Housing & Economic Development
Our Housing Pipeline
CRCD’s housing development work is focused on the needs of transition-age youth, 16 to 25 years old, who are homeless or at tremendous risk of becoming homeless. In South Los Angeles, we have 1,500 – 1,700 homeless transition-age youth every year, based on figures from the 2007 Homeless Count by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
CRCD is currently developing 48 units of permanent supportive housing in South Los Angeles:
CRCD’s nonprofit real estate development partner on these projects is Little Tokyo Service Center. Our supportive service partners are Community Build and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps. Together, we will provide on-site supportive services with a focus on independent living skills and economic self-sufficiency. Funding is provided by a combination of public and private sources.
CRCD is actively searching for additional sites to develop housing for low-income residents, including special needs populations. We collaborate with community partners on each project.
CRCD’s Project Manager is Grant Sunoo. Please call Grant with any questions at (323) 753-2793.
Central Avenue Business Association
Since September 2007, CRCD has been conducting outreach and building relationships with merchants on Central Avenue to assess interest in forming a business association. This effort was started by the Central Avenue Collaborative, including Vivian Bowers of Bowers & Sons Cleaners, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry, the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department-Newton Division, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Community Development Technologies Center, and CRCD.
As a result, the Central Avenue Business Association is now being formed by businesses along Central Avenue from Washington Boulevard to Adams. Over 40 businesses have been participating in this effort, including Bowers & Sons Cleaners, Doug’s Furniture, Ramos Barbershops, and others. The goal of the association is to help local businesses prosper and to attract new business to the area.
At monthly association meetings, guest speakers provide information on neighborhood crime trends, street lighting and security, and how to access public resources for business improvement. Recent speakers have included the Los Angeles Police Department-Newton Division, the Department of Water and Power, and the Office of Councilwoman Jan Perry.
Today, CRCD continues its outreach efforts to encourage merchants to attend business association meetings and get involved. CRCD informs business owners about public resources available for business improvement, such as the CD9 Commercial Façade Program offered by the Community Redevelopment Agency. CRCD is also helping to plan a small business resource fair.
CRCD’s Business Liaison is Johnny Andrade. Please call Johnny with any questions at 213-743-8737.
