NACCED Bus Tour
September 21, 2011
1. La Alameda Shopping Center
7507 Roseberry Avenue (Florence Avenue & Alameda Street), Walnut Park, CA 90255
This $59 million center is an 8.3-acre project that combines 220,000 square feet of retail space with 18,000 square feet of office space. La Alameda generates about $1 million in annual sales and property taxes, and provides shopping for an unparalled population density with over 1 million people in a five (5) mile radius. The newly constructed urban center is anchored by businesses such as Ross, Marshall's, CVS, Bank of America, Petco, and Panda Express. It also features a transit center with easy access to the Metro Blue Line light rail line.
Completed in June 2009, La Alameda was a Section 108 funded activity under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. The funding sources used included $8.2 million in Section 108 loan funds and $5.7 million in Economic Development Initiative (EDI) grant funds. Approximately 500 jobs were created.
2. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Public Health
11833 Wilmington Avenue, Willowbrook, CA 90059
This is a $20 million public health center that provides outpatient services in South Los Angeles, as part of the larger Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Medical Center Campus. The Center, one of several new capital investments for the region, will help to create over 10,000 new jobs in the community, along with the much anticipated new MLK Medical Center, Multi-Service Ambulatory Care Center and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Rosa Parks Station.
This center will be completed in October of 2011. The CDC provided funding using $20 million in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds, comprised of a Section 108 Loan of $10 million and a companion Economic Development Initiative grant of $10 million. In addition, $2.8 million in County general funds were allocated to this project.
3. Casa Dominguez
15727 South Atlantic Avenue, East Compton, CA 90221
Casa Dominguez is an innovative development comprised of 70 units of affordable housing, along with a comprehensive Family Development Center that provides child care, a health clinic, and a parent resource center for residents and community members. It is the first permanent affordable housing development with supportive services for young adults leaving the foster-care system in Los Angeles County. In addition to services provided by our key partners, The Children’s Collective, St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, United Friends of the Children, and the Los Angeles Urban League; residents at Casa Dominguez will also benefit from the efforts of a full-time services coordinator and a range of on-site services. These include after-school programs, college preparatory courses and career counseling, computer training, and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
Final occupancy at Casa Dominguez was achieved in 2009. Funding sources used include $5.9 million in HOME funds and $832,311 Homeless Housing Funds.
4. Bell Gardens Sports Center at John Anson Ford Park
Park Lane, Bell Gardens, CA 90201
NAHRO National Awards of Excellence in Housing and Community Development
The Bell Gardens Sports Center was stimulated by a critical need to expand recreation opportunities in a densely populated city in which a majority of the low-income residents rely heavily on the local park system for recreation and entertainment. The completion of the $10 million sports center meets this need by providing state-of-the-art facilities including grass multi-use fields, baseball fields, synthetic soccer fields, picnic areas, and a full-service restaurant. It represents the collective dream of residents, the City of Bell Gardens, County of Los Angeles, and Major League Soccer Chivas USA; and greatly enhances a significantly underserved community.
This project was completed in 2008. Funding sources include $1.4 million CDBG funds, $5 million in Section 108 loan funds, and $1 million from the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
5. Bell Gardens’ Park View Terrace Senior Housing Project
(Acquisition: Clara Street Senior Housing Project)
6728 Clara Street, Bell Gardens, CA 90201
The Bell Gardens Park View Terrace Senior Housing Project was developed by the Southern California Housing Development Corporation, in partnership with the City of Bell Gardens. Public and private financing for the Senior Housing Project totaled $16.4 million, including $1.5 million in City of Industry Program Funds and $2.7 million in HOME Program Funds. $964,100 in CDBG funds were used for acquisition of several dilapidated residential properties before being transformed into 72 one- and two-bedroom spacious apartments for lower-income seniors. The project was completed in 2005.
6. Union Pacific Family Development Center
4315 Union Pacific Avenue, East Los Angeles, CA 90023
The Union Pacific Family Development Center delivers a comprehensive array of social services to the unincorporated area of East Los Angles. Operated by the Young Women’s Christian Association, the center is a 5,209 square foot building constructed with two (2) stories: child development services on the ground level and youth and adult programs on the second floor. Classrooms are used to provide computer training, community workshops, and collaborations with other non-profits and stakeholder organizations. The child development center serves 100-150 children, ages infant/toddler to five (5) years old. In total, Family Development Center programs serve 1,000-1,500 households and individuals.
The site itself was fully completed in June 2010, but a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held May 15, 2010. Funding associated with this project includes $550,000 in CDBG funds for capital costs associated with the development and construction of the facility. CDBG is also currently funding a few programs at the center.
7. East Los Angeles Civic Center Plaza
NW Corner of 3rd Street and Mednick, East Los Angeles, CA 90022
The East Los Angeles Civic Center Plaza is a commercial center with business and community tenants. The Plaza is located at the corner of 3rd Street and Mednik Avenue, and is a great contribution to the Maravilla community because it replaced incompatible uses and removed blighted properties with 30,000 square feet of new office, retail, and food space.
This project was completed in 2003. The Community Development Commission (CDC) provided over $1.6 million in Maravilla Tax Increment for land acquisition, off-site improvements, and other project activities; and $423,000 in CDBG funds were used for land acquisition.
8. Nueva Maravilla Public Housing Development
4909 East Cesar E Chavez Avenue, East Los Angeles, CA 90022
In April 1943, the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles (HACoLA) constructed 504 barrack-style dwelling units on a 54-acre site in East Los Angeles. Original plans for this housing development named Maravilla, which means “a marvel” in Spanish, reflected the characteristics of the local Mexican-American community. Over the years, the neighborhood and buildings deteriorated and, as a result, in late 1972, HUD formally committed more than $10 million for the complete renovation of the housing development. Once the work was completed, the development came to be known as “Nueva Maravilla” or the new marvel, to mark a new beginning.
Today, there are a total of 504 units of which 150 are senior housing and 354 for families on 36 acres. Approximately 1,400 County residents live at Nueva Maravilla. Federal stimulus dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act can be seen in action at Nueva Maravilla; where $5.9 million has been awarded to reduce energy costs, generate resident and HACoLA energy savings, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions attributable to energy consumption. Further, funding has been dedicated for the creation of additional parking and making site improvements to this thriving community. *See attached Status of Maravilla Landscaping Project.
9. Plaza Monte Vista Development
4760 East Cesar E Chavez Avenue, East Los Angeles, CA 90022
This development is part of a $3.8 million commercial project in the Maravilla Community Redevelopment Project area in unincorporated East Los Angeles. Blighted and nuisance properties were present along this historic commercial corridor of Cesar Chavez Avenue. The CDC acquired these troubled properties to eliminate blight by attracting new development and economic opportunities for the benefit of residents and businesses in Maravilla. The developer, David Adhoot, was successful in negotiating the lease for the first national chain sit down restaurant (Denny’s) located in unincorporated East Los Angeles. This project is a benefit for the residents, who for many years, wanted a name brand national restaurant in their community.
This development was completed in June of 2009. The CDC originally purchased part of the site with $400,000 in CDBG funds. The CDC then contributed $931,300 in land value, and $225,000 toward off-site improvements using tax increments funds from the redevelopment project area. The balance of the funding was raised privately by the developer.
10. Centro Estrella (Alma Family Resource and Aquatic Center)
4701 E. Cesar Chavez Avenue, East Los Angeles, CA 90022
Through the dedication and perseverance of County Supervisor Gloria Molina and her exceptional staff, the Centro Estrella Family Resource Center was constructed in East Los Angeles to provide a wide range of multilingual, culturally competent services to families with special needs including those with emotional, physical and developmental disabilities. With the leadership and collaboration of Alma Family Services, Centro Estrella fulfilled a vision celebrating the strength, courage and wisdom of families in the East Los Angeles community. Services provided include: family needs assessment; community services information, referral, and linkage; family and peer support groups; behavioral health services; a preschool center; an after school program; and a specially equipped and designed indoor Aquatic Center for all age ranges, including those with special needs.
This center was completed in 2004. Funding sources included $1.4 million in Maravilla Tax Increments, $2.3 million in CDBG funds, and $1.9 million in State Realignment Funds.
11. Cesar Chavez Avenue Community Business Revitalization Projects
These projects revitalized the vintage design of this property, built around 1930, which had fallen into disrepair and neglect over the decades. Revitalization efforts included new paint, tile, awnings and signage for all ten (10) businesses, including repairs and patching to windows and columns to restore the historic integrity of the building.
*ELA Community Youth Center 4401 Cesar Chavez Ave.
(Gymnasium only)
*Diana’s Bakery 3868 Cesar Chavez Ave.
12. Floral Homes
4321-43 Floral Dr. (proximate to Eastern Avenue), East Los Angeles, CA 90022
These four (4) owner-occupied, single-family homes were developed by Abell-Helou G.P., a for-profit affordable housing developer. It is one of the CDC’s very few developments using $227,059 in CDBG funds only (land purchase). The homes were completed in early 2000.
13. Villa Serena
3887 E. 1st Street (between Gage Avenue & Sunol Drive), East Los Angeles, CA 90063
These 85 multifamily rental units were developed by AMCAL, a for-profit developer. Completed in June of 2009, this development utilized $5.9 million in HOME funding.
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