In the spring of 2009, the CRA/LA Board of Commissioners and the LA City Council authorized staff to study the feasibility of a new redevelopment project along the LA River in Northeast Los Angeles.  This study area is approximately 2,300 acres (including streets and other rights-of-way) and overlaps with the neighborhoods of Atwater Village, Cypress Park, Glassell Park and Elysian Valley.  Factors that are considered include the need for investment, the existence of physical, economic and social conditions that deter private development, and the communities’ desire to collaborate with the City and the CRA/LA to develop a revitalization program. 

Facts at a Glance

·         The study area is about 3 ½ square miles or 2,300 acres (including streets and other public rights of ways). Click here to see the study area boundaries.

·         Approximately 32,211 people live within the area.

·        The Hispanic population makes up a majority of the population followed by White, Asian, and Black populations.

·        The median household income is $31,101, slightly lower than the City of Los Angeles median, $36,687.[i]

• Board Memo
• Council Action
• Planning Process Chart
• HUD Grant
  Atwater Village NC Q & A
• NELA Study Open House Dates

·   Twenty-four percent of the households live below the poverty line, which is 2% higher than the City of Los Angeles.

·        Renters make up 64% versus homeowners who make up 36% of the occupied housing units.

·         In terms of educational attainment, approximately 56% of the adult population in the area is without a high school education.

·         Nearly one third of Northeast Los Angeles study area residents’ work in the service industry. 

·         About 40% of the population uses an alternative means of transportation – including carpool, public transportation and walking -- which is significantly higher than the City of Los Angeles.

Our primary interest is to develop sound land use and economic development strategies to bring jobs for working families into the area.

2010 ACTIVITIES

This year, we hope to complete most of the steps necessary to prepare a new redevelopment plan.  We are assembling a team of technical experts to conduct the formal analysis and draft all of the documents required by the law.  Later in the summer and fall we will get out into the neighborhoods to make presentations to local groups, administer an opinion survey and just generally introduce ourselves and learn more about the communities within the study area. 

We want to know more about what residents and businesses owners like about the area and what they would like to see improved!  This will help us formulate programs and activities that best support the community.  For example, they could be streetscape projects, or home improvement and small business assistance programs.   

All of this information will be assembled into a Work Program and Implementation Plan that will be submitted sometime in 2011 to the City Planning Commission and the City Council.  A thorough environmental impact assessment will be prepared and circulated, addressing the impacts of the plan on the community, before the Planning Commission and Council can consider the plan for adoption.

Check this site periodically throughout the year, as we will post regular updates on our activities and notices of our community presentations and events.  You can also contact Alison Becker, Associate Planner, for more information at 323/960.2660.