By Luis Lopez
The community of Atwater Village is not “blighted”—nor are the other Northeast Los Angeles (NELA) communities targeted by the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA/LA) for redevelopment.
However, this inconvenient truth has not prevented CRA/LA from including Atwater Village in its NELA River Redevelopment Project Study. The CRA’s modus operandi is to declare our homes, our businesses and our Village legally “blighted” so that it can come in solely for the purpose of selling those properties to one or more developers who will then build something CRA/the developers want, not what the community wants or needs. Their tools to accomplish their goals are to declare areas blighted and utilize the eminent domain final blow—and we would not be able to do anything about it.
The CRA/LA would like us to believe that they know best and only have the best of intentions for our village. At community meetings, they tell us that being declared a “blighted” community is not such a bad thing and that eminent domain is something that only happens in “other” redevelopment areas. They also tell us that in exchange for some incremental property taxes they will fix our streets, give us more parks (when in fact, CRA/LA will do none of this UNLESS it is part of a development project by an outside developer) and that they will never-ever increase our residential density with “low-income” housing. The CRA/LA must think that Atwater Village is comprised of dim-witted rubes foolish enough to believe that load of garbage. They are grossly mistaken.
We here in Atwater Village know that our community is not “blighted” nor has it fallen into disrepair or decay, as CRA/LA would want us to believe. Our community is very much alive and vibrant in every aspect. Today, we continue to attract new homeowners or renters while keeping residents that have lived here for generations. We are one of the most ethnically and economically diverse community in Los Angeles County; our village is a place where artists, young professionals and working class folk live side by side. Our property values remain relatively high with a low vacancy rate for both commercial and residential properties and our crime rate is one of the lowest in the area.
Atwater Village is also a self-sustained community. We enjoy the use of our own post office, library, first-rate public and private schools, numerous religious institutions and even an equestrian district—unique in the City of Los Angeles. We have a robust and diverse business community that serves the community, providing a wide range of goods, services and jobs. These are definitely not signs of a distressed or “blighted” community in need of redevelopment… not by a long shot.
More importantly, Atwater Village boasts an active civic life with a virtual army of community advocates. We have groups dedicated to preserving and improving almost every aspect of village life. We have our own Chamber of Commerce, Residents’ association, Neighborhood Council, Neighborhood Watch, support groups for our Public Library and schools as well as religious and general welfare groups. All these groups work in partnership with local government and private supporters to preserve the uniqueness of our village and improve those areas that need improvement, but certainly not redevelopment.
Atwater Village is not “blighted.” Needing street repairs does not constitute “blight.” Needing trees trimmed does not constitute “blight.” Needing up-to-date underground sewer, water and gas pipes does not constitute “blight.” These are normal needs of any community and these services are provided by the City of Los Angeles. CRA/LA will not provide these infrastructures.
The CRA/LA, and by extension our elected representatives, should not mistake our desire to improve our community with a wiliness to make a deal with the devil. The CRA/LA and their redevelopment plan is an unwelcome and unneeded element in our community.
Luis Lopez is an Atwater Village small business owner and community advocate.
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