The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HALA) together with Primestor Development, Inc., broke ground on 115,000 square-foot retail shopping center that will soon become the Jordan Downs Plaza on Friday, June 15th, 2018.
Councilmember Joe Buscaino, Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson, HACLA President and CEO Doug Guthrie, partners, community leaders and Watts residents attended the groundbreaking ceremony on the 9.5-acre site between Alameda Avenue and the new extension of Century Boulevard.
“On behalf of HACLA, I am proud that we have reached this moment in realizing the community’s vision for the redevelopment of Jordan Downs and the former industrial property we purchased back in 2008. It’s been 10 years in the making but Watts is a community of change-agents and I never had a doubt that together we would find a way to realize that vision for change,” said Doug Guthrie.
Watts is a diverse community with 73 percent of its 40,000 residents being Latino and 25 percent African American. Contained in the 2-mile square radius that makes up Watts is decades of social history telling a story of racial bias and public/private disinvestment. Today, Watts tells a much different story of a resilient and visionary community which has forged a path to renewal and prosperity, which Primestor is so pleased to be a part of.
“Primestor deeply thanks the City of Los Angeles and HACLA in entrusting us. We are honored and humbled to be given the opportunity to work with the wonderful people of this Community and to help bring a part of their vision to reality,” said Arturo Sneider, a Primestor partner.
“Today, is a victory not only for the residents, but for the entire City family. We had to extend Century Boulevard to get to where we are at today. This was no easy task. We had to rebuild streets and gutters. We have not seen this type of infrastructure coming into Watts for over 50 years. I look forward to the ribbon-cutting ceremony next year,” said Councilmember Joe Buscaino.
Jordan Downs Plaza is a part of the Jordan Downs revitalization project, one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in the United States. The 115,000 square-foot shopping center will include a full-service supermarket, a fitness center and many opportunities for local and national retailers. In addition, the Watts community and its residents will benefit from hundreds of jobs and a new urban village aimed to improve socioeconomic and overall quality of life. Jordan Downs Plaza was designed as an open-air retail center with green building principles and sustainable materials, and will feature contemporary architecture, drought-tolerant landscaping, and an interactive water feature.
Construction is scheduled to commence later this year.
About Primestor
Primestor Development is a 25-year-old, family-owned business that is managed day-to-day by its founders with a detailed hands-on ownership approach. As a retail sector leader, Primestor develops, manages, leases and constructs groundbreaking urban projects in cities throughout the country. In partnership with community stakeholders, municipalities and institutional investors, Primestor's projects become regional and local gathering spaces for the neighborhoods they serve. Primestor currently manages more than 3.3 million square feet. The firm oversees a portfolio in excess of $750 million in value. For more information, visit www.primestor.com.