Community-driven change

Veronica Siranosian, AICPCommunity Project Lead

Ashley Zarella Hand, LEED AP, Assoc. AIAChair, Sustainability CommitteeDirector, Area-Wide Workforce, Private Sector

The Sustainability Committee is dedicated to empowering the Downtown community to create a

culture of sustainability.

We will work with the community to increase

accessibility to existing programs and services

through outreach and public education. We will

identify and create opportunities for new

programming and partnerships to meet our goals

for a more livable, affordable, and efficient urban center.

Sustainability Committee(Our mission)

2009 SDAT(Project 6: Sustainable Design Assessment Team Grant)

• American Institute of Architects, Center for Communities by Design

• $15,000 in professional assistance

• $5,000 community match

• 10 communities selected in 2009

DLANC has paid $1,500 of the community match. Rotary of Los Angeles has committed $1,000.

DLANC has paid $1,500 of the community match. Rotary of Los Angeles has committed $1,000.

Typically awarded to Mayors’ offices. First time award to a community-based organization like an NC.

Typically awarded to Mayors’ offices. First time award to a community-based organization like an NC.

SDAT

October 2008First committee meeting

March 2009DLANC committee chairs meeting

May 2009Project team meeting 1

June 2009APA Planning Excellence Award

July 2009City approves grant

August 2009Project team meeting 2

September 2009SDAT preliminary visitAPA Planning Award of MeritFirst Annual NC Peer Award

October 2009Project team meeting 3

December 2009SDAT Visit

January 2010Outreach

November 2008Community meetingDLANC Board approvalDecember 2008Grant awarded

January 2009Begin contract negotiation

February 2009Placemaking workshop

DLANC community-driven process

Empowering all voices of the neighborhood

March 2010Final SDAT Plan

What are the outcomes we would like to see?

1. A well connected, balanced Downtown with physically, socially, and economically integrated nodes of activity at the neighborhood level; streetscapes that support pedestrian activity; and open space that is adequate, well-maintained, and accessible.

2. City services to improve sustainability that are coordinated between Departments and easily understood and accessed by Downtown stakeholders.

Goals: Articulated through collaboration(Three community meetings + Two Conference Calls with SDAT Leaders)

3. Neighborhood Councils with the capacity, structure, and model to follow on how to achieve sustainability goals at the grassroots level.

4. An actionable strategy for improving sustainability Downtown that can be implemented by the Neighborhood Council and Steering Committee members.

SDAT Goals: Organic development(Project 6: Sustainable Design Assessment Team Grant)

• Walter Sedovic, AIA LEED AP SDAT Project Lead

• Jane Jenkins Downtown Business Improvement Districts

• Jim Diers Neighborhood Development & Governance

• Mark McDaniel Neighborhood Revitalization

• Eve Picker Urban Revitalization

• Paula Reeves Bike/Pedestrian/Transportation

• Sara Geddes Streetscape, Open Space & Sustainability

• Robert Yakas, AIA Urban Design & Sustainability

SDAT – The TeamA national team of experts converged in Downtown for an intense three day visit.

Preliminary report @ LAPD HQ

• Day 1Downtown tour Steering Committee meeting

• Day 2Stakeholder meetingsSDAT collaboration

• Day 3SDAT brainstorming Public presentation

December 2-4, 2009Los Angeles SDAT gets started!

Our outlook is criticalThoughts and goals as presented by the SDAT

• Away from “NO”The city has no money…We can’t stop this…We can’t change the streets…We can’t fight the city…

• to “YES WE CAN”Focus on the power we do have – PEOPLE – stakeholders, community organizations, neighborhoods

The Preliminary ReportThoughts and goals as presented by the SDAT

As an NC, focus on:

• Empowerment

• Equity (social/cultural)

• Environment

• Economy

• Example

EMPOWERMENTEnable individual engagement

Expansive BaseInclude all stakeholdersDevelop Neighborhood ID

InitiativesGround-up (“Organic”) projectsComplex: Stakeholder-Defined

AdvocacyData drivenShared vision

PartnershipsLeverage access to governmentSymbiosis

DLANC Tree Planting Pilot

Diversity in Housing and Neighborhood

SchoolsParks & Playgrounds

Job CreationWholesale DistrictVolunteer

Neighborhood Stability

Seattle: Vacant storefront transformed for youth volunteers to repair bikes

EQUITY Social/CulturalConsider the many needs of our community

ENVIRONMENTCreate spaces for the community

ShadeVest pocket parksIndigenous planting

Water retentionXeriscapeGreen roof initiatives

Bike and Pedestrian FriendlyAdvocacy on safety issues

Neighborhood identity: what do you see?

ECONOMYThoughts and goals as presented by the SDAT

• Transportation LinksMulti-modalInterspersed with green spacePedicabs

• Shovel-readyPreparation for the futurePhilanthropic/Land Bank Anticipate change

•Art Window Shopping on BroadwayVision of future Downtown

Seattle: Local night out highlights

restaurants and music

EXAMPLEThoughts and goals as presented by the SDAT

• Baby Steps / Major Initiatives

Measure successData-driven change

• ApplicationDLANC as a model for othersCity-wide / Regional

• Share success stories• Paradigms/recipes• Prepare for world stageEmpowerment

WORKING WITH TRADITIONLos Angeles as a polycentric city – Downtown is a hub

DowntownDowntown RiversideRiverside

PasadenaPasadena

Long BeachLong Beach

Santa MonicaSanta Monica

Maximize existing resources for the future of your communityWhat can you do for your neighborhood?

If the future of NC funding is unclear, do we adjust?

Block-by-block

AECOMAECOM

American Institute of ArchitectsAmerican Institute of Architects

American Planning AssociationAmerican Planning Association

Bike Writers CollectiveBike Writers Collective

City of LA Bureau of SanitationCity of LA Bureau of Sanitation

City of LA Dept. of Public WorksCity of LA Dept. of Public Works

City of LA Planning DepartmentCity of LA Planning Department

City of LA Urban Design StudioCity of LA Urban Design Studio

CK ArchitectureCK Architecture

Council District 9Council District 9

County of Los AngelesCounty of Los Angeles

CRA/LACRA/LA

DLANC ($)DLANC ($)

DONEDONE

Fashion District BIDFashion District BID

Gilmore AssociatesGilmore Associates

Historic Downtown BIDHistoric Downtown BID

Melendrez PartnersMelendrez Partners

Metro Metro

Rotary Club of Los Angeles ($)Rotary Club of Los Angeles ($)

Skid Row Housing TrustSkid Row Housing Trust

South Park BIDSouth Park BID

US Green Building CouncilUS Green Building Council

USCUSC

STEERING COMMITTEE +Participating in the SDAT Process

AIDS AwarenessAIDS AwarenessAmerican Drawing SocietyAmerican Drawing SocietyAmerican Feng Shui IntituteAmerican Feng Shui IntituteAmerican Institute of ArchitectsAmerican Institute of ArchitectsAmerican Institute of Certified PlannersAmerican Institute of Certified PlannersAmerican Planning AssociationAmerican Planning AssociationBringing Back BroadwayBringing Back BroadwayCalifornia Apartment AssociationCalifornia Apartment AssociationCentral City AssociationCentral City AssociationCJHCCJHCCounty of Los AngelesCounty of Los AngelesCulver City Downtown Business AssociationCulver City Downtown Business AssociationCulver City Rock & Mineral ClubCulver City Rock & Mineral ClubDowntown Center BIDDowntown Center BIDGrenada Hills VolleyballGrenada Hills VolleyballHistoric Downtown BIDHistoric Downtown BIDHACHACIssues & SolutionsIssues & SolutionsLos Angeles County Metropolitan Transit AuthorityLos Angeles County Metropolitan Transit AuthorityMasonMasonNational Realtors AssociationNational Realtors AssociationNAULNAULParent Teacher AssociationParent Teacher AssociationPhilip Meadows HOAPhilip Meadows HOARight Girl (nonprofit)Right Girl (nonprofit)Santee CourtSantee CourtSAGSAGSCAQMDSCAQMDSHMDDSHMDDSkid Row GroupsSkid Row GroupsSouth Park BIDSouth Park BIDTeen ZoneTeen ZoneUSC DT AlumniUSC DT AlumniUS Green Building CouncilUS Green Building CouncilVero HOAVero HOAWomen’s Empowerment GroupWomen’s Empowerment Group

Our resources start with our membership

OUR BOARDOrganizations identified by our leadership

PROJECT IDEASSome initial inspiration from the SDAT

• Partnership-focusedMulti-modalInterspersed with green spacePedicabs

• Shovel-readyPreparation for the futurePhilanthropic/Land Bank Anticipate change

•Art Window Shopping on BroadwayVision of future Downtown

Community identity

Community pride

Issue-focused projects

Transforming existing resources

RECYCLINGNew vision for old building

Volunteerism

Neighborhood beautification

VISION

Abandoned storefronts re-imagined

Community-led change realized

What does our community need?

Vacant right of way?

Built by the community

For the community

A recipe for success

… or a community garden?

HOUSINGHow do you maintain affordability?

• Find ways to reduce costs for developers

Eliminate parking requirements

•Explore public/private partnerships to provide incentives to developers AND residents

BROADWAYDowntown’s most surprising asset

• Create a land bank

• Find developers willing to tackle small vacant upper floor projects

• Build artist housing, startup commercial space, less amenities but more historic charm

EMPLOYMENTHow do you find jobs for ex-offenders?

• Assess employment restrictions on the formerly incarcerated • Engage area employer/business community/philanthropy

Transitional Jobs

• Offer support to emerging entrepreneurs

Micro-loansTechnical Assistance

• Assess SRO housing policies on economic mobility, family and social cohesion

PARTNERSHIPSHow do we meet our goals?

• Facilitate• Mediate• Advocate• Communicate• Represent• Plan• Position• Listen

Calling in the experts: PPS

TRANSPORTATIONWhere do we go from here?

• Transportation & EquityPlacing the people at the center of

the discussion

• Transportation & Environment

Connecting transportation modes

•Transportation & Economy Creating safety, convenience, and supporting neighborhood identity

URBAN DESIGNHow do we connect to each other?

• Knitting the Neighborhoods together

•Interventions on the seams•Blurring the edges while maintaining NH identity•Connecting with the greater community

•Defined Centers and Edge-Neighborhood is the basic unit

•Completeness: meet daily and life-long needs• Connectedness: integrating transportation and land use• Multiple opportunities for multi-modal circulation

Our tools(Sustainability Committee: eight community projects)

• Outreach Connecting people to services and programs• Reach stakeholders at the neighborhood level• Focus on sharing information and capacity-building

(rather than trying to do it ourselves)

• Education Knowledge-sharing • Engage those with the know-how (professional or otherwise) to participate

in community-based initiatives• Empower the individual through community support

• Advocacy Voice for the community where necessary• Change the way the Neighborhood Council functions• Facilitate change through action

Los Angeles is rapidly changing.

The residential population increases annually.

Social equity is an issue for all neighborhoods.

There are empty tree wells, open storm drains, and a lot of waste.

Practical, accessible, affordable solutions will have the most immediate impact.

Get involved with your neighborhood council.

Share your passion for the environment.

Civic engagement will save our city.

downtownsustainability.com