The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles along with EJP Consulting Group hosted a Neighborhood Task Force Meeting to kick off the implementation of the Choice Neighborhoods Planning & Action Grant. In February, HACLA was awarded the 1.3M grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support the development of a neighborhood transformation plan for Rancho San Pedro and Rancho San Pedro Extension in the Barton Hill-Downtown San Pedro neighborhood.
HUD officials, a representative from Council District 15, residents, local leaders, business owners, members from the public, private, non-profit sectors and private developers gathered to participate in the first planning meeting to guide a development and project-focused implementation plan for Rancho San Pedro community. Prior to the meeting, Councilman Joe Buscaino met with HUD officials visiting from the Washington D.C. office and welcomed them to San Pedro. Douglas Guthrie, HACLA’s President and CEO, was joined by HUD officials on a tour of the Rancho San Pedro site.
Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants support the development of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans which focus on directing resources to address three core goals: Housing, People and Neighborhoods. For each core goal, HACLA formed a special Task Force team. Led by the City of Los Angeles(via Council District 15), the Neighborhood Task Force will focus on the following key areas: transportation, infrastructure, public safety, economic development, parks and open space and neighborhood housing. The Housing Task Force, led by HACLA, will tackle housing assessments, financing plans, relocation, property management and redevelopment. The People Task Force will focus on youth/adult education, health, social services, jobs and quality of life issues.
The Task Force Meetings were designed to give the Rancho San Pedro residents, partners and stakeholders the opportunity to provide feedback as well as be engaged in the Transformation Plan from the beginning stages to its completion. All three Task Force teams and their members will continue to meet on regular basis to shape the Transformation Plan for the Rancho San Pedro neighborhood and provide positive outcomes for the families.