GUIDE FOR DEVELOPMENT: MARIACHI PLAZA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

• In February 2016, Metro began a community engagement process to hear and understand the Boyle Heights community’s desired uses for future development of Metro-owned properties near Mariachi Plaza Station

• The Development Guidelines were created from this process:

1. Community Outreach

2. Vision for Development

3. Program & Development Guidelines

Parcel A: Existing Parking Lot (27,025 SF) Parcel B: Existing Lot (6,000 SF) Parcel C: Outlined Portion of Existing Mariachi Plaza (14,150 SF)

MARIACHI PLAZA DEVELOPMENT SITE MAP

• Adjacent to culturally significant Mariachi Plaza and the Mariachi Plaza Gold Line Station

• Consists of two development Parcels, A & B, and adjacent Parcel C on Mariachi Plaza

• Parcel C is limited to surface uses such as: landscape, hardscape, outdoor furniture and dining, public art, signage, kiosks, pop-ups, and/or shade elements

MARIACHI PLAZA SITE

• Boyle Heights is 6.5 square mile neighborhood• One of the largest Hispanic & Latino

communities in LA w/ vibrant working class neighborhood & long-standing Mexican-American heritage

• Population is 148,000• Residents have a median income of $34,493• Renters make up 73% of population; only 27%

of residents own one of the 39,680 housing units available

• Average vacancy rate of 3.6%• Vacancy rate is sign of large housing

demand/shortage

BOYLE HEIGHTS COMMUNITY: CONTEXT

DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES PROCESS

1. Community Outreach

2. Vision for Development

3. Program & Development Guidelines

Four topics presented to participants:• What are the goals of this community?• What is working within the community?• What is not working within the community?• What do you want to see in the community?

STEP 1: COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Stakeholder feedback included several important recurring themes:• Keep local business in Boyle Heights• Support community’s diversity and provide/enhance amenities for local residents• Promote equitable housing models suitable for this community• Create a dense, urban development at the Project Site• Balance density with well-designed open spaces with equal access for children and seniors alike• Preserve the eclectic character of neighborhood through public art, performances & vibrant street life

STEP 1: COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

• Promote safety and security around the plaza and Metro station• Provide adequate parking for local business demand• Embrace the rich history of street vendor culture• Promote access to healthy food at affordable prices• Honor the history and historic landmarks• Create usable and welcoming public open space• Include needs of mariachis in program

STEP 1: COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

• Preserve uniqueness of historical and cultural identity

• Envision a development, which builds on the Boyle Heights heritage while promoting community values

• Meet housing demands

• Strengthen public transit mobility

• Increase access to public open space and growing parking demands

• Create a space where community and heritage work in unison

STEP 2: VISION FOR DEVELOPMENT

STEP 3: PROGRAM & DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES USESAffordable Housing• Housing provided shall be 100% affordable, including very low- to low-income affordability levels, with

a minimum of 40 and up to 60 units. A mix of family and senior housing is desired

Community-Serving Commercial• A minimum of 8,000 SF and up to 12,000 SF of commercial use is recommended

Community Uses• A community room of approximately 2,000 SF to serve community needs and also to be used for the

affordable housing development; a space for the mariachis to use for storage; public restrooms

Open Space• Park and recreation uses are important to the community; develop a public-private partnership with

City of LA for joint use

Parking• Vehicular parking is in short supply; it is highly desirable to provide public parking in excess of parking

required for the development.

Street Vending• Street vending is an important community asset that assists both residents, users, and sellers; Metro

will evaluate opportunities for a street vending hub on the plaza

MIX OF USE DIAGRAMS

MIX OF USE DIAGRAMS

The purpose of these guidelines are to give Urban and Architectural Design direction. The principles were developed through an outreach and workshop process between the Boyle Heights Community and Metro.

The guidelines are divided into three major categories:

• Urban Design – How will the development interact with the surrounding neighborhood?

• Open Space – What will the design of the open spaces and landscaping look like, both within the development and in the public areas outside?

• Architecture and Building Design – What should the design of the structures and buildings look like?

KEY GUIDELINE POINTS

URBAN DESIGN

COMMUNITY COMPATIBILITY • Development should respect and enhance the surrounding community

PEDESTRIAN LEVEL EXPERIENCE• Project should create an enjoyable experience for people walking to, from, and through the area

HEIGHT • Community expressed concerns about height but desire as much affordable housing as possible.

Development should not block views of Downtown Los Angeles

KEY GUIDELINE POINTS

OPEN SPACE

Public Open Space• Project public open space shall be well connected with Mariachi PlazaPark Area (Parcel A or B)• The developer is encouraged to work with the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation to create a

public/private joint-use park on either Parcel A or B with a joint maintenance agreementTenant Open Space• Tenant open space shall be provided according to HUD and City of Los Angeles standards, of which

50% can be on-site and the remainder as part of the joint-use park

KEY GUIDELINE POINTS

OPEN SPACE

PUBLIC ART• Transforms and enhances the development site• Connects the site to people and the surrounding neighborhood• Contributes to the region’s artistic vibrancy• Designed and fabricated to be safe, durable and maintainable

KEY GUIDELINE POINTS

ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING DESIGN

CONTEXTDesign & Style• Design needs to be contemporary and appropriate to the community

BUILDING MATERIALSQuality & Durability• Quality and durability are essential to the long-term success of the project and should be

considered from the outset

KEY GUIDELINE POINTS

ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING DESIGN

SUSTAINABILITY• Development should incorporate technologies, designs, and programs that conserve or restore

natural resources, and should generally be guided by sustainable principles and practices• Building materials should be recycled and locally sourced

KEY GUIDELINE POINTS

NEXT STEPS MARIACHI PLAZA

• Go to Metro Board with Development Guidelines – January 2016

• Issue Request for Proposals (RFP), including Development Guidelines – March 2016

CESAR CHAVEZ/FICKETT

• Go to DRAC with Cesar Chavez Fickett Development Guidelines – December 2016

Vivian Rescalvo

213.922.2563

rescalvov@metro.net

THANK YOU!