A Better Downtown: Expansion and Mass Transit Hand in Hand?

In my previous post I wrote about the future of downtown Los Angeles. I dedicated a small but very crucial portion of my post to the need of new ideas and further expansion of downtown. Nonetheless, the projects assigned to an urban center need a healthy policy that benefits the people that are affected by it one way or another. Moreover, I emphasized the importance of a reliable and adequate mass transit system. When the notion of a subway system from downtown to the sea came to us, many Angelenos were relieved. This week, I am looking into a post written by Anna Scott entitled “USC plans for the future” on ladowntownnews.com blog. It explains the future plans of the university to expand its development surrounding USC campus and extend outward. This will enable the university to build stronger ties to downtown. University of Southern California has always been a focal player in shaping downtown. Furthermore, I will also examine the role of the transit system that is meant to bring the people to the urban center; an article written by Yonah Freemark on thetransportpolitic.com blog entitled: “After measure R, Los Angeles Transit Plans Advance….Slowly”. I believe these two subjects inter-relate and points Los Angeles city into the right direction. It creates a possibility on one hand to easy access for the public and on the other hand, conforms to the modern standards regarding urban design and safety. As I explore and comment on these two articles below, they can also be found at the respective sites (see comment).

"USC Plans For the Future"

Comment

USC has for a while been a well recognized and trendsetting actor in the downtown scene, formatting the course of action to create a healthier and safer environment. This has proved to be true when examining the area surrounding the university campus. In this article, Ms. Scott has made clear in detail the underlying and apparent reason to expand – this being to secure and provide housing for future students, creating an improved array of businesses that meet current standards in terms of providing healthy function and innovative design. Furthermore this is meant to lift up the community surrounding the university. As much as this development is due to the self interest of USC it will also serve for a “greater common good”. However, I agree with the previous comment emphasizing that, while working to be more engaged and forward thinking in the community, USC must take notice to the diverse ethnic groups and minorities that are an essential component of this district. Their engagement should be fostered and taken into consideration when projecting for the future. This project should aim to create and uphold jobs for the creative class and encourage the minorities while giving incentives to small and mid-size business to be active and committed players. As the university builds on to create a more sustainable environment, USC as a trendsetting and respectable actor in the community must be cautious not to step over small business. However it is of great importance to set standards and make sure that businesses adhere to those standards, as it has been proved that safety in the community goes hand in hand with improved businesses. John Macdonald, the leading researcher on the study and also a criminology professor at the University of Pennsylvania confirms this statement by saying: "These districts make a place not such an attractive place for crimes of opportunity such as robbery." The mixed use of businesses brings more security that deters crimes. This is a concern that not only the community share interest in but one that parents of students and the entire student body cares strongly about. Hence this should be a fundamental concern of the university, – to create and maintain a safe environment for students. Finally, thank you Anna for a comprehsensive and constructive post. This is a great direction to intensify what has already been seen around campus. It can create opportunities and pass on positive spillovers to the various players of the community.

“After measure R, Los Angeles Transit Plans Advance….Slowly”

Comment

One of my main concerns has been for a while the future of the proposed subway system that would ease the transportation issue for many residents between these destinations, - destinations being generally a reach from downtown to the Pacific Rim (See left). I am glad that you have answered my concerns and laid out there a detailed plan concerning the construction and timeframe of this development. However, what you consider being one of the most ambitious plan in the US history seems to me being the least prioritized project. I can not really comprehend why it would take an approximate 25 years (according to the timeframe you have provided) to build a 10 mile subway system. Considering that Metro with the mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as the chairman on the board has acknowledged the project timeframe as unacceptable. Metro is stating that this delay is due to a low prioritization when it comes to transport policy.

While I understand the complications that come with costly projects such as this, I recognize that the current economy might setback this project. However, I might be fair in arguing that now is a good time for building and developing. This project would create many new jobs within a sector that is already

bleeding. Furthermore, as money has been heavily invested in downtown, it seems only fair to fill downtown with people so that businesses can thrive and generate revenues to the city. It is apparent that the various developing projects aiming to give the city a facelift will not fully function without people to give it the spree of energy and pulse. This is without doubt something that a mass transit system can change. You mentioned the costly side of it being that it would be very hard to finish this project earlier due to insufficient funds. You considered the help from the business community and I totally concur with you and strongly believe that as we are in this tough economy, we are also moving towards a time where efficiency and effectiveness are strongly emphasized. Being that these are the magic words in the current economy, we should look into the great advantages with public-private partnerships. This would create more business and at the same time provide the funds required to get this project on and going with more efficiency. Surely, I also believe that an adequate portion of the stimulus plan should go towards this project being that it will help to ease and stimulate the economy for many reasons, which I mentioned above. - Firstly it will create more jobs in crucial sectors, secondly it will, indisputably give the people of these areas an easier access to downtown. This will bolster the economy and help businesses to thrive. Thirdly, these businesses will generate tax to the city which can later be used to pay of the debt of this subway system. Lastly, we will have a sustainable mass transit system that will generate revenues while setting the tone for future similar projects. The only problem is yet to stand in the way – the low prioritization that is based on the wrong assumption- the notion that we do not really need to prioritize this project neither now nor in the future!

Does Los Angeles Need a Downtown: An Urban Heart or Waiting for its Moment

Cities such as New York and San Francisco come to mind when I frame the picture of a metropolitan downtown. For a while, the people of Los Angeles have been curious about the faith of the downtown in their city. Will it ever happen and if so, what shape will it take? This topic is of major interest to most Los Angelenos and currently much focus is on the development that is taking place in downtown Los Angeles (see right). L.A. Live being one of such projects, which aims to injects a pulse into the city life. Looking at the various metropolitan cities around the world we may come to notice that many of them, although different in shape and form share the same characteristic. In other words the city model, where there are suburbs with their respective urban centers but with one major center where everything seems to happen. What’s more, the planning of every city is connected to its history and the opportunities associated with it. Looking back at the history of Los Angeles, one question may be worth inquiring upon, whether Los Angeles really needs a downtown? While urban planners and developers agree about the necessity of a complete and functional downtown, the conclusion of the essential ingredients of what constitutes an urban center in Los Angeles differ. The debate continues with planners and nearby communities attempts to realize their ideas in how to reshape the downtown district. To fully grasp the subject, the topic requires exploring the various aspects associated with a proper and unified definition of what make up an urban center–its history, the planning, the people, its opportunities, and all the other crucial factors that must be taken into consideration of such a center.

Firstly, we must ask ourselves of the purpose and function that urban centers serve to the people. To answer that, perhaps it would be appropriate to paraphrase the distinguished professor Manuel Castells who was one of the panelists in a forum (that CalArts held at the REDCAT February 11th)on the discussion of urban planning in Los Angeles. According to Mr. Castells, downtowns evolve around two issues: one being the urban centrality, a place where people can meet, communicate and interact with one another freely. Second, it is a place where people have access to public space be it for shopping, sports events, public demonstrations, and the like. In other words, a place where “things happen.” Urban planners at the forum were in agreement about the insufficient efforts to create such public spaces in Los Angeles. This is evident in the fact that there is not enough foot traffic in downtown due to this shortage of public space. Cecilia Estolano, the CEO of the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles was one of the speakers of the forum and expressed her ideas about downtowns being a place for “descent,” a place for “celebration,” a place where we can get together and share our “opinions” and “ideas.” Furthermore, Ms. Estolano is not in agreement with Mr. Castells about there not being enough people in downtown, using the audience as evidence pointing to them and saying; “they are here.” However, Ms Estolano agrees with Mr Castells that there is not enough public space attributed to downtown Los Angeles. The CEO emphasizes the importance of creating more places where people can express their creativity, mourn, and celebrate, using President Obama’s inauguration as an example of creation of a public space oriented to serve such a specific purpose-the gathering of people from all walks of life to share what was a crucial and historic moment.
To talk about the city of Los Angeles, it would not be fair without discussing its history. One man of great importance comes to mind when mentioning the city of Los Angeles; William Mulholland. The various projects he created helped the city to thrive further to meet the needs of businesses. However, we need to recognize that Los Angeles is still a young, vibrant city. It needs a new breed of Mulhollanders to usher our city to the 21st century. At 100 years of age, metropolitan Los Angeles is still relatively young and has much room to grow.
Currently, downtown, Los Angeles is undergoing many changes and there are many actors trying to influence the direction of how these changes should take shape. A decade ago, most landuse in the central city were contributed to industries and office spaces. Today, many of the industry spaces have been converted to lofts for the artists and other creative people wishing to work and live in a vibrant city. Some areas of the city have undergone a conversion of commercial to residential landuse which has brought about an increase in the land value as a result. This policy has brought about a concern that many of the industries will instead move to other locations, thus reducing the amount of tax they generate to the city. According to Mr Castell: the city is thriving on the day as the corporate world fills it with life, but the night and weekends follows with lifeless and empty streets. Most businesses associated with the downtown in Los Angeles are real estate, finance and insurance related. This makes downtown sensitive to current economic time. The message is clear from Castell: “the days of corporate downtown are over” and the only way to sustain a healthy urban center is to create more public spaces.
Our path is clear-more residential building that will ultimately bring life to the city. A waste of space is eminent. The city of Los Angeles must set forth a policy that combines living and work. We can see examples of developers today that have rebuilt many lofts and old industry locations to luxury apartments. City government must help to ease the transition by helping middle and low income people settle in to these various housing alternatives. A downtown without people living in it is just a corporate office downtown with emptiness and downfall of an urban center as a result. As we plan for a city, planners must not forget the people that make the city. In Los Angeles, there are many various ethnic groups and the different parts of the city are a manifestation of this phenomenon. It is important to embrace this multicultural place and plan to include its various people, no matter of race, ethnicity or income, to be a part of this change.
There are many up and coming new generation tech-businesses that can prosper in the city, leaving a trace of creativity and innovative ideas. A strategic planning should incorporate these pioneering professionals and small businesses to central parts of the city, as surrounding areas are occupied by venture capitalist firms to support their ideas. There are many monuments and artistic sites that make the city stand out in art, culture, and social events. We can build from that and make Los Angeles one of the most prominent cities in the world.
Professor Edward Soja (also attending the forum) states that Los Angeles had a different experience during the industrialization era in comparison to cities such as Chicago and New York. The typical clustering of businesses, organizations and people did not pile up in the city as they did in Chicago and New York, which leaves Los Angeles in a different position. It should be noticed though that Los Angeles is yet the second largest city in respect to the amount of government employed people. It is also the densest city in respect to the various parts of the city. This is a positive indicator. Past data shows that more than five million people have moved to Los Angeles in the last thirty years. Some are concerned that internet will take away the need for that clustering that has prevailed in the archetypal downtown. Nowadays, information is spread over the internet quickly, and thus it has been argued that people need no longer to be in vicinity of a center in order to encounter and exchange information. Professor Soja answers to that saying: “a cluster will always prevail in creating more innovations, cultural creativity and interaction between people. It is something that no computer can replace, especially in these economic times”.

A city such as New York is an incredible city full of life and pulse, but to compare Los Angeles to New York is like comparing apples and oranges. Los Angeles should pursue its own original and unique way of creating an urban center. In order to be realistic and true to the genuine idea of an urban center in Los Angeles, we must start from the standpoint of the city’s history. It involves cultural creativity, innovative ideas, art, the diverse people we have, and the various midsize to small businesses that gives an urban center its unique niche. Secondly there must be a stronger effort to create more public spaces for people that it can be used as mediums to reach stated goals. Another issue that seems to be ignored is the mass transit and the availability of transportation from remote communities to visit Los Angeles downtown. There is no viable link that connects the distant communities to the city core. The ongoing debate about the subway from the Pacific Rim to downtown (see below)may alleviate this problem. That would change the notion of Los Angeles downtown as a place to work and not to visit. It seems that the populations of the suburbs are generally disconnected to the wide offerings of artistic and cultural events of downtown. A sound, safe and convenient transportation system would change this. We can look at today’s L.A live project as one of those projects attempting to bring energy to the city. The notion of downtown as an unsafe place will diminish with similar projects like LA Live in combination with a sustainable and efficient transportation system that can carry on this idea. So my final words are: more public space in Los Angeles Downtown, more people, more life!


[i]Manuel Castells who is the Wallis Annenberg Chair in Communication Technology and Society at USC and author of Society, The Information Age: Economy and Culture; presented his point of view on the 11th of February at the Redcat building in downtown, Los Angeles.

[ii] Cecilia Estolano is the CEO of the Community Redevelopment Authority of the City of Los Angeles. http://www.crala.org/

[iii] It would serve as a form of injustice to fully explain the meaning of this phrase – as it would require more space than is provided in this blog.

[iv] distinguished professor of Urban Planning at the UCLA School of Public Affairs and author of Thirdspace: Journeys to Los Angeles and Other Real-and-Imagined Places;

Planning and Development in Los Angeles, Where Are We Headed?

Los Angeles aspires to be one of the world’s cleanest cities. The history of Los Angeles is one with people from many different ethnical backgrounds, and is manifested through the diverse architectural designs we encounter today. There are many differences between the various districts in the city of Los Angeles, due to a style and tone inspired from the many diverse groups settling into these various areas around 1950 and later. These numerous groups have contributed to the Los Angeles that we see today. A view of Los Angeles in present day illustrates many changes taking place during the past century and urbanization is a crucial factor. We are facing a rapid change in the development of our communities; partially to meet today’s quality standards and regulations, whether it concerns style of architectural design, modern engineering or sustainability and green building requirements. As a new writer in the blogosphere I intend to present and discuss issues relevant to the planning and development of greater Los Angeles; our city. The topics will range from transportation, sustainability, preservation of historical buildings, to ongoing and future news of the development projects in Los Angeles.

To my help, I have chosen from the many insightful websites, such as Planetizen , American Planning Association, which I located from directories such as The Internet Public Library, USA.gov, to name a few. I have compiled a list of these websites in my sidebar link roll (see right). The Sources were all chosen after a profound scrutiny, guided by Webby Awards to secure structure, visual design, functionality and overall quality, and IMSA criteria (labels to the right), to assure accountability and a stricter focus on the bloggers authorship and credibility. Furthermore, the material from these websites will be a point of reference throughout my writings and will reflect the content of my blog. I reserve to change or add more sites as new topics are presented. I hope that the viewer will find these websites helpful and valuable. The future of planning and development has never been as exciting as it is today; new technology and standards ensuring better sustainability and durability with more creativity in architectural design.