REAL ESTATE NEWS – A community initiative led by residents of the Douglas, Higgins, and Pan American lofts have successfully preserved the planned park at First and Broadway (FAB) in Downtown Los Angeles.
Residents came out in numbers last night to voice their opposition to Councilmember Kevin DeLeon’s motion to convert the planned FAB park into “temporary” homeless housing. The Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC) voted against supporting the motion, citing the various arguments presented by the community. Loft residents of the Douglas Building, Pan American Building and Higgins Building were there to oppose the planned homeless encampment.
A Unified Effort
Scott Mahoy, who was integral in coordinating the opposition, thanked community members Anita, Deborah, and Allen for speaking eloquently against the proposal. Mahoy acknowledged the collective effort, stating, “It helped that we had a number of us there. Numbers matter.”
Key Arguments Presented
- The Need for Parks: Los Angeles ranks 80th in the top 100 most populated U.S. cities for park systems, according to The Trust for Public Land. Advocates stressed the importance of expanding L.A.’s park footprint.
- Safety Concerns for Children: Residents pointed out that the proposed housing site is directly adjacent to a very active playground, raising concerns about children’s safety, particularly given the lenient drug policies adopted in L.A.’s temporary homeless developments.
- Wasteful Spending: Opponents of the motion cited the millions already spent in planning the FAB park, arguing that another expensive, “temporary” development was wasteful and ill-conceived.
- Lack of Support from the Homeless Community: Several homeless individuals and service providers, including DLANC’s own homeless resident director, Rick Young, also opposed the project, stating they would not utilize such housing.
- Alternative Solutions: L.A. City Controller Mike Galperin has identified 26 locations across the city totaling 1.7 million square feet that could be more appropriate for homeless housing.
Next Steps
Community members are encouraged to continue their advocacy through calls and emails to Mayor Karen Bass and city council members. As of now, the planned park at First and Broadway will continue to be developed as a community green space, with its original design to be carried out by the award-winning architecture firm Studio MLA.
For more information and to get involved, residents can contact:
- Mayor Karen Bass at (213) 978-1028 or mayor.helpdesk@lacity.org
- Kevin DeLeon, CD14, at (213) 473-7014 or Councilmember.Blumenfield@lacity.org
- Bob Blumenfield at (213) 473-7003 or Councilmember.Blumenfield@lacity.org
For an extensive city contact list, visit here.
Written by Corey Chambers, Broker and Publisher of the L.A. Loft Blog, Founder of Entar Real Estate and Financial Marketing Tech.
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Copyright © This free information provided courtesy L.A. Loft Blog with information provided by Corey Chambers, Broker DRE 01889449. We are not associated with the seller, homeowner’s association or developer. For more information, contact 213-880-9910 or visit LALoftBlog.com Licensed in California. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Text and photos created or modified by artificial intelligence. Properties subject to prior sale or rental. This is not a solicitation if buyer or seller is already under contract with another broker.