The Los Angeles Eco-Village:The Los Angeles Eco-Village:

““An urban ecovillage is a piece of the ecological city.”An urban ecovillage is a piece of the ecological city.”

- - ArchitectArchitect Paul Downton of Urban Ecology Australia at the First Paul Downton of Urban Ecology Australia at the First International Eco-Cities Conference, Berkeley California 1990International Eco-Cities Conference, Berkeley California 1990

CRSP Institute for Urban Ecovillages at the Los Angeles Eco-Village

ECOVILLAGESECOVILLAGES

Human scaleHuman scale Full featuredFull featured Harmlessly integrates human activities into the Harmlessly integrates human activities into the

natural worldnatural world Supports healthy human developmentSupports healthy human development Can be successfully continued into the Can be successfully continued into the

indefinite futureindefinite future Has multiple centers of initiativeHas multiple centers of initiative

Six components define an “ecovillage”

Existing

Los Angeles Eco-VillageLEED Neighborhood Development Project Area

Bimini Baths: 1901 - 1951

Bimini Baths 1901 – 1951from hot mineral springs

2,000 feet below

Adjacent Buildings owned by CRSP the nonprofit Sponsor of the Los Angeles Eco-Village

40 unit apartment building

8 unit apartment building

Transforming the Intersection into a Plaza for the EcoMaya Festival

Using the plaza: a neighborhood block party

CarSolar Poweredstage

SmallKidsPlay area

NeighborsBrought freeFood to share

Permanently Affordable Housing -Permanently Affordable Housing -Transition from simple Transition from simple nonprofit ownershipnonprofit ownership to: to:

A COMMUNITY A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST LAND TRUST

Land under two Land under two currently owned currently owned nonprofit apt. nonprofit apt. buildings will go into a buildings will go into a community land trust community land trust with a 99 year lease. with a 99 year lease. The land trust will The land trust will also serve the larger also serve the larger neighborhood. neighborhood.

A LIMITED EQUITYA LIMITED EQUITYHOUSINGHOUSING

COOPERATIVECOOPERATIVE

Apartment buildings will be Apartment buildings will be sold to resident sold to resident ownership group as a ownership group as a limited equity housing limited equity housing cooperative. cooperative. Appreciation of property Appreciation of property is limited by state law.is limited by state law.

Dedicated Community Spaces in the current Dedicated Community Spaces in the current nonprofit owned Eco-Village housingnonprofit owned Eco-Village housing

Gardens: a permaculture Gardens: a permaculture approachapproach

Compost pit

Retrofitting Apartment Buildings

Policies• Use local, recycled

content materials• Use least polluting, least

toxic materials• Create local livelihood• Empower & train

residents to make informed consensus decisions.

Ten years later, here are a few results:

Energy efficient french doors from sustainably harvested red maple.

More retrofitting of apartment buildings

Energy: solar, insulation, Energy: solar, insulation, windows, appliances, windows, appliances, conservationconservation

Saving Energy: Car Free and Car Saving Energy: Car Free and Car

LiteLite

off to work – saving energy

Bike commuteBike commute

Multiple Centers of InitiativeMultiple Centers of Initiative

Bicycle Kitchen

Preparing for aWeaving workshop

Eco-Villagers earn someof their livelihood doing rehab

work “at home.”

Intentional Community meets weekly and makes decisions by consensus. Trainings

held several times each year.

Eco-Villagers share meals several times each week

North Side Garden Water Infiltration System

Problem Surface was paved Roof water run-off to storm drain

and directly to ocean. Water lost; ocean polluted

Solution Eco-Villager planned a permeable

surface & native landscape Volunteer community work parties

implemented plan Removed concrete and used it for a

retaining wall Reclaimed several truck loads of

local mulch to create a micro-watershed

Roof water goes back to water table.

Bimini Slough Ecology Park was a street.

The 500 foot streambed sinks stormwater at Bimini Slough

Ecology Park

Alcohol drug recovery home

Bresee Youth Center, neighborhood internet center and heath clinic

Bimini Slough Ecology Park adjacent to Bresee. A “slough” is a seasonal wetland

Shared Street Project

OVERALL GOALS• More pedestrian

friendly street• Reduce auto

dependency & traffic• Encourage more use of

public transit• Beautify

neighborhood

Funded by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority & the

City of Los Angeles at $250,000

SAMPLING OF ADDITIONAL GOALS

Permeable pavement demonstration Fruit and nut trees, food forest More mini parks Public gathering spaces Space for small business kiosks Rainwater collection Public art by neighborhood artists Friendly street furniture Neighbors’ participation in development

Shared Street Shared Street DedicationDedication

City Council PresidentEric Garcetti dedicatesrecently completedShared Street Project in L.A. Eco-Village: permeable sidewalks, narrowed streets, macademia trees.

The Los Angeles Eco-VillageThe Los Angeles Eco-Village

Reinventing how we live in cities for aLower environmental impact with a

Higher quality of life at aLower cost of living

Affiliated with the Ecovillage Network of the Americas andGEN, the Global Ecovillage Network