Dear Friends and Colleagues, Join us in reading April's issue of The Collaboration. This month's issue includes a Los Angeles Times Opinion piece on city-wide growth by TLUC, a recap of our presentation during ELACC's Community Plan Update Event, and several events taking place during the month of April including the Urban Renaissance. Sincerely,
NewsA Comprehensive Vision of Growth The March 25th issue of the Sunday Los Angeles Times, included an article in the Current Section by TLUC Board Member Cary Lowe and Director of Operations, Will Cipes, addressing the need for a comprehensive Vision for growth in Los Angeles. The opinion piece titled "Developing a big-city plan for LA" provides a brief history of visioning exercises in the City, recognizes recent efforts to promote density, and poses the question of whether the City has a far reaching vision that articulates "overarching values and goals" and has broad public support. For a full version of the article »
TLUC Presents at ELACC Community Plan Update Event
At the event, residents had a chance to learn about the update process and develop skills for more meaningful participation in planning activities. Guest presenters addressed principles of smart growth, how density can address local housing needs, transportation and mobility, and the importance of public participation. During the presentation, TLUC's Executive Director, Monica Villalobos, discussed the connection between land use, pedestrian oriented development and improved mobility within a community. Villalobos encouraged residents to think about how to assess their environment to improve mobility and community character. Later in the day, residents participated in a neighborhood walking tour, assessing community characteristics. The event ended with participant presentations on observations and suggestions for improvement. The Community Plan update process addresses the Land Use Element of the City of Los Angeles. The City's general plan is comprised of 35 community plans. Currently, eight communities are being updated, including Boyle Heights. For more information on the City of LA's Community Plan's visit: http://cityplanning.lacity.org
TLUC Seeks Highly Motivated Interns to Join our Team As summer approaches and students anxiously await the end of semester classes, so the hunt for summer internships begins. TLUC is looking to hire summer interns to work on community planning projects and assist in conducting research. Students who are looking to develop hands on planning experience, work directly with the community and are motivated to address growth related issues are encouraged to apply. Deadline to apply is May 4th, interested applicants are encouraged to apply early. Full details on the internship are available on our website: http://tluc.net/jobs/item.php?id=515
Developing a big-city plan for L.A. Planners should embrace a blueprint that treats L.A. like a single city rather than a collection of suburbs. By Cary Lowe and William Cipes, CARY LOWE, a land-use attorney and urban planning consultant, has advised state and local government. WILLIAM CIPES is director of operations of the Transportation and Land Use Collaborative of Southern California March 25, 2007 (Published by LA TIMES) THE CONTROVERSY OVER selling "air rights" above the Convention Center as development credits that could be used to build high-rise housing downtown underscores Los Angeles' fragmented, often incoherent approach to land use, planning and development. The air-rights proposal, which was vetoed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, isn't a bad idea in concept. Indeed, the mayor said as much in his veto explanation. But the City Council passed the ordinance without having first achieved a political consensus among city officials or private interests — and without any thoughtful consideration of how the new construction would affect downtown, let alone the rest of the city. Regrettably, incidents like this make the city seem like a small town rather than the world-class metropolis it aspires to be. But it's not too late to set a new course that will guide the city's development for the next generation. Villaraigosa supports what he calls "elegant density," and the city has a new planning director. There have been many attempts at creating a long-range vision of how the city should develop. As far back as 1930, a group of architects led by Frederick Law Olmstead, the designer of New York's Central Park, came up with a plan to make parks, plazas and transit routes accessible throughout the city. The ideas were largely ignored. In the 1960s, as the postwar development boom was cresting, the city Planning Department rallied behind the idea of a series of urban centers across Los Angeles that would be connected by major streets and public transit lines. Some centers — Century City, for one — were developed, but the connections were never established. In the mid-1980s, voters worried about uncontrolled growth and traffic congestion passed an initiative drastically reducing development opportunities in most of the city's commercial areas. But the law effectively pushed commercial development to the fringes of the city and further politicized the development approval process. In the early 1990s, city officials promoted an early version of what is now called "new urbanism": higher-density, mixed-use (commercial and residential) and pedestrian-friendly development. The idea produced little enthusiasm. Five years ago, largely in response to the San Fernando Valley's secessionist movement, the city established a system of neighborhood councils to weigh in on land use in their respective areas. But these councils have little incentive to think or act on behalf of the city as a whole. As a result, L.A. lurches from one land-use crisis to another. Despite the General Plan, which is supposed to guide development citywide, land-use issues are fought out one at a time. The Valley and downtown businesses argue over how much — or even if — city resources should be committed to the Grand Avenue project. Manufacturers clash with residential developers over the fate of the old industrial core downtown between Main Street and the Los Angeles River. Eastside and Westside battle over where scarce transit dollars should be spent. City officials bemoan soaring housing costs but cannot rally public support to fund affordable-housing programs. Public schools in parts of the city remain overcrowded, but many neighborhoods don't want a new campus in their backyard. Obtaining city approval for development projects has become so complex that an industry of lobbyists and facilitators has sprung up to navigate the bureaucracy. The current system of land-use regulation influences growth only in small ways. The city's population continues to rise, but its infrastructure capacity — streets, schools, parks, water systems — grows only incrementally, if at all. No wonder that many residents, weary of traffic, noise, potholes, crime and smog, have become classic NIMBYs dedicated to getting as large a share of public resources for their neighborhoods as possible, while keeping out the effects of living in a big city. This will not change until all of L.A.'s diverse communities believe their futures are inextricably linked. To that end, residents and their leaders must agree on what kind of city Los Angeles is. This consensus could be the foundation for developing a vision of what the city should be in 20, 30 or even 50 years. As important, it could be the basis of a guide on how L.A. should interact with the rest of the region on issues that transcend any one jurisdiction. The city doesn't have to reinvent the planning wheel to accomplish this. Other parts of the country can provide some valuable guidance. In Utah, a regional planning program, dubbed Envision Utah, has steered growth away from sprawl toward more compact development of the entire Salt Lake City area. Chicago's Metropolis 2020, born out of business' concern over a deteriorating quality of life in the city, led to the creation of a more comprehensive and inclusive planning process. In California, San Diego recently completed a citywide effort at public participation under Gail Goldberg, L.A.'s new planning director, that produced the City of Villages plan — stimulating growth, especially mixed-use development, where people are already congregated and along transit corridors. Here's what L.A. needs to do:
As the saying goes, if you don't know where you are going, any path will do. That is Los Angeles' current situation. Instead, the city must create a citywide plan. A good place to start is to rethink how selling the air rights over the Convention Center might better rationalize L.A.'s growth.
Upcoming Events:Urban Renaissance
Held at the trendy Aqua Lounge in Beverly Hills, the Urban Renaissance consists of a networking reception followed by intimate discussion on “The Future of South Los Angeles.” Special invited guests include: Councilman Bernard C. Parks, Eighth Council District, City of LA's; Cecilia Estolano, CEO, Community Redevelopment Agency; Richard Benbow, General Manager, Community Development Department; and Michael Banner, Chair, Urban Land Institute, Los Angeles. The mission of the Urban Renaissance is to break down the barriers of multigenerational networking by creating a unique, upscale environment that supports the exchange of ideas and resources, as well as the effective across industry communication. The event attracts a community of dynamic and mot ivated real estate professionals that want to build significant relationships and make viable business connections within the emerging ethnic marketplace. The Urban Renaissance is an excellent opportunity to network with potentially high profile minority developers, clients, community leaders, political officials and business owners. Join us at the Aqua Lounge, 424 Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90302; 310-275-8511. For registration information, please visit: urbanrenaissance-la.com
APA Hosts 2007 National Planning Conference in Philadelphia, April 14-18, 2007 Philadelphia, the fifth-largest U.S. city and birthplace of the nation, will host the American Planning Association's 2007 National Planning Conference, April 14-18, 2007. Enjoy 200-plus conference sessions, mobile workshops, training seminars, and networking opportunities in a city more than 300 years old.
CHCC 2007 Annual Conference Building Livable Communities for All Ages Keynote Speaker: Dr. Lawrence D. Frank, Ph.D., AICP, ASLA Thursday, April 19, 2007 Check the "Events" section of the Center for Civic Partnerships' web site for information and registration: http://www.civicpartnerships.org/
California High Speed Rail Authority LA-OC Corridor A high speed rail that will commute from Los Angeles to Anaheim in 20 minutes. Come get involved and participate at the next scoping meetings:
ULI Los Angeles Young Leaders Group Thursday, April 12th, 2007 at 6:00 pm A panel including Chris Pak, CEO for Archeon Group, Bennett Kim, Managing Partner for Big Rock Partners, LLC, and Roger Moliere, Executive Officer for Real Property Management & Development - MTA, will be discussing the current changes and visions of the Wilshire Corridor and Koreatown area. Registration available online. For more information visit: http://www.uli-la.org
The 8th Annual Housing Rights Summit The Housing Rights Center (HCR) invites you to the Housing Rights Summit to commemorate National Fair Housing month on Wednesday, April 18, 2007. The Summit provides a collaborative forum for civil rights and social justice advocates, community leaders, housing professionals, scholars, students and the public to engage in a vigorous debate and dialogue on ways to achieve greater protection of civil rights and end discrimination. Attendees will participate in a day of education and dialogue on topics, such as Companion Animals for People with Disabilities, Envisioning & Planning Livable Cities, The Housing-School Nexus: the Dynamics of Segregation, Fair Housing Challenges & Impediments, and the Housing Crisis: Local & Global Perspectives. |
On March 24th, residents from Boyle Heights gathered to learn about the City of Los Angeles' Community Plan Update process at a forum organized by East LA Community Corporation (ELACC). 
On Tuesday, April 17th from 6 to 9 pm, Urban X Marketing, in partnership with TLUC and other local partners, will be hosting the Urban Renaissance, a networking mixer geared towards the next generation of urban developers, real estate leaders and community development professionals.