LA Activities Benefit Los Angeles

Economic Development
We help neighborhoods prosper by assisting existing businesses that want to expand and by attracting new businesses, including shops, hotels, offices and industrial users.

Housing
We use specially earmarked housing funds from property tax increment in our project areas to create affordable multi-family housing — either by rehabilitating existing structures or building new ones. Our programs have made possible the construction of energy-efficient and smoke-free affordable apartments near public transit. We also create needed housing especially for seniors, for students, and for the homeless.

Mixed Use
Some of our developments are planned to incorporate a variety of uses, such as condominiums with ground-floor shops,  apartments with community or social services facilities, and entertainment centers with shops, office space and condominiums.

Public Improvements
We upgrade streets and sidewalks, street lightning and building exteriors in our project areas. As a result, walking, riding and driving through a neighborhood becomes an easier and more pleasant experience. Public improvements also  help neighborhood attract new businesses and keep existing ones.

Community Development
To boost the overall livability of neighborhoods in our project areas, we improve public services such as transit centers, public libraries and parks. We also have a public art program.
 undefined Encourag Green Urbanism

CRA/LA plays an important role in moving Los Angeles toward its goal of becoming the “greenest” major city in the United States. That’s because we are the primary agency revitalizing vacant or underused land in economically depressed areas.

 

Green Buildings

We know that today’s decisions about energy and water conservation  — including water-efficient landscaping — will affect generations of Angelinos. So all our plans and policies are geared toward encouraging developers to use “green” building practices and materials, and to seek LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

 

Green Spaces

Because the livability of a neighborhood has a lot to do with its recreational and open spaces, we seek to establish pocket parks and community gardens in our project areas.

 

Smart Locations & Compact Design

Accessibility to public transit is another aspect of green urbanism. We encourage development in locations that provide alternatives to car use. We also support compact, high-quality housing that fits comfortably with its surroundings. 

 

Our Healthy Neighborhoods Policy

We have established a two-year, $500,000 pilot program for developers. It provides a free consultation on ways of integrating “green” features into new projects in our 32 project areas. A CRA/LA “Green Team” is developing technical manuals to guide planning and building.