First ‘Official’ Sighting of Gentrification On LA’s Skid Row

DOWNTOWN LA- It was recently announced that a 132 “market-rate micro-units” housing project is being planned/proposed in Skid Row, marking the first “official” sighting of gentrification in the area more commonly known as “the homeless capital of America.” 

While some point to the businesses and market rate housing on the eastern side of Main Street as proof that gentrification already exists, it should be noted that these projects were either encouraged and/or “tolerated” by the Skid Row community. But this new effort is totally ill-timed, unapproved and deemed to be a “public safety hazard” by multiple Skid Row community leaders. 

The project in question, mentioned in a recent news article, is currently unnamed, but it is known as “the old Salvation Army buildings” on east 5^th Street, one block from Central Avenue, in the heart of Skid Row. 

Planning and land-use consultants Greg Fisher and Estella Lopez (Kindel Gagan) last week presented the idea to a Little Tokyo Community Council committee, stating that they were requesting a letter of support. This committee moved that this agenda item would be presented to their full board (standard procedure) so that more of their constituents could be informed of the project. 

There was one Skid Row representative in attendance. Unusually, the consultants left immediately after their presentation and missed hearing feedback from the committee and other meeting attendees. The Skid Row rep asked the committee if they thought anyone from Little Tokyo would want to live in this project. Immediately, resounding replies of “NO” and sarcastic laughter filled the room -- as if the question was unthinkable. 

Since there is no Skid Row Neighborhood Council yet, how are the consultants supposed to know how the Skid Row community feels about their project? 

And if they think that going to nearby communities such as Little Tokyo and the Arts District for letters of support is somehow going to move this project forward, they are way out-of-touch with reality! 

Think about it. A “State of Emergency” was recently declared by the City of Los Angeles due to the excessive growth of homelessness across the city. Mayor Garcetti just announced an initial $100 million per year for the next five years, pledged to specifically address the gigantic need for low-income housing for the homeless. 

The LA County Board of Supervisors also announced its own $100 million fund for homeless housing. Mayor Garcetti has been lobbying Washington, DC for even more additional Federal funding for the same purpose. Even the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) just announced their “Master Plan” for up to 1600 housing units and more for homeless vets on their Westwood campus. State legislators in Sacramento recently came to LA to hold a Special Senate Committee hearing on homelessness in City Hall to help address the many widespread issues. 

With all of this current, never-before-seen energy focused on creating significant solutions for homelessness, it is jaw-dropping to hear of an adaptive reuse project that will take away three buildings which have already provided housing and services for the homeless. The planners want to do this instead of refurbishing them, instead of adding to the much needed momentum. This further exposes the one-dimensional, selfish and greedy “gotta start somewhere” gentrification efforts of the out-of-touch Downtown business sector. 

Obviously, there are those in Skid Row who think it’s a no-brainer to create new housing for the homeless with all of these properties. It is also obvious that there are people outside of Skid Row who continue their quest to convert Skid Row into something other than what it already is, even if their logic makes no sense. 

The greatest concern is for those that the land-use consultants say are their intended tenants – FIDM students. Excuse me? For those who don’t know, FIDM stands for the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising College. In other words, young kids -- most of whom don’t know the first thing about extreme, intense homelessness. 

Dropping them right in the middle of the homeless capital of the country (where most of them will probably be riding bikes and skateboards) is the most asinine land-use concept imaginable. 

This is equivalent to luring an unsuspecting herd of sheep into the middle of a lion’s den. Imagine a brand-new shiny building right in the midst of extreme homelessness. These kids will be preyed upon 24/7. And I doubt that the LAPD will open a substation on their first floor. That means an increased amount of pressure will be on law enforcement resources to keep all of these kids safe. 

Is this gentrification effort really worth it? 

If anyone dares say “yes,” I ask, “why now?” And, are you sure about that?

 

(General Jeff is a homeless activist and leader in Downtown Los Angeles.) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.

-cw

 

 

CityWatch

Vol 13 Issue 89

Pub: Nov 03, 2015

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