“Design 54” 2017 GREAT STREETS CHALLENGE, LOS ANGELES
Final report prepared by Gene Bailey West Angeles Community Development Corporation Submitted September 30, 2017
This project was sponsored in part by a grant from Mayor Garcetti’s Great Streets Initiative.
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Partner Organizations Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti-Great Streets LA
Marqueece Harris-Dawson-City Council District 8
Sebastian Ridley-Thomas-Assembly District 54
West Angeles Community Development Corporation
The Project Team West Angeles Community Development Corporation Gene Bailey, Carolyn Patton and Taylor Carson
Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti Qiuana Williams
MIG Jenny An
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A Great Streets Challenge Grant Project Table of Contents
Project Overview------------------------------------------Page 4
Introduction and Community Context-----------------Page 6
The Planning Process------------------------------------Page 11
Project Implementation---------------------------------Page 16
Data Collection Methods---------------------------------Page 19
Data Analysis----------------------------------------------Page 24
Community Vision and Capacity-----------------------Page 25
Prioritized Recommendations----------------------------Page 26
Appendix---------------------------------------------------Page 27
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Project Overview Executive Summary The streets of Los Angeles are our largest public asset. Los Angeles has more streets than any other city in the U.S. The Great Streets Initiative was launched by Mayor Eric Garcetti in October of 2013 with seven goals in mind. • • • • • • •
Increase Economic Activity; Improve Access-Mobility; Enhance Neighborhood Character; Greater Community Engagement; Improve Environmental Resilience; Safer + More Secure Communities and; Improve Health Outcomes.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti launched the Great Streets Initiative to create community partnerships and ultimately reimagine streets as places to live, shop, and gather. Through the Great Streets Initiative, Mayor Garcetti wants to create healthier, more vibrant engaging public spaces for people. The Great Streets Challenge is a program that focuses on building a strong partnership between the Departments of City Planning and Transportation and selected community partners. In 2014, Crenshaw Blvd between 79th and Florence was identified as a Great Streets corridor through the 79th St Block Club, the Park Mesa Neighborhood Council, and Hyde Park Neighborhood Council. This first part of Crenshaw is receiving $2 million dollars in physical improvements through the Highway Safety Improvement Program. In 2016, West Angeles CDC was one of seven recipients for the 2nd round of Great Streets Challenge Grants. The Great Streets project for West Angeles CDC focuses on the area surrounding the intersection of 54th and Crenshaw. The goal is to envision, collaborate on, and build a community-led vision for how the street and public areas could be activated through design, street furnishings, street trees, and public art. The Great Streets project will: • • • •
Build strong partnerships between the Crenshaw community and the City of Los Angeles. Capture community engagement and information that informs the vision and gives ownership back to Crenshaw Design 54th and Crenshaw with a community’s vision of how to improve our neighborhood Guide the senior housing redevelopment project at the corner of 54th and Crenshaw
WHAT IS GREAT STREETS? West Angeles CDC won Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s 2016 Great Streets Challenge, which in part funded community outreach efforts towards creating a vision for the future of Hyde Park. The focused
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project intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and 54th Street could become a community hub for outdoor activity that promote a safe and healthy lifestyle which highlights our rich cultural identity, the aesthetic beauty of the community, and a community that is accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. The conversations began by engaging the community through (1) manual and online surveys, (2) community meetings, (3) community festivals,(4) business lunch and learn and culminated in a (5) Movie Night and Pop up event.
The 54th and Crenshaw Great Streets research was funded in part by the Great Streets challenge Grant of $10,000. Six months of collecting surveys, organizing and attending community meetings with the neighborhood council, stakeholders, and local business owners yielded invaluable input. Overview of the community engagement Hyde Park Community stakeholders are very savvy when it comes to what is occurring in their community. However, they in a sense feel excluded in the process that affects them directly. Most feel that they are only informed after the fact and many feel disenfranchised in the political, social and economic issues that affect their everyday lives. Highlights from community engagement exercises The community is very vocal as it relates to the major changes that are effecting the community. Although our focus was on street design other issues arose in which the community was very passionate. Gentrification and parking were the topics that many were desperately concerned about. In addition many people expressed concern about safety around the train system particularly when it comes to the children and seniors.
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Brief findings from data collection. The primary mode of transportation for most commuters in this area is by automobile. The results from our surveys showed 67%. A large percentage those surveyed indicated that they are usually in the area for business or for church. 44% selected business while 43% selected church. About 47% surveyed live in the neighborhood as well. About 58% of the respondents were over the age of 45. Summary of implementation/Vision moving forward It is critically important to engage and include the community in all changes that affect their everyday lives. We all have the desire to live in a healthy, safe and thriving community that is truly reflective of the people that make up their great neighborhood. The grassroots bottom up approach is the first step in bring into fruition the vision of the people for the people. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A GREAT STREET? There are six areas of support that the Great Street Initiative provides to Challenge Grant recipients. There are three areas that West Angeles CDC as a Great Street is leading the charge to capture the community’s vision. West Angeles CDC received $10,000 to successfully capture the community’s vision for changing the public spaces around 54th Street and Crenshaw. West Angeles CDC was supported by three technical consultants, MIG, Alan Nakagawa, and LA-Mas. Together this team brought forward ideas for the community’s consideration about how to transform 54th Street and make it safer for residents, businesses, and the larger community. West Angeles CDC led a 6-month outreach campaign to collect community feedback about potential improvements to 54th and Crenshaw. Outreach efforts included working with neighborhood leaders to canvass residents and businesses throughout West Angeles, hosting homebuyer, business, and other stakeholder meetings, and conducting a visioning survey. This outreach process culminated in a family-friendly Movie Night in August 2017 that included a demonstration of the community’s vision for redesigned sidewalk areas. The demonstration highlighted design interventions that could be implemented to create attractive places for residents and improve safety conditions for pedestrians – especially seniors and youth.
Introduction and Community Context West Angeles CDC Mission Statement THE MISSION OF West Angeles Community Development Corporation is to increase social and economic justice, demonstrate compassion and alleviate poverty as tangible expressions of the Kingdom of God through the vehicle of community development. History West Angeles CDC was founded in early 1994 as an outreach program of West Angeles Church of God in Christ, then a 15,000-member congregation in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles. Dr. Lula Ballton and Bishop Charles E. Blake, together with Trustees of West Angeles Church, founded the CDC to expand the compassionate outreach and neighborhood development ministries of the church in the face of mounting problems of poverty and injustice in the surrounding community.
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Lack of jobs, business investment and affordable, decent housing, struggling schools, endemic homelessness and gang activity were all signs that new, long-term improvements were needed. At the same time, new business and community-building activities had also begun and were growing. These signs were new life and hope on which to build. In January 1994, the CDC was incorporated as a nonprofit organization to bring together people and resources to help develop the community. Crenshaw Boulevard is considered by many to be the “Gateway to Los Angeles.” It is the first impression of Southern California for close to 60 million visitors a year who exit Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and travel east to the I-405 freeway. Prior to Crenshaw Boulevard the street was named Angeles Mesa Drive until 1904 when the street was named after banker and Los Angeles real estate developer George Lafayette Crenshaw who also developed Lafayette. The street starts at Wilshire Boulevard in Hancock Park and runs through several demographically diverse areas to end in Rolling Hills. In the early 1900s there were tracks for the 5 Line streetcar line[4] in the 1920s through 1950s ran down the median between Leimert Boulevard[5] on the north to near Florence Ave on the south. Since the abandonment of the streetcars, the former railway median has been narrowed, the driving lanes were improved and the street reconfigured for specifically automobiles. Many local residents were disappointed to see 71 mature street-line trees chopped down to make way for the Space Shuttle Endeavour to be moved from LAX to the California Science Center. Crenshaw Blvd revitalization project Additional trees were removed for the under construction Crenshaw/LAX Line, but various officials have promised an aesthetically cohesive new revitalized boulevard with more trees being planted than were removed. The project will also feature bike lanes, wider sidewalks, new Metro bus stops, street furniture with traffic lights and LED street lights. *Source: Wikipedia Hyde Park is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city of Los Angeles. It was "laid out as a town" in 1887 as a stop on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway's Harbor Subdivision, which ran from Downtown Los Angeles to the port at Wilmington in a westward loop. It was incorporated as a city in 1922 and had its own government. However, on May 17, 1923, its 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) was consolidated with the larger city of Los Angeles after a favorable vote by Hyde Park residents. The city of Hyde Park was bordered by 60th Street on the north, Van Ness (now 8th) Avenue on the east, Florence on the south, and West Boulevard on the west.[2] Hyde Park's street and other boundaries are: West Vernon Avenue on the north, South Van Ness Avenue on the east and the Los Angeles city boundary on the south and west.[3][4] According to the Mapping L.A. project of the Los Angeles Times, Hyde Park touches Leimert Park on the north, Vermont Square on the northeast, Square on the east, Manchester Square on the southeast; Inglewood on the south and southwest, and View ParkWindsor Hills on the west and northwest.
What are the demographics? A total of 36,635 people lived in the neighborhood's 2.88 square miles, according to the 2000 U.S. census—averaging 12,700 people per square mile, about the same as the population density in the city as a whole. The median age was 31, also about the same as the rest of the city.
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Within the neighborhood, African Americans comprise 66% of the population, with Latinos at 27.2%, White 3%; Asian 1.2% and other 3.6%. Mexico and El Salvador were the most common places of birth for the 19.5% of the residents who were born abroad, considered a low percentage of foreign-born when compared with the city or county as a whole.[3] The median household income in 2008 dollars was $39,460, considered average for both the city and county. The percentage of households earning $20,000 or less was high, compared to the county at large. The average household size of 2.8 people was also average. Renters occupied 53.3% of the housing units, and homeowners occupied the rest. In 2000, there were 2,474 families headed by single parents, or 28.5%, a rate that was high for the county and the city. There were 2,237 veterans, or 8% of the population, considered high when compared with the city overall. *Source: Wikipedia
What kinds of character line your streets? Both business and residential line 54th street. The commercial buildings are mostly single and two story along with some residential homes. Trees line a few sections of the sidewalks; however we have an opportunity to create a unique personality and capture a sense of public space use utilizing hardscaping, landscaping, street furniture, or other physical elements. The West Angeles Community Development Corporation (“West Angeles CDC”) has partnered with Related California (“Related”) to develop West Angeles City Place Senior Apartments, a West Angeles CDC-owned property located at 5414 Crenshaw Boulevard located in the Park Mesa Heights Neighborhood of South Los Angeles.
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The proposed development is situated along the LA Metro Crenshaw/LAX Transit Line (“Crenshaw Line”) now under construction, making it a Transit Oriented Development. The project will feature 70 units of affordable senior housing with amenities including onsite laundry, roof top decks, and a large community center. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2018 with completion anticipated in 2019. West Angeles CDC and Related (“the Development Team”), a nonprofit-private partnership to develop affordable senior housing at 5414 Crenshaw Boulevard, are proposing a Great Streets Project investment to support this development. A Great Streets Project investment will provide a vital link between West Angeles City Place Senior Apartments, the surrounding Park Mesa Heights Neighborhood, and the Hyde Park Crenshaw Line Station, as well as other public transit stops, shops and Public Park and green spaces. The Development Team is proposing a Great Streets Project investment to address sidewalk and streetscape improvements including wider sidewalks, public benches, tree canopy/green spaces, permanent trash and recycle receptacles, covered bus shelters with seating, better crosswalk demarcation, and bike safety enhancements. Such improvements have the potential to create a Community Hub along Crenshaw Boulevard, tying the corridor more tightly into surrounding amenities, businesses and the broader community. To better understand where to focus these improvements to maximize their effectiveness the Development Team has met with representatives of Los Angeles City Council District 8, the Department of City Planning, and LA Metro. Through these meetings and those to take place with community members and stakeholders, a blended vision for tying together the Park Mesa Heights neighborhood is expected to emerge. These pedestrian infrastructure improvements would be especially impactful to the residents of the proposed 70-unit, affordable housing development (“54th & Crenshaw”) which will be restricted to those
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sixty two (62) years and older. Senior populations often have limited access to personal vehicles, instead relying on public transportation and walking amenities.
Project area This proposal will be applying as a “Community Hub” Project Area, as shown in the graphic to the right. The Project Area contains a number of important destinations, such as the Crenshaw Work-Source Center; the View Park Preparatory Accelerator Charter High School; a Ralph’s grocery store; and a number of small community businesses. It will soon contain the proposed 54th and Crenshaw Project to north and the Hyde Park Station to the south. The Project Area would stretch 0.86 miles along Crenshaw Boulevard from 52nd Street in the north to 63 rd street in the south.
Project Area Proposed Developmen
Crenshaw Line
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Priority area The proposed project aligns with the City’s identified priorities as follows: • Lies along the proposed Crenshaw/LAX Line. • Within a Transit Priority Area (1/2 mile north of the Crenshaw/LAX Line 59 th St. Station). • At the intersection of a Tier 1 and Tier 2 Bicycle Network. • One block south of a Tier 2 Neighborhood Network. • Adjacent to a Pedestrian Enhanced District. • 35-50% of Pedestrian Trips are under three miles. • Adjacent to a High Injury Network. • Community Health Index Score of over 50. • Medium on the walkability matrix. • Medium job density. • ½ mile from a public library. • Within a half mile of two high schools and an elementary school. The area is at the hub of a number of alternate transit options such as the Crenshaw Line, Metro Dash, and Metro Lines 40, 210 and 607. Access to these transit stops could benefit from better crosswalks, demarcation, and bike safety enhancements tying them more tightly into surrounding amenities, businesses and the broader community as a whole. Such enhancements would promote walkability, encourage transit ridership and improve overall community health-and-wellness, especially beneficial to the senior residents of 54th & Crenshaw who will be more vulnerable to being injured by local traffic. The project area has the potential to combine the best attributes of affordable housing with local amenities; positively impacting this culturally and racially diverse area. As the Project Area lies within an older Los Angeles neighborhood, the existing sidewalk infrastructure is in poor condition. Intersection crosswalks are not well demarcated; bus stops lack benches and coverings; sidewalks lack tree canopy cover and bike lanes lack striping.
The Planning Process Overview The 54th Great Street Challenge Project began with a series of meetings. We had our Community Partner Kick-off Meeting on February 13, 2017. The Objectives of this meeting was to listen and think about ways to effectively conduct outreach and solicit input from the community within the Hyde Park Area primarily targeting 52nd to 63rd street. One of things we discussed was the Community Engagement Opportunities. Our primary objective was to ensure our implementation was inclusive and comprehensive to the community. So we asked input on how to reach out to the community keeping in mind youth, millennials, seniors and everyone in between. Everyone was at the table for our Community Partner Kickoff meeting. Representation from the Mayor’s office for the City of Los Angeles, Council District 8, MIG, La Mas, Dept. of Planning, West Angeles CDC and Related.
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Summary of Select Meetings / Conference Calls 1) Community Partner Kick-off Meeting February 13, 2017, at 8:00 am. Attendees: Representatives from The office of the Mayor, City of Los Angeles, Council District 8, MIG, Mas.la, Dept. City Planning, and West Angeles CDC and Related were in attendance. Agenda • Meet & Greet • Walking Tour of the Site Location (5414 Crenshaw Blvd) • Transition to Meeting Room • Project Overview • Roles and Responsibilities • Schedule and coordination • Invoicing. • Next Steps Notes and Action Items The kickoff meeting was very exciting. We went around the table and introduce our selves to the team. For most of us it was the first time meeting each other. However as time passed we all became much acquainted. After the formal introductions we carpooled to the site location at 5414 Crenshaw for a walking tour which last for approximately fifteen minutes. Upon returning, we resumed our meeting where MIG provided a project overview as well as discussed roles and responsibilities. In addition we had a brain storming session where we were asked to come up with ideas to develop our overall objective and strategy. Our take away was we wanted a great street that is safe, livable, accessible, healthy, beautiful and culturally identifiable. Mukul Malchotra of MIG provided real time wall graphic as a visual rendering of the kick-off meeting. This served as a great point of reference throughout the entire Great Streets process. We also discussed scheduling and coordination, invoicing and next steps.
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Exhibit 1
2) Outreach Plan Call #1 February 17, 2017, at 1:00 pm. Attendees: Gene Bailey, Joseph Baclit, Helen Leung, Michael Cochran Agenda ▪ Great Streets Objectives ▪ Great Streets Road-map Notes and Action Items Great Streets Objectives - Provide platform to show community vision of what potential future
street scape improvement could be and garner community feedback so the City can build it into their future design/vision of the corridor and connecting streets. Once we had our object we had to come up with a road map. The road map included releasing information to the community about future corridor art installations, the benefits of the upcoming street changes, safety enhancements and discussing the Metro and streetscape plans. Once we determined what information to distribute we talked about the method of distribution. We came up with fliers, word of mouth, e-blast, social media and door-to-door notifications .We talked about recruiting Young n LA and the Young Adults of West Angeles to garner community feedback. We targeted surveys from local churches community neighborhood councils, local farmer’s markets and 13 | P a g e
stakeholders on things like safety elements, landscape design street furniture and modes of transportation etc. All of the information gathered led to our pop-up demonstration and movie night. 1. A. Information to distribute: ▪ Future corridor art installations. ▪ Coming street change benefits. ▪ Safety enhancements. ▪ Discuss Metro & Streetscape plans. B. Methods to release information: ▪ Prepare and release fliers, word of mouth, e-blast, social media, and door-to door notifications. ▪ Young in LA can help with distribution. ▪ Provide this information at meet-and-greets, workshops & charrettes. 2. Garner Community Feedback. A. Methods to Garner Feedback: ▪ Collect Surveys. ▪ Hold meet & greet with Park Mesa Home-Owners Association. ▪ Hold charrettes/workshops at 54C existing church. • Workshop #1: April 25th – Evening start at 7pm. o Breakout sessions: 3-4 questions to those invited. o Brainstorming Sessions. • Workshop #2: June 27th – Evening start at 7pm. B. Items feedback is needed on: ▪ Design of outdoor museum. • Note: Blue Prints to be completed by end of month. • Note: CD8 has already been holding smaller stakeholder meetings. ▪ Landscaping and furniture. ▪ Affordable Housing Project commercial space usage. ▪ RSVP’s to estimate number of participants at Pop-Up event. ▪ Location of future safety enhancements. 3. Full-Scale Pop-Up Event Showcase (Note: this is dictated by information received during step #2) A. WACDC to determine how much staff they can allocate. B. Need to determine what parts of street to close off, etc. 4. Create summary report for City and to eventually be distributed to community.
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Planning Meeting with LA Mas March 3, 2017 Attendees Gene, Joseph, Helen, Michael Agenda • La Mas Introductions and Role • La Mas Suggestions Notes and Action Items In this meeting we discussed how La Mas would be available to provide technical consultation to the community partners pertaining to economic development, also to identify and implement improvements that benefit small businesses and the public realm. In addition, they would support community partner in evaluating outreach strategy and materials. Finally, if applicable, help design a small business map & passport that can be used for the event and afterwards. Suggestions: • Connect with local business • Engage to explore how pop-up can promote local businesses • Consider what the popup will be as it relates to long term goals of the project • Use event to showcase plans that are coming to the neighborhood (metro funded streetscape improvements on Crenshaw, West Angeles/ Related housing project on Crenshaw
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Project Implementation
Preparation for the movie night and pop-up event began with set-up starting at 7:00am August 26 with the delivery of the porta-potties to the location of the event. Clean up began with sweeping, picking up trash around the parking lot area where the event was held. Delivery and set up of 16 | P a g e
100 chairs and 10 tables. The MIG team began assembly of the activity stations, and set up the grassy area for the movie. Around 2:00 our volunteers began to set up the Canopies and set up the booths for our vendors. The movie setup and DJ sound check was all complete by 5:30pm Over 180 registered for the event Approximately 130 were in attendance on the day of the event. We had several children’s activities Jumper, face painting, sound station,
Dancing, Music provided by DJ. We served hot dogs provided by Jordon’s Hot Dogs, popcorn and beverages. We also had the privilege of servicing some of the homeless.
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Event Program & Attendance Date August 26, 2017 Location 5414 Crenshaw Blvd Los Angeles Program Welcome and greeting, 6pm What is Great Streets? Why are we here today? Movie Trailer, Introduction of movie Queen of Katwe, Movie Closing remarks
Participating Businesses Imperfect Produce, Grid Alternatives, Los Angeles Public Library
Resident and Partner Feedback We received positive response and feedback from the community, “great to get out in the community to see what is happening along the Crenshaw corridor to be informed.” “Opportunity to meet neighbors.”
Residents and business owners were pleased that their opinions were being sought. Some, however expressed concerns of gentrification. One local business owners expressed his
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disappointment from not receiving any financial assistance to bridge him though all of the construction activities along the Crenshaw Blvd.
Data Collection Methods Over a period of several months, we collected over 629 surveys and well over 1000 touch points to gather input from the community and stakeholders. The surveys were designed to be easy to complete with multiple choice, check off with essay-type answers as an option. The surveys were available in both English and Spanish. We had a team of volunteers to assist in conducting and collecting the surveys.
West Angeles Youth
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“Shout out” to Donnie Briggs who helped coordinate the Youth for our Kick-off
We were out at local churches, farmers markets, as well as community meetings and events. Some of the question asked were: • What is your typical purpose for visiting the area? • How do you usually get around the neighborhood? • Which of the following services from the city’s DIY manual would you be most interested in supporting at Crenshaw and 54th St? • How would you like to see technology incorporated into the street?
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Which elements would make 54th St. a more pleasant place to walk?
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We provided Brothers BBQ with all the trimmings, sodas & cookies
Over 50 participants came out to our Business Lunch & Learn The overwhelming concern from the local business was parking.
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Data Analysis Overview We collected a total of 629 surveys from local residents and a total of 35 surveys from local businesses. The Data showed that 44% of those surveyed were in the area visiting local businesses while 43% that we surveyed attended church in the area. 27% accessed public services or transit and 26% marked other. We were interested in the modes of transportation in the area. 67% in this area travel by car. 16% selected other which in most cases indicated that they use multiple modes or bikes while 8% survey stated they use transit and the other 4% indicated that they walk. Although the vast majority currently travel by car, that is in part due to poorly designed streets. The streets are mainly designed for vehicles. For the streets to be better designed, they should connect people with all modes of transportation. Complete Street design must accommodate people walking, biking, taking transit and as well as those driving. We ask participates of the survey, from the DIY manual, what would they most likely support? The responses came back as follow: 1. Graffiti removal 58.6% 2. Free tree planting 49.6% 3. Community clean up event 49.0% 4. Reporting broken street furniture 39.7% 5. Art displays on light poles 33.7% 6. Replacing trash containers 28.5%
From this we concluded that our community is very concerned about the cleanliness and safety of our streets. Not only is graffiti not wanted in the community, folks would much prefer beautiful art as well as trees to line the streets and sidewalks. We also wanted to know how the community would like to see technology incorporated into the street. The majority indicated they would like to see solar lighting others responded interactive kiosks and finally many found it to be valuable to have solar charging stations at the bus stops, for those traveling by bus, this makes logical sense. From our research, the community felt that comfortable sidewalks, safer crosswalks and additional landscaping would make 54th St. a more pleasant place to walk.
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What does the data tell you about your project? In general the community is in support of the Crenshaw streetscape improvements and would like to see those improvements carried thru out 54th street as well. The majority of the community is in strong support of our 5414 Crenshaw Senior and Veteran housing project which was the initial motivation our application to the great streets challenge.
Community Vision and Capacity The vision for 54th and Crenshaw that emerged from the 54th Design project is a clean, safe, and livable project area that connects the greater Hyde Park Neighborhood, including tenants of 54 th & Crenshaw, to existing amenities, public transportation stops and stations, and local businesses. ▪ Accommodate multiple users and connect to the broader street network ▪ Accommodate social interaction, encourage pedestrian activity, or serve as a social network. ▪ Use hardscaping, landscaping, street furniture, or other physical elements to create a unique personality and capture a sense of public space. ▪ Quaint shopping, eating, well maintained streets with adequate lighting and parking.
The public/private partnership of WACDC and Related has the capacity to plan and execute this type of project successfully. Both partners have tackled extremely complex projects involving numerous stakeholders before, and both have deep experience in community outreach.
Prioritized Recommendations We currently are working with a blank slate. We have an opportunity to bring to fruition the community’s vision for a beautiful, safe and vibrant community hub where people can sit, walk and enjoy the outdoor living that Los Angeles offers. The intersection of 54th Street and Crenshaw is currently under major construction with the Crenshaw Metro line. Safety and beautification efforts have been addressed on Crenshaw with the Streetscape plan, however 54th is a street with multiple needs both for local business and residents. The City can support the community vision by implementing the following short, medium and long term recommendations. Short-term recommendation In the short term, safety and beautification efforts would create a more inviting atmosphere for bringing people together in the community. The installation of safety crosswalk, sidewalk repair and tree planting are small changes that could have a significant impact for both the residents and local businesses. With safety being the number one priority, small-scale multimodal transportation improvements should be addressed. The streets are not currently designed for all travelers to safely share the roads without accidents. New highly visible crosswalks is a must for this area. With several schools in the immediate surroundings this area is a high pedestrian traveled area, Comfortable sidewalks and solar street lighting were identified as number one priorities for the community. Repairing broken sidewalks will help those with impaired mobility while installing trees will add much to the urban landscape by providing shade, serenity and sustainability as well as an element of beauty and pride in the community.
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Medium-term recommendation What do residents want to see happening 12-18 months from now?
Back to the basics within the next 12-18 months. Maintaining an ongoing DIY Cleanup program would create a since of pride for the community. Not relinquishing the City from its role in maintaining clean streets free of litter and debris in our community, we would like to develop a partnership where we work together in efforts such as removing graffiti and making sure there is an adequate number of trash receptacles and provide support with tools and supplies for proper clean up days.
Long-term recommendation Since parking was frequently expressed during conversations and engagements with the community, especially from the local businesses, we recommend that the City study the feasibility of construction of a parking structure in the community. Location, size and land use issues should be considered.
Appendix
West A Villas Resident Meeting
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West A Villas Resident Meeting
Participants placed stickers on an Interactive Chart 28 | P a g e
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Home Buyers Education Class
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