The Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) is using Tax Increment funds originally allocated for redevelopment projects in the East Hollywood / Beverly – Normandie (EHBN) area to subsidize their efforts to declare sections of Atwater Village and Northeast Los Angeles (NELA) “blighted”.
CRA/LA, with City Council approval, reallocated $1,000,000.00 in Tax Increment funds originally authorized to finance a mixed-use redevelopment project on Vermont Ave. The $1,000,000.00 will now help fund their effort to amend the EHBN Earthquake Disaster Assistance Project Area, to incorporate NELA communities into that existing project area, or establish a completely new project area along and near the Los Angeles River. CRA/LA has unilaterally decided to create a completely new project area named the “NELA River Redevelopment Project Area”.
The EHBN Earthquake Disaster Assistance Project Area was created in response to damage caused in that area by the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. It consists of two separate areas totaling 656 acres: East Hollywood and Beverly-Normandie. The stated goal of this 16 year old project area is to 1) help repair, restore and/or demolish earthquake-damaged residential and commercial buildings; 2) to support the reconstruction and re-occupancy of the damaged commercial centers; and 3) to restore confidence in that area.
The East Hollywood and Beverly-Normandie communities do not share any common border with the Los Angeles River or Atwater Village / NELA. The EHBN redevelopment project area is located approximately 5 miles west of Atwater Village / NELA, separated by the communities of Los Feliz, Franklin Hills, Echo Park and Silver Lake. The EHBN area is also located within an entirely different Community Plan Area. More importantly, the Atwater Village / NELA did not suffer any profound damage from the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.
CRA/LA has not explained or justified the reallocation of $1,000,000.00 from an “earthquake disaster assistance” area to another area not affected by the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. The City Council approved transfer of funds has not gone unnoticed. Prior to approving the reallocation of funds, the City Council received a public comment on this matter. The concerned stakeholder wrote, “We do not see how the East Hollywood-Beverly Normandie Earthquake Disaster Project translates into a Redevelopment area along the river and especially in territories not even near the designation. The name of the new area is North East Los Angeles River Redevelopment Project Area, far away from East Hollywood and Beverly Normandie and not related to any common Community Plan.” (Click here to read the complete public comment)
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For more information about the proposed NELA River Redevelopment Project area visit CRA/LA website at: www.crala.org/nela or the LA City Clerks website at:
or contact:
Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles
Alison Becker, AICP - Associate Planner
6255 Sunset Blvd., Suite 2206
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323.960.2660
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