HOUSING AUTHORITY OFTHEClTYOFLOSANGELES

AN EQ U AL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY- AFF IRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

2600 Wils hire Boulevard • Los Angeles. Ca!(fnrnia 90057 • (213) 252-2500

December 1, 2011

Honorable City Council c/o City Clerk ' City Hall Room 395 Mail Stop 160 Los Angeles, CA 90012

Dear Councilmembers:

TTl' (213) 252-5313

The City Council requested the Housing Authority to provide a progress report for the Housing Community and Economic Development Committee on development activities at Jordan Downs by December 1, 2011. This request was attached to the FY 2012 budget recommendation (C.F. 11-0600-S49) regarding Jordan Downs adopted by City Council on May 18, 2011.

Please find the Housing Authority's response in the accompanying attachment.

If you have any questions, or need any more information, feel free to contact me at (213) 252-1818 or Eric Brown, Director of Intergovernmental and Media Relations, at (213) 252-1871 and by email at eric.brown@hacla.org

Ken Simmons Interim President and CEO

Cc: Council member Tony Cardenas, Chair of HCED Committee

Date:

To:

From:

Subject:

Summary

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES INTERDEPARTMENTAL MEMORANDUM

November 28, 2011

Housing, Community and Economic Development (HCED) Committee

Ken Simmons, Interim President and CEO

Jordan Downs Redevelopment Progress Report· November 2011

This report responds to the Housing, Community and Economic Development Committee's request for a progress report on the Jordan Downs Development Project It outlines the project background, describes our goals and initiatives and details our accomplishments to date.

Project Background

The Jordan Downs public housing development contains 700 multi-family units housing approximately 2,300 residents, some of whom have lived there for several decades, and reflects its origins in post WW2 era public housing policy, architectural style and urban land use planning. It is located in the Watts community of South Los Angeles an area bearing the scars inflicted by years of declining industrial employment and public neglect.

Initiative

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) is in the process of reversing these counterproductive trends. The Jordan Downs redevelopment initiative is an ambitious and pioneering effort which promises to serve as a catalyst for the renewal of not just the public housing site but the greater Watts community.

The redeveloped Jordan Downs will integrate residents with varied income levels, and introduce mixed product types such as residential (for rent and for sale), retail, light industrial, open space and parks. This model varies from past generations of public housing projects by promoting growth and upward mobility rather than continuing to concentrate poverty in one isolated area.

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Once the project is complete, Jordan Downs will be transformed into an environmentally friendly, vibrant urban village, conducive to healthy living and economically progressive conditions. HACLA hopes this model will be emulated to help revitalize other distressed public housing projects both locally and nationwide.

Progress Update

HACLA has made significant progress since the introduction of its redevelopment initiative. A summary of our accomplishments is outlined below:

@ Acquired 21-Acre property- April 2008

HACLA acquired a vacant 21-acre former industrial site adjacent to Jordan Downs in 2008 to accommodate the phased redevelopment and expansion of the community's housing inventory with minimal disruption in the daily lives of its current residents.

• Established JDCAC- May 2008

HACLA established the Jordan Downs Community Advisory Committee (JDCAC) in May 2008 to involve and seek widespread feedback from residents, various community members and stakeholders in the redevelopment plans.

• Conducted tours of public housing sites with JDCAC- September 2008

HACLA organized tours for its designers and JDCAC of various public housing projects around the country, including Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington D.C to help inform the master planning process.

• Completed Community-Based Master Plan- November 2009

HACLA initiated a master planning process in January 2009 and completed the Community-Based Master Plan (Master Plan) in 2009 outlining the framework for the community's site plan, product types, density and other environmental and design goals. The Master Plan was prepared with the full involvement and contribution of the existing residents, community advocates, local and regional officials and stakeholders. It emphasizes a desire to create a sustainable environment and "green" community which can be used as a model for other new and transitioning

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developments in the City. The Jordan Downs Master Plan has received planning and sustainability awards from local advocacy and planning groups.

o Initiated EIR and Specific Plan process- January 2010

Shortly after the completion of the Master Plan, HACLA with the support of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning (DCP) began to prepare a Specific Plan which translates and codifies the concepts and guidelines outlined in the Master Plan.

HACLA also commissioned the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and distributed it for public review and comment in November 2010. HAC LA and DCP completed a final draft Specific Plan and finalized the EIR in September 2011 and DCP held its first public hearing to showcase them in October 2011.

G Initiated collaboration with Global Green USA - March 2010 In March 2010, HAC LA partnered with Global Green USA, an environmental advocacy group, to develop an approach and process for incorporating green building strategies into the design and construction process.

The Master Plan and Specific Plan incorporate many environmentally progressive and "green" guidelines which promote the redevelopment of a sustainable community. The inclusion of these guidelines and suggestions stem from residents and various stakeholders desire to create an innovative and healthy environment for future residents.

These guidelines could enable Jordan Downs to secure a LEED-ND designation from the U.S. Green Building Council certifying the project complies with its standards. Examples of such guidelines include provision for bike lanes, a grid land pattern with modestly sized blocks to promote walk-ability and bioswales designed to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water. Once HACLA selects its master developer partner, they will jointly make the determination to submit and apply for this certification.

'* Completed environmental site assessments - April 201 0

HACLA has been working with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to analyze the extent of environmental contaminants on the 21-acre site caused by decades of use as an industrial plant HACLA is currently preparing

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a Remedial Action Plan based on data generated by this analysis to outline the clean-up methodology agreeable to DTSC.

• Initiated final design process for Century Boulevard extension - May 2011

The current configuration of Century Boulevard dead ends at the westernmost boundary of Jordan Downs. The impact of this design is to isolate the residential project from the outside and promote an insular and unwelcoming environment. HACLA, with the cooperation of the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering, retained David Evans and Associates, a civil engineering firm, in May 2011 to design the extension of Century Boulevard through the property and link it with Alameda Street on the easternmost boundary of the project. The extension of this major roadway is a cornerstone of the redevelopment plans and will reconnect Jordan Downs to the outside community and help activate the neighborhood.

• Completed a market retail analysis- May 2011

Jordan Downs and its nearby surroundings are currently severely underserved by retail support services. Residents are forced to travel for several miles to the nearest shopping area for the most basic of daily needs. HACLA retained Primestor, a developer and consultant of urban retail shopping centers, to conduct an analysis assessing the viability of a neighborhood retail center at Jordan Downs. Primestor concluded in May 201 0 that there is currently sufficient demand for the development of a financially viable grocery-anchored center at Jordan Downs.

• Initiated subdivision map process - September 2011

HACLA also retained another civil engineering firm, Psomas, in September 2011 to prepare the Jordan downs subdivision tract map.

• Released an RFQ to solicit proposals from master developers - September 2011

HACLA issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in September 2011 to invite experienced master developers to partner with us in the redevelopment process.

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e Released Final EIR and final draft Specific Plan to public - September 2011

Following the circulation of the Draft EIR for public review and comment in November 2010, HACLA and DCP responded to comments, finalized the EIR and released a final draft of the Specific Plan to the public.

e DCP held public hearing on the final draft Specific plan -October 2011

The public had an opportunity to meet with DCP officials, review the Specific Plan and submit an official comment on the Specific Plan. DCP's hearing officer recorded the proceedings and collected both written and verbal comments.

Key Next Steps

HACLA continues to make progress toward its goal of redeveloping Jordan Downs. Key next include:

e Complete the Century Boulevard extension final design plans.

• Prepare a Remedial Action Plan per DTSC's guidelines to clean up the 21-acre property.

e Select a developer to commence exclusive negotiations (90-day process) for the Master Developer role.

& Certify the EIR and adopt the Specific Plan.

• Submit Annexation Application to LAFCO and County for formal review.

• Complete the tentative subdivision tract map.

JUNE LAGMAY City Clerk

HOLLY L. WOLCOTT Executive Officer

When making inquiries relative to this matter, please refer to the Council File No. 11-0600-849

October 27, 2011

CITY OF LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA

ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA MAYOR

Ken Simmons, Interim President & CEO Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles 2600 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90057

Dear Mr. Simmons:

Office of the CITY CLERK

Council and Public Services Room 395, City Hall

Los Angeles, CA 90012 General Information- (213) 978-1133

Fax: (213) 978-1040 www.cltyclerk.lacity.org

On May 18, 2011, Council referred to the Housing, Community and Economic Development Committee for consideration the attached FY 2011-i 2 Adopted Budget Recommendation (C.F. 11-0600-S49) requesting the Housing Authority to report relative to the Jordan Downs development project.

This item will be scheduled for consideration by the Housing, Community and Economic Committee at an upcoming regular meeting. In preparation for the meeting, please submit and address your report to the Honorable City Council c/o the City Clerk, City Hall Room 395, Mail Stop 160, no later than December 1, 2011.

Should you have any questions, or if I can provide any additional information, please contact me by telephone at (213) 978-1071, or by e-mail at: richard.williams@lacitv.org.

RICHARD E. WILLIAMS Legislative Assistant Housing, Community and Economic Development Committee

cc: Councilmember Tony Cardenas, Attn: Jim Dantona lvania Sobalvarro, Office of the Chief Legislative Analyst Aurora Abracia, Office of the City Administrative Officer

Attachment

11-0600-S49_hced_reques! to report ltr

An Equal Employment Oppodunity ~Affirmative Action Employer

ADOPTED BUDGET RECOMMENDATION

REQUEST the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HAC LA) to report to the Housing, Community and Economic Development Committee regarding the Jordan Downs development project

(Pursuantto adoption of the Mayor's 2011-12 Budget on May 18 1 2011)

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