CRA/LA THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT The 1,549-acre Central Business District Redevelopment Project, adopted on July 18, 1975, was amended by City Council and the Agency Board of Commissioners on May 15, 2002. The Redevelopment Project had several geographic sub Areas (Central City East, Financial Core, Historic Core and South Park) with specific revitalization issues and development objectives. Of these sub-areas, only the Financial Core, Civic Center and portions of South Park remain in the CBD. The remaining sub-areas have been incorporated into the recently adopted City Center Redevelopment Project Area. Conditions at Time of Adoption The Central Business District had shown signs of deterioration and blight since the 1950's and was first studied for possible redevelopment during the 1960's. Central City East The Central City East area was characterized by a significant number of substandard Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotels intermixed with a variety of industrial and warehouse structures in varying states of occupancy and condition. During the period that plan adoption was pending, and in the years preceding plan adoption, private owners, faced with increased City code enforcement, had demolished several thousand SRO units. In 1976, the Citizens Advisory Committee Report on the Central Business District Redevelopment Project stated that "the highest priority shall be a comprehensive solution to the Skid Row problem," and included as a priority recommendation that "the human dimension in the redevelopment of Skid Row strongly suggests that the first step should be that of providing decent housing." Financial Core Despite the growing success of the neighboring Bunker Hill Redevelopment Project, the area south of Fifth Street showed little economic development. Businesses were leaving the area, key buildings of architectural merit were being abandoned and demolished. Historic Core The Broadway retail district was experiencing the loss of national retailers, while the adjacent Spring Street area was experiencing the departure of office tenants. Building obsolescence, lack of parking and deteriorated public facilities contributed to the area's blighted condition. South Park At the time of Plan adoption, only three major structures were less than fifty years old: Occidental (now Transamerica) Tower, the Convention Center and the Holiday Inn. More than 90% of the remaining structures were built prior to 1950; a majority of these were unreinforced masonry structures built prior to 1930. Many historic structures had been demolished or were threatened with demolition to make room for commercial parking lots. All of the existing housing stock, occupied by low-income families and individuals, was substandard and more than 90% seismically deficient. The lack of adequate facilities and programs for juveniles contributed to street crime and gang activities.
Key Accomplishments Central City East The SRO Housing Corporation (SROHC), created by the Agency in 1983 to implement Agency housing goals in the area, has purchased twenty hotels containing over 1,700 SRO units and maintains two Agency developed parks which serve the community. Other non-profits such as Skid Row Housing Trust and Catholic Charities have rehabilitated additional hotels. Recently completed initiatives include the new Downtown Drop-In Center, modeled after a successful facility in San Diego, and a grass roots effort by residents and property owners, working with the City Planning Department, to abate nuisance properties such as liquor stores and the remaining, poorly managed SRO hotels with a record of prostitution and drug activities. In response to the significant homeless population in Central City East, the Agency assisted with the development of emergency shelter facilities by providing funding for the operation and maintenance of beds in a variety of shelters. Funding for shelter beds since FY97 has been provided through the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), a joint City and County agency providing support for homeless service organizations throughout Los Angeles County. Skid Row Development Corporation, a non-profit organization established in 1980 to deal with physical, economic and social service needs in Central City East, operates Transition House, a 130 bed dormitory and counseling center and two industrial complexes, the Commercial-Light Industrial Center and the Renaissance Building, providing space for incubator businesses and industries. In addition, the Agency has funded and supported public improvement programs, including street widenings, new street lighting and landscaping throughout the area. Financial Core The private sector has developed over 10 million square feet of office and retail space in the Financial Core, which represents hundred of millions of dollars in construction. In addition, 1,800 hotel rooms have been modernized and several historic buildings have been rehabilitated. Major commercial projects with active Owner Participation Agreements with the Agency include Ernst and Young (Citicorp) Plaza (Phase III), Metropolis, and the Halekulani Hotel planned for the northeast corner of Eighth and Figueroa Streets. The Agency approved a Figueroa Corridor Economic Development Strategy, which addressed development opportunities and improved linkages along Figueroa Street, connecting the Financial Core with USC and the entertainment and cultural resources of Exposition Park to the south and Dodger Stadium to the north. During FY00, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, with funding provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, initiated the construction of major street improvements including landscaped medians and special pedestrian crosswalks between Exposition Boulevard in the Hoover Project Area and Fifth Street in the CBD Financial Core.
Key Accomplishments (Continued) Historic Core The 1,274-space Broadway Spring Center, completed in 1989, provides offstreet parking for the Ronald Reagan State Office Building, completed in 1990, and the Junipero Serra State Building (former Broadway Department Store), completed in 1999, and for customers of Broadway retail stores. The Eastside Parking Facility at Sixth and Main Streets, completed in August 1990, provides 800 spaces for buildings on Sixth, Spring and Main Streets. The Biddy Mason Park, "a vest pocket" park linking Broadway and Spring Streets, was completed in 1992. Several historic buildings were renovated including the Homer Laughlin, Bradbury and Banks-Huntley Buildings, which have been seismically upgraded to meet current codes. All of the work was performed in conformance with the Secretary of the Interior's standards for historic buildings. Additionally, Grand Central Market, Los Angeles' premiere public market since its opening in 1917, was renovated, reflecting the appearance the market had in the 1930's. The upper floors of the market and the adjacent Metropolitan Water District Building, at Third Street and Broadway, were converted into 121 units of housing and the facades were cleaned and restored to their former glory. A 500-space parking structure was constructed to serve residents and Grand Central Market customers. In FY99, the Agency assisted the City (Department of Transportation and the Bureau of Public Works) with the reconstruction of the roadway along Broadway including the installation of improved pedestrian amenities and crosswalks. This effort reinforces other major street improvements in Downtown including the construction of the Hill Street Avenida improvements. Finally, during FY99, the Agency was instrumental in facilitating the adoption of a new City ordinance to streamline the process for developers seeking approvals for the adaptive reuse of vacant historic buildings into live/work housing. Additionally, the Agency worked with the Departments of Planning and Cultural Affairs to modify the Mills Act ordinance to provide property tax relief to developers seeking approval of adaptive reuse for historic building projects. Towards that end, the Agency has facilitated the approval of the Old Bank District projects being implemented by Gilmore and Associates and is providing assistance in the form of adaptive re-use grants for additional conversion projects. South Park Beginning in 1985, the Agency has funded the rehabilitation of several older apartment buildings and single room occupancy residential hotels. To date, approximately 800 existing apartment units have been rehabilitated. Major rehabilitation projects include the Young Apartments, Villa Metropolitan Apartments (Moore Hall), Hope Manor, and the adaptive reuse of the former NCR office building into affordable housing units (TELACU Plaza) and Villa Esperanza into senior housing. Construction was completed on the 200- unit Skyline condominiums in 1985, the 270-unit Metropolitan Apartments in 1989, and the 192-unit Renaissance Tower in 1995. Located adjacent to
Renaissance Tower and on Grand Hope Park, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising was completed in August 1990. The 2.5-acre Grand Hope Park, designed by Lawrence Halprin, was completed in 1994. An association of property owners currently maintains the Park with funding provided by them and the Agency. During FY98 and FY99, the Agency initiated the acquisition of property for more open space at the northwest and southeast corners of Venice Boulevard and Hope Street for the construction of a Neighborhood Park and community center to serve the families and senior citizens that live adjacent to the California Hospital. In 1998, the Parkside Apartments, located at Ninth Street and Grand Avenue, was completed. This five-story apartment building contains 87 units of affordable family housing project and includes a day care center operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District and an after-school-tutoring program for the school-age residents of the building sponsored by the University of Southern California. Acquisition of land for additional housing on the block bounded by Olympic Boulevard, Hope Street, Eleventh Street and Flower Street was completed in 1993 along with a master plan concept for the block. The first development within the block was the adaptive reuse of the historic NCR building by TELACU into 40 units of affordable housing for the physically handicapped; construction of this project was completed in FY93. The second phase of development was the construction of Villa Flores, a 75-unit apartment complex for senior citizens completed in 1998. Construction on Phase III, the 64-unit Hope Village was completed and a Development Agreement with Forest City Residential West for the construction of 230 units of market rate, loft style apartments was approved in FY01. In 1993, a major expansion of the Los Angeles Convention Center was completed with the assistance of the Agency. The Agency was responsible for the acquisition of property for the expansion and the relocation of the residents and businesses affected by the project. The new facility, designed by I. M. Pei & Partners in association with Gruen Associates, includes 685,000 square feet of exhibit space, 65 meeting rooms, 26,500 square feet of special events space, spacious lobbies, restaurant and food courts, and 6,200 parking spaces. A major project completed in 1999 is the Staples Center Arena, the home for the Lakers, Kings and Clippers. The 20,000-seat sports and entertainment facility is located at the southwest corner of Figueroa and Eleventh Streets, immediately adjacent to the Convention Center. The Agency was responsible for the preparation and approval of the EIR for the project, the review of plans and specifications, and the acquisition of more than 20 acres of property adjacent to the Arena, which involved the relocation of 130 families and 30 businesses. The land acquired by the Agency will be used initially for surface parking for the Arena until such time as a master plan, which will include a major convention hotel and entertainment and retail center, is prepared by the developer and approved by the Agency and the City. The development of the convention hotel is expected to require significant public financial assistance.
Commercial projects completed in South Park include the International Tower at 888 S. Figueroa Street, Chase Plaza at Grand Avenue and Eighth Street, Manulife Tower at Figueroa and Ninth Streets and the 801 Tower at Eighth and Figueroa Streets. In addition, the Home Savings peripheral parking site acquisition and conveyance was completed; and the OPA for the Metropolis Project was approved by City Council. Five-Year Goals Complete Our Lady of Angels Cathedral. Implement the Civic Center master plan and create synergies with the County to improve their properties. Implement a retail program Seventh Street. Continue to monitor the implementation of major commercial developments including Metropolis, Ernst and Young (Citicorp) Plaza, and Halekulani Hotel. Secure additional sites for future housing development in South Park. Implement Phase I of the Staples Center Master Plan, which includes the construction of a Convention Center Hotel (see City Center Redevelopment Project). Begin construction on the Phase II expansion of the Convention Center. Attract a full service supermarket to South Park. Facilitate the development of an additional 500 units of market rate housing in South Park and in the Historic Core. Facilitate the development of an additional 150 units of affordable housing in South Park and in the Historic Core. Provide continued technical assistance to the various Business Improvement Districts throughout Downtown, and the Downtown Confederation. Continue public art projects throughout the project area. Prepare and adopt a new Downtown Redevelopment Project. For More Information: Central Business District Redevelopment Project Office 354 S. Spring Street, Suite 300 Los Angeles, CA 90013 Tel (213) 977-1740 Fax (213) 617-8233 CRA Office of Communication & Public Affairs (213) 977-1951 www.lacity.org/cra