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Choice neighborhoods: a spatial and exploratory analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles public housing

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Choice neighborhoods: a spatial and exploratory analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles public housing

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Content Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing Brandy N. Chappell, MPP A Professional Dissertation Sol Price School of Public Policy Doctor of Policy, Planning and Development University of Southern California December 2016 1 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 1 | P a g e Acknowledgements Special thanks to Deborah Natoli for her leadership, support and diligence applied to her role and function with the Sol Price School for Public Policy. Dr. Natoli is an extremely resourceful and helpful individual and Price doctoral students benefit from her expertise and assistance. Ashley Coleho, in her supportive role working for Dr. Natoli. Dr. Frank Zerunyan, Dr. Raphael Bostic, Dr. Dan Mazmanian, and Dr. Manuel Pastor provided much needed feedback regarding the role of public organizations and how community design is impacted by various stakeholders. Their efforts to encourage consideration of macro- economic development activities in a local context are greatly appreciated. Geographic Information Science and Technology is an ever evolving field and provided much needed context for public policy analysis using spatial data. Dr. Darren Ruddell and Instructor Weng Li kindly provided expert advice about the proper construction of working GIS systems and how participatory GIS and Regional Science can be developed to support activities like those presented in this narrative. Their support, feedback and correction were welcomed and appreciated. Dr. Tribid Banerjee, contributed very greatly to all activities associated with the completion of this manuscript. His knowledge, objectivity and clarity of thought enabled the nascent development of items presented herein. With extreme gratitude and appreciation Dr. Claradina Soto, Dr. Matthew Kirkpatrick, Dr. Nancy Tess Boley-Cruz, Dr. Michael Cousineau are highlighted in this section. Their knowledge, competence, experience, research interests and professional academic conduct proved useful and can never be replicated. The aforementioned researchers and instructors truly understand the educational environment and how educators can inspire students to develop their own creativity. All of their students benefit from their dedication to teaching effectively and their individual personal mandates that enhance society and provide for the greater good. These faculty members from the Keck School of Medicine were valuable resources and I look forward to becoming more like them. Finally, to Jan C. Perry and Dr. Leonard Mitchell, thank you for your patience, dedication, task centeredness and advice. In spite of personal and professional circumstances you were able to support the completion of this manuscript, which serves as the starting point for a career in practice based research within the field of Public Policy and applied to Regional Science. I am extremely grateful for you both and am humbled by the opportunity to work with and learn from you and your esteemed colleagues. 2 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 2 | P a g e TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ............................................................................................................................................4 Chapter 1: Project Background .....................................................................................................5 National Housing Market ................................................................................................ 7 The Urban Poor ............................................................................................................... 9 Public Housing ............................................................................................................. 12 Hope VI and Policy Initiatives for Public Housing Programs ...................................... 15 Choice Neighborhoods Initiative .................................................................................. 19 Chapter 2: Spatial Analysis .......................................................................................................... 23 Geospatial Analysis: Los Angeles County ................................................................... 28 Spatial Analysis Results ......................................................................................................... 34 Chapter 3: Housing Authority City of Los Angeles ................................................................... 37 Choice Neighborhood Candidate Area Profiles ............................................................ 40 Chapter 4: Relational Database Management Systems ............................................................ 91 Geodatabase Design: Public Health and Safety Data ................................................... 95 References ..................................................................................................................... 100 3 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 3 | P a g e Table of Figures Figure 1: Hope VI Grant Awards ..................................................................................... 17 Figure 2: City of Los Angeles Communities by Council District ..................................... 24 Figure 3: LA County Public Safety Reporting Districts ................................................... 25 Figure 4: County of Los Angeles Public Housing ........................................................... 26 Figure 5: County of Los Angeles Environmental Health.................................................. 27 Figure 6: Service Planning Area 1 and 2 Description ....................................................... 28 Figure 7: Service Planning Area 3 and 4 Description ....................................................... 29 Figure 8: Service Planning Area 5 and 6 Description ....................................................... 31 Figure 9: Service Planning Area 7 and 8 Description ....................................................... 33 Figure 10: Los Angeles County Crime Profile ................................................................ 35 Figure 11: North East Los Angeles Community Profile ................................................... 40 Figure 12: North East Los Angeles Crime Statistics ........................................................ 46 Figure 13: North East Los Angeles Community Profile ................................................... 52 Figure 14: North East Los Angeles Crime Statistics ........................................................ 53 Figure 15: East Los Angeles Community Profile ............................................................. 58 Figure 16: East Los Angeles Crime Statistics ................................................................... 59 Figure 17: East Los Angeles Crime Statistics ................................................................... 65 Figure 18: West Los Angeles Community Profile ............................................................ 66 Figure 19: West Los Angeles Crime Statistics ................................................................. 71 Figure 20: Central Alameda Community Profile .............................................................. 72 Figure 21: Central Alameda Crime Statistics ................................................................... 78 Figure 22: Historic South Los Angeles/Watts Community Profile .................................. 80 Figure 23: Historic South Los Angeles Crime Statistics .................................................. 89 Figure 24: Watts Los Angeles Crime Statistics ................................................................ 89 4 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 4 | P a g e Abstract This study is a practice based and general spatial analysis exercise and public policy exploration regarding the creation of mixed income villages at 9 public housing developments identified by the Housing Authority City of Los Angeles “HACLA” in their 5-year draft plan 2014-2019. The framework for this project concept is based on an examination of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative policy undertaken by Portland State University on behalf of the federal department of Housing and Urban Development. In addition to the State of California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment CalEnviroscreen2.0 project briefing presentation 2014. The public housing sites identified by HACLA for local government planning and policy implementation under the federal Choice Neighborhoods Initiative "CNI" are located in high unemployment and public safety challenged census tracts. CNI funds provide for the redevelopment, rehabilitation and community enhancement within highly distressed neighborhoods. The CNI policy provisions support local government and specifically public housing agencies “PHA” attempting to apply for funds provided for the rehabilitation, reconstruction, or demolition of public housing and for commercial and economic development projects on major corridors or “Main Streets”. State of California environmental mitigation standards and the community development capacity of place-based organizations and education institutions are pertinent considerations applied to planning efforts conducted by the HACLA and City of Los Angeles because of stated requirements in CNI Section 8 and 9. Regional government may benefit from the creation of a local decision making tool housed in a database and used to determine the highest and best use of the identified public housing sites, by using comprehensive community and local market based measurement attributes. 5 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 5 | P a g e Chapter 1 Project Background This study examines the most impoverished, highest crime concentration HUD funded public housing developments in Southern California, specifically within the County of Los Angeles and the communities surrounding them. The 113 th Congress and Obama Administration supported and introduced the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative “CNI” as a revision of and extension to HOPE VI in order to alleviate poverty in the most distressed communities throughout the nation. CNI sections 8, 9, and 10 pertain to local government urban development capacity, land use and zoning, the environment, residential relocation and the mandate for educational partnerships. This analysis is pertinent to the 9 sites identified by the Housing Authority City of Los Angeles “HACLA” as potential CNI funding candidate geographies. CNI requires regional cooperation and community based strategic planning and implementation in order to create the targeted mixed income villages, with the goal to alleviate long term poverty and unemployment in the neighborhoods surrounding public housing. Los Angeles Metropolitan Statistical Area “MSA” elected officials support transit oriented and community development strategies in Los Angeles’ most distressed areas. Municipal government works in collaboration with the HACLA to develop plans for the positive transition of these sites and the neighborhoods they are located in. But, housing rights advocates challenge the removal of public housing tenants for redevelopment purposes such as this and advocate for low income renters and their ability to maintain and use public subsidies providing for their rental payments outside of the neighborhoods where they currently reside. Specifically advocating for the expansion and increase of Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly Section 8) for the poor and the homeless. CNI requires grant applicants to demonstrate that low income housing residents can find adequate, safe, affordable housing within 25 miles of their prior residence and in non-minority communities of choice. In the County of Los Angeles, the category “non-minority” and how it applies to communities in close proximity to Los Angeles’ public housing sites is much different than other cities in the United States. This can be a complicating factor for the ethnic urban poor when transitioning to non-ethnic neighborhoods. 6 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 6 | P a g e Since, California is a high cost of living geography, specifically Los Angeles County, some areas have extreme unemployment and high crime but are the only affordable locations for low income renters seeking housing. Limited housing options for low income people has, over time, caused the creation of urban, ethnic enclaves with tremendous capacity for economic development. But some do not have the grass roots infrastructure or qualified neighborhood serving organizations that are necessary to maintain growth and development efforts over extensive time periods. Practical Application of Methods The objective of this study is to use data retrieved from the State of California CalEnviroscreen2.0 2.0 tool to evaluate neighborhoods wherein HACLA and the City of Los Angeles can begin to plan for the economic transition of their 9 identified communities. In addition to how local government can develop comprehensive evaluation instruments using spatial analysis software in order to do the following: 1) assess the candidate areas in anticipation of land use development activities by using a geographic information system “GIS” 2) address and plan for some of the long-term program requirements established by the federal government in Section 8 and 9 of the CNI. These above listed items require regional cooperation (local government), enhanced educational opportunities for low income families and strategic, long term community based partnerships. A Geographic Information System can help inform local decision making with regard to the aforementioned by storing and retrieving information related to large scale land use projects and community development activities. In addition to operationally defined attributes related to public safety, health and other human services. 7 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 7 | P a g e National Housing Market (1937 to 2014) The Center for American Progress stated that” strong federal support for homeownership in the United States is the reason that the nation is the only country to offer homeowners a 30-year fixed-rate loan.” i The need for quality affordable housing is part of the American dream. On December 21 st , 1937, the final amended version of H.R.8730 or the National Housing Act of 1937 was introduced by the 75 th assembly of the United States Congress during its second legislative session. The legislation certified the creation of mortgage insurance and the Federal Housing Administration “FHA”. Furthermore, it created the original rules and regulations for private rental markets that extended to what are described as housing tenements. Tenements, often “distressed properties”, were the residences of the poor. H.R. 8730 not only created and expanded new lending instruments and set the stage for various housing policies that increased the United States real estate market, it acknowledged the living conditions of the poor. Housing tenements existed in major cities that served as employment centers for the country’s rural and uneducated residents seeking work. In addition to immigrants arriving to the United States from eastern, southern and other European countries searching for better employment opportunities and religious or personal freedom. Major cities, like New York, New York, Los Angeles, California; Boston, Massachusetts; St. Louis, Missouri; Cleveland, Ohio and Chicago, Illinois participated in the creation of publicly subsidized housing due to the increasing workforce housing demands caused by returning wartime Veterans and immigrants (domestic and international). This form of migration caused by expanding industries in and around their urban centers increased the demand for quality housing-particularly for new urban and poor families. As far back as the Great Depression, the issue of finding affordable, safe, clean, and adequate housing has been the plight of the poor. The resulting policy issues then became the foundation used to develop a variety of non- profit organizations, foundations, housing rights advocacy agencies, and trade associations that support fair housing. Affordable housing and the societal and land use issues surrounding its Los Angeles: Over 10,000 African-American families migrated during WW II for work in shipyards, aircraft plants and other war industries that, desperately in need of labor, hired blacks for the first time. But little or no adequate housing was open to blacks. Public housing was built in white neighborhoods, and the ci t y’ s Housing Authority did not permit blacks to reside there. (Rothstein, 2012) 8 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 8 | P a g e development are the feeding ground for what Pastor et al describe as “policy entrepreneurs” or elite, highly educated public affairs professionals seeking work related opportunities in impoverished geographies. ii Maintaining the issues resulting from poverty can be expensive. The concept of building employment opportunities around advocacy efforts through trade organizations or engaging in freelance “policy entrepreneurship” are not bad things but poverty is. Poverty can result in homelessness. Homelessness is caused by a variety of contributing factors. All factors, combined and separate, are central to the series of issues that can be brought up as questions about what “causes” or “contributes” to long and short-term homelessness. Yet, one can comfortably state that a sufficient response (in most cases) is that the lack of jobs and the lack of affordable and quality housing can result in homelessness. This is true in major cities spanning the United States of America and due to this challenge, “policy entrepreneurs”, community based organizations, and housing rights advocates work on behalf of low income individuals and families in order to increase educational opportunities for the poor and to help maintain housing equity by encouraging the creation of safe and economically viable communities. Housing Crisis USA The global housing crisis of 2007 and aftermath (through 2012) had a devastating impact on the American economy. Millions of homeowners lost their homes due to the rapid devaluation of home prices and over extension of credit through home equity loans and refinanced mortgages. Many argue that the relaxed guidelines for the receipt of funds used to finance homes through monthly mortgage payments is partly to blame for the massive upheaval of urban, rural, and suburban families from their homes. Many of these individuals and families went back into the rental market and some may be homeless following the housing crisis and its impact on their standard of living. Decreasing economic development in urban centers and increasing personal debt obligations left many Americans without jobs and caused an upsurge in the need for public benefits like unemployment and other subsidies. 9 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 9 | P a g e The housing crisis ended in 2012 yet, there is still an under developed housing product in the multi-family rental market, particularly in urban America where the demand for jobs is greater. This product is affordable multi-family housing. Today, according to the National Home Builder’s Association, “in the aftermath of the Great Recession, new household formations were depressed as the number of Millennials living with their parents or doubling or tripling up in apartments soared to about 3 to 4 million above normal”. According to Zandi, (National Home Builder's Association , 2014) as the economy continues to improve and these 18-to-34-year-olds begin to form their own households, this will boost overall demand for new housing construction.” iii However, the demand referred to by the largest trade association for home builders in the country is in reference to market rate rentals for the young and single family residences for potential home owners. The prior noted statement does not address the need for multi-family housing for the poor. The Urban Poor According to the National Multifamily Housing Council, “to begin to address this question, we need to first look at supply versus demand. Despite significant increases in multifamily construction activity, the total number of new units coming available is able to meet only a small portion of the growing demand. In fact, from 2009 through 2013, multifamily completions totaled 880,000 units while growth in total renter households topped 4.2 million. This means that not only is the industry still trying to dig out of a hole created by chronic underbuilding during the recession, but overall demand is outpacing the apartment industry’s ability to produce new units.” (National Multifamily Housing Council, 2015) This imbalance inherently creates a scarcity that drives up rental pricing. Moreover, rising development, materials, labor and operations costs also continue to provide upward rent pressure at the same time that household incomes have stagnated. iv 10 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 10 | P a g e Racism and housing discrimination persist in the United States, according to the National Fair Housing Alliance. (National Fair Housing Alliance, 2015) Since the adoption and creation of financial instruments like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and CRA (Community Reinvestment Act), commercial banking regulatory agencies developed to manage the impact of continued racism in the housing market. (National Fair Housing Alliance, 2015) With regard to housing opportunities and mobility for those living in publicly subsidized housing (conventional or private residential) the issue of housing segregation prevails. Ethnic enclaves appear to be intentionally segregated from middle class and other urban residential communities with lower crime and unemployment. Communities are often times segregated based on race and there exists more intricately disguised housing and lending irregularities that regulatory agencies must adjudicate. The National Fair Housing Alliance “NFHA” was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Washington DC. Their organization is “the only national organization dedicated to solely ending discrimination in housing” and works to “eliminate housing discrimination and to ensure housing opportunity for all people [sic]”. v According to their website, “the NFHA is a consortium of more than 220 private, non-profit fair housing organizations, state and local civil rights agencies, and individuals from throughout the United States.” vi Their organizational publications state that the biggest issues with regard to affordable housing relate to how underdeveloped the low income multi-family product is and how infeasible homeownership can be for families that rent. This challenge is prevalent in Latino and African-American communities in California. For the “minority” working poor living in public housing, options outside of their ethnic enclaves are limited or non-existent due to unemployment and lack of affordable housing, lack of professional skills and lack of education. vii 11 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 11 | P a g e viii Discrimination and the Cost Burden of Housing Many renters have trouble saving money. The Center for American Progress stated that “the most recent snapshot of American households shows that the median renter household has virtually no cash savings.” ix This is particularly true when describing the conditions of the urban poor. According to their study regarding best practices used to encourage renter savings, the cost burden of renters and overall impact of minimal savings-in the long run- disproportionately impacts Latino and African-American households. Due to the inability to save income for investment in retirement, savings, educational efforts, or for the purchase of a home, low income families have limited opportunities for advancement. Particularly those receiving public subsidies for housing or those residing in government managed public housing sites. As a result of decreased social advancement capacity due to income, “minority” population groups are overrepresented in many housing categories including the receipt of public benefits (for the poor) and where the stated location of residence is in a high crime community. (Abromowitz, 2014). While, the study acknowledges that “it is not easy to isolate the individual factors that explain this correlation between renting and relatively low savings”, the authors state that “half of renters pay more than 30 percent of their gross household income for their housing, which classifies them as “cost-burdened” by housing costs and represents a 12 percent increase since 2001.” (Abromowitz, 2014) Furthermore, “African American and Latino households face even steeper rent burdens than the population as a whole: 35 percent of African American households and 31 percent of Latino households spend more than half of their income on rent.” (Abromowitz, 2014) Current federal programs managed by HUD, like Family Self- Sufficiency “FSS”, which was enacted by Congress in 1990, are mechanisms low income households may use to create long-term savings strategies but are reserved for those most in need low income renters and public housing residents. According to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, renters have median cash savings of $630 and the median renter net worth, including all assets, is just $5,100. For homeowners, the cash savings cushion is 10 times as large as that of renters—$6,400. (Abromowitz, 2014) Times much — $173,010. 12 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 12 | P a g e Public Housing Throughout the United States, public housing is not highlighted as an optimal residential choice for families, the elderly, or the disabled due to high crime and other distressing factors found in many poor neighborhoods in urban geographies. People living in these spaces have to contend with crime and violence within their development and in the surrounding community. The Economic Policy Institute highlights that “examples nationwide abound of how public housing was used by federal, state and local governments to create the segregated metropolitan areas we know today” (Rothstein, 2012). Their detailed account of the racial segregation resulting from the creation of public education systems in addition to public housing provides an overview of the evolution of distressed neighborhoods that were, at one time, home to non-minority “white” citizens. According to the Economic Policy Institute, “by 1973, President Richard Nixon could describe many public housing projects as “monstrous, overcrowded and crime-ridden”. (Nixon 1973) (Rothstein, 2012) However, the initial concept and implementation of public housing options for families can be described using drastically different terms. Public housing was created for war time veterans and their families. These communities, at one time, were middle-class non-minority housing developments and provided opportunities for residents to thrive. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development “HUD” notes that public housing was “established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities and today, there are approximately 1.2 million households living in public housing units, managed by some 3,300 Public Housing Agencies “PHA” in the United States.” (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2014) There are two types of public housing: conventional and military. Military housing is owned, administered, and regulated by the United States Department of Defense. 13 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 13 | P a g e Some military housing developments are owned by the federal government and others are operated and managed by public-private partnerships. When servicemen and women exercise their option to live in government owned and subsidized housing, their Basic Housing Allowance or “BAH” is no longer available for the payment of direct housing related costs. This means their entire rent and utilities are paid for by the military. While, for conventional renters and according to HUD, “the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers Federal aid to local agencies that manage the housing for low- income residents at rents they can afford. HUD furnishes technical and professional assistance in planning, developing and managing these developments.” (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2014) Public Housing Agencies Public Housing Agencies “PHA” receive funding from HUD to manage conventional public housing and related programs in addition to HUD funded properties (foreclosures and other bank seizure or government owned single family residences). They manage the following programs:  Housing Choice Voucher  Capital Fund  Demolition/Disposition  Homeownership  Hope VI  Mixed Finance Public Housing  Moderate Rehabilitation  Moving to Work Demonstration (MTW),  Operating Fund,  Rental Housing Integrity Improvement Project (RHIIP),  Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) and  Neighborhood Networks (NN) PHA’s receive rental subsidies from HUD through the Housing Choice Voucher program, which was formerly named Section 8. 14 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 14 | P a g e Under the Housing Choice Voucher program, impoverished families are able to use their voucher to secure a rental unit at a HUD approved or HUD owned property. x The HUD Housing Voucher Choice fact sheet notes that, “families issued a housing voucher are responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family's choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the family's present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the PHA”. Thereafter, “a housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the PHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.” (United States Department of Housing and Urban Development , 2014) Under certain circumstances, if authorized by the PHA, a family may use its voucher to purchase a modest home.” (United States Department of Housing and Urban Development , 2014). Public housing residents do not use vouchers subsidized through this program because they live in government owned and subsidized housing. Currently, HUD describes these properties as “Mixed-Finance Public Housing Projects” and this type of residential option “was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families [sic] and comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single family houses to high rise apartments for elderly families. . xi Public Housing Eligibility Both Conventional and Military Housing adhere to income eligibility guidelines determined by HUD. The criteria and descriptions of necessary activities for potential tenants are located on department’s website and provide sufficient background and technical information regarding the process used to secure public housing. An “HA” is an acronym used in place of “Housing Agency” or “Public Housing Agency”. (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2014) Housing rights organizations like the National Low Income Housing Coalition “NLIHC” advocate for protection and expansion of the Housing Choice Voucher program. xii Arguing that Housing Choice Vouchers help low income Americans find affordable housing in the private housing market. This program is the largest rental assistance program; serving the lowest income people because of deep income targeting guidelines. xiii 15 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 15 | P a g e Hope VI and Policy Initiatives for Public Housing Programs xiv Hope VI was federal legislation designed to fund the demolition of distressed public housing. Funds from this program were used to relocate tenants from their developments in order to redevelop public housing complexes managed by PHA’s into market rate multi-family residences. The legislation was developed as a result of a convening of the National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing “the Commission” and release of their findings in A Final Report of the National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing: A report to the Congress and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. As a result of Congressional action, this Commission was formed in 1989 with the stated goal to eradicate severely distressed public housing by the year 2000. (National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing, 1992) While, representatives from public housing authorities and agencies in major cities throughout the country were placed on the commission, none were selected from the County of Los Angeles. Representatives from the state of California came from Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco. (National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing, 1992) “HOPE VI was created by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 (Pub. L. 102-389) and was approved on October 6, 1992.” xv The commission requested management improvements, physical improvements, and social and community services to address resident needs. xvi In their plan, “they determined that 6 percent of the 1.4 million existing public housing dwellings (about 86,000 units) was in “severely distressed” condition, and recommended that this small portion of the total inventory be eradicated by the year 2000. The Commission estimated the cost of removing and replacing the 86,000 units at $7.5 billion in 1992 dollars, and recommended that Congress fund a 10-year program at approximately $750 million per year.” (United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2007) 16 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 16 | P a g e According to HUD, HOPE VI Revitalization grants funded:  Capital costs of major rehabilitation, new construction and other physical improvements  Demolition of severely distressed public housing  Acquisition of sites for off-site construction  Community and supportive service programs for residents, including those relocated as a result of revitalization efforts xvii The program was highlighted for the creation of a “Mixed-Finance Public Housing Program” by the Innovations in American Government Program in 2000. “Mixed-Finance public housing allows HUD to mix public, private, and non-profit funds to develop and operate housing developments. New developments may be made up of a variety of housing types: rental, homeownership, private, subsidized, and public housing. These new communities are built for residents with a wide range of incomes, and are designed to fit into the surrounding community”. xviii Although Hope VI appropriations are no longer authorized for use by HUD, prior year program funds were used to redevelop public housing in Chicago (Cabrini Green) and Los Angeles (Dana Strand and Aliso Village). The final Notice of Funding Availability “NOFA” for planning and revitalization grants funded by this program was released in 2010. 17 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 17 | P a g e HUD HIGHLIGHTS: HOPE VI xix HOPE VI GRANT AWARDS FIGURE 1 Awards Grant FY Totals Funding 35 Planning Grants 1993-1995 $14,752,081 262 Revitalization Grants 1993-2010 $6,281,287,817 285 Demolition Grants 1996-2003 $391,585,505 45 Neighborhood Networks 2002-2003 $9,967,500 21 Main Street Grants 2005-2009 $15,456,009 648 Total $6,713,048,912 (United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2007) HOPE VI was enacted under the administration of President Bill Clinton and required consideration for comprehensive community development strategies in neighborhoods greatly impacted by the conditions surrounding poverty and where public housing is located, (i.e., lack of well-functioning education institutions, poor land use planning and zoning, environmental degradation and high crime). President Barack Obama introduced legislation consistent with feedback received following the sunset of HOPE VI. Obama Administration efforts expanded and, in some cases, introduced new programs in order to continue the Changing the physical shape of public housing Establishing positive incentives for resident self- sufficiency and comprehensive services that empower residents Lessening concentrations of poverty by placing public housing in non-poverty neighborhoods and promoting mixed-income communities Forging partnerships with other agencies, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and private businesses to leverage support and resources 18 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 18 | P a g e innovative work highlighted by various non-profit organizations, national best practices, case studies, and PHA’s working with local governments to revitalize public housing sites using funding provided under HOPE VI. More current comprehensive community development strategies and examples of legislative efforts highlighted by HUD include: Integrated Planning and Investment Grants; the $75 million requested for these grants will spur economic progress and promote opportunity by supporting communities and regions throughout the country with developing long-term, strategic investment plans that serve as a formalized blueprint for revitalizing communities through economic development strategies, enhancing the integration between housing and transportation to reduce cost burdens on individuals and households, address long- standing problems associated with outdated housing and building codes among other issues, and improve community and regional resource management to decrease inefficiency and waste associated with fragmented infrastructure systems. (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2014) HUD highlights the Jobs Plus Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) that announced the availability of funding for approximately $24 million for the Jobs Plus Pilot program for Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). This program was designed to develop locally-based approaches to increase earnings and advance employment outcomes for Public Housing residents. The NOFA will fund initiatives to improve employment and earnings outcomes for Public Housing residents through supports such as work readiness, employer linkages, job placement and financial literacy. Of the $24 million available, $9 million is made available from the ROSS appropriations to support the services element of the Jobs- Plus Pilot program. (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2014) Under the Rental Assistance Demonstration program “RAD”, Public Housing and Moderate Rehabilitation program (Mod Rehab) properties convert, under a competition limited to 60,000 units, to long-term Section 8 rental assistance contracts. The second component allows Rent Supplement (Rent Supp), Rental Assistance Payment (RAP), and Mod Rehab properties to convert tenant-based vouchers issued upon contract expiration or termination to project-based assistance. According to HUD, RAD is a central part of the Department's rental housing preservation strategy, which works to preserve the nation's stock of deeply affordable rental housing, promote efficiency within and among HUD programs, 19 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 19 | P a g e and build strong, stable communities. (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2014) HUD Blog notes that President Obama proposed Project Rebuild as part of the American Jobs Act. It allocated $15 billion to purchase, rehabilitate, demolish, or redevelop foreclosed, abandoned, or vacant properties. (Gonzalez, 2012) “The program builds upon the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and incorporates key changes from it that allow for more significant local economic impacts and more job creation. Most notable, it allows for the rehabilitation of commercial properties and allows for-profit partners to participate in the rehabilitation of both commercial and residential properties”. xx Under the Opportunity, Growth and Security Initiative, according to the Washington Post, the “new spending, will pump money into preschool programs, the National Institutes of Health, manufacturing institutes, climate research, job training and a new parental leave proposal, among other benefits for the middle class. Obama would also expand a tax credit for poor, working-class Americans valued at $60 billion over 10 years. To pay for those initiatives, the president takes aim at a variety of tax breaks that benefit the wealthy – limiting the value of retirement savings accounts, a loophole known as "carried interest" that allows many private equity and hedge fund managers to reduce their tax burden, among others”. (Goldfarb, 2014) Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Today, one of HUD’s most important housing and community development programs is Choice Neighborhoods. CNI grant awards are designed for the purpose of holistic integration of the following: economic and community (Goldfarb, 2014) development, expansion and creation of transit-oriented development opportunities, increased educational attainment, and mandated environmental consideration in local land use planning and zoning. The stated purpose of this study is to begin an exploratory overview of the geographies selected by the HACLA and City of Los Angeles as candidates for funding under the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. Using spatial analysis, the County of Los Angeles was evaluated based on the stated requirements listed in Section 8 and 9 of the legislation. The analytical framework Key Points: CNI Requires such programs to include neighborhoods with characteristics such as proximity to educational institutions, medical centers, central business districts, major employers, effective transportation alternatives (including public transit, walking, and bicycling), and low poverty neighborhoods. (Sen. Robert Menendez, 2013) 20 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 20 | P a g e for this effort was developed by first studying, adapting and applying the existing framework for a spatial analysis of CNI that was designed by Portland State University, with consideration for the grant applicant and program requirements listed in the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Sections 8 and 9. Next, by conducting field observation and field data collection in addition to socio-economic evaluation using the Opportunity Index and United States Census Bureau the 9 housing sites identified by the HACLA in their Draft Plan 2014-2019 are profiled here. Creating Choice Neighborhoods Senate bill 437 was introduced by Senator Robert Menendez, D-NJ, on March 4, 2013 in order “to authorize the Department of Housing and Urban Development to transform neighborhoods of extreme poverty into sustainable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to economic opportunities, by revitalizing severely distressed housing, and investing and leveraging investments in well-functioning services, educational opportunities, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs” (Sen. Robert Menendez, 2013). Later named the “Choice Neighborhoods Initiative” or “CNI”, it is one of many initiatives supported by President Barack Obama and it requires multi-tiered community and economic development strategies that are concretized through partnerships with local government via educational institutions and community based organizations. The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative “CNI” is a United States federal government sponsored funding program created to support local governments in cities with a significant proportion of publicly funded and distressed public housing. The legislative predecessor for this program is Hope VI, which was used by municipalities only for the demolition and re-construction or rehabilitation of distressed public housing. Hope VI did not include funding provisions for neighborhood and community based development efforts surrounding public housing sites in the manner constructed through CNI. CNI is an extension of Hope VI, in that it maintains provisions for the re-construction or rehabilitation of public housing, but, was amended to provide funding for the development of communities that surround publicly funded housing managed by a Public Housing Agency or “PHA”, in addition to HUD subsidized properties that are owned and managed by HUD or privately owned and authorized to receive tenant based vouchers through programs such as Housing Choice. 21 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 21 | P a g e Understanding Southern California Latino/Hispanic residents are the dominant population group in Los Angeles County, comprising close to 50% (48.3%) of the total population. The census tabulations correct for this response category based on survey responses suggesting that the county is upwards of 70% “White”. The actual percentage of “White” or “non-Latino/Hispanic” survey respondents is 27%. Black Americans are 9% and Asian-Americans are14%, meaning Black Americans and American Indians (1.5%) are the least represented ethnic “minority” in the county of Los Angeles. (United States Census Bureau , n.d.) California’s largest cities are: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, and Fresno. The California State Association of Counties documents that the overall state population is approximately 37,679,000 - highest state population. The state spans 158,706 square miles (3rd largest state) and has great appeal to tourists from throughout the United States and abroad. It is home to some of the world’s most aesthetically appealing beaches, mountains, rivers, deserts, and forests. According to VisitCalifornia.com, “in 2013, California had 227.2 million domestic person-trips, 184.2 million of which were for leisure. In addition to 15.6 million international person-trips; 6.6 million were from an overseas origin, with 7.4 million visiting from Mexico and 1.6 million arrivals from Canada”. (Latest Tourism Research, 2014) The forecast for 2014 is an “increase of 2.1% in total visits, with domestic travel forecast to increase by 1.9% and international by 4.2%.” (Latest Tourism Research, 2014) Many of these Key Points: Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make competitive grants to local governments, public housing agencies (PHAs), community development corporations, assisted housing owners, and other for-profit and nonprofit entities to implement transformational programs in eligible neighborhoods with a concentration of extreme poverty, severely distressed housing, and a potential for long-term viability, once certain key problems are addressed (Sen. Robert Menendez, 2013) •demonstrates how the transformation plan will achieve the desired priority outcomes of transforming a distressed neighborhood of extreme poverty into a mixed-income neighborhood with high-quality, safe, affordable housing, economic opportunities, well- functioning services, public assets, access to jobs, public transportation, and effective education programs and public schools, including charter schools and other autonomous public schools •includes a long-term affordability plan that describes how the grantee will maintain affordable housing in the neighborhood over the succeeding 50 years or longer, including affordability provisions relating to dwelling units provided using assistance under the grant under this Act, and an agreement by the applicant to update such plan every 5 years during such period. Choice Neighborhoods Section 8 22 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 22 | P a g e visitors arrive to visit California’s major cities like San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Nationally and internationally regarded as the “home of the entertainment capital”, the county of Los Angeles is eco and bio-diverse, multicultural, and is one of the largest economies in the world. It is one of the largest geographic regions of its type in the United States of America and is home to the world’s “entertainment capital” or city of Los Angeles. (United States Census Bureau , n.d.) 23 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 23 | P a g e CHAPTER 2 Spatial Analysis Spatial analysis consists of many practical social research methods, including the use of traditional mathematics, geography and social science research instruments and tools. By using geography, statistics, and geometry to answer or respond to social policy questions, spatial analysts can do many things with the appropriate mapping software. The schools of thought and mathematical measurements used to determine the exact role of geographic information science, along with the exact location of particular locations on Earth, are very useful for public policy. For this reason, the intended scope of analysis for this study pertains to public housing developments and proximity to community-wide amenities which reflect what is described herein as “social distress”. Such categories were originally limited to incidents of criminal activity, violence, and proximity to pedestrian friendly walk paths; created from legislative mandates surrounding transit oriented districts. However, the limitations of available information, the lack of sufficient, verifiable data sources, and without sufficient time for complete data collection, the original framework for analysis required revision. The study below includes an overview of the “affordable housing crisis” in major cities throughout the County of Los Angeles and of public policies greatly impacting low income families living in public housing. This study further details environmental factors that greatly impact the health and safety of residents living in Los Angeles County, as such relate to the following: 1) amount of criminal infractions by city, 2) the socio-economic population score for Los Angeles County Service Planning Areas and Supervisorial Districts, and 3) the environmental pollution score for each Los Angeles County Supervisorial District and Service Planning area by census tract. Next, the assessment includes a detailed overview of socio-demographic data for zip codes in Los Angeles proper and where the 9 identified public housing developments are located. This data report is assembled for presentation and consideration with regard to the design and governance structure of an emerging framework for Key Point: CNI prohibits the use of grants for construction or rehabilitation of a K-12 school building or a higher educational institution. Limits the use of grants for certain non-housing activities and supportive services. Authorizes the Secretary to waive such limitations. Exempts from specified requirements of the United States Housing Act of 1937 the demolition and disposition of severely distressed public and assisted housing pursuant to a transformation plan. (Sen. Robert Menendez, 2013) 24 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 24 | P a g e assessment pertinent to CNI and public housing. HACLA representatives may use the information provided to consider the creation and use of a GIS database or what is described as a Relational Database Management System “RDBMS” to create a screening tool for local government. By using a comprehensive tool of this type, agency staff, elected representatives and community based organizations may be better informed about how to build strategic plans for the 9 housing developments identified in the HACLA draft plan. FIGURE 2 25 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 25 | P a g e FIGURE 3 26 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 26 | P a g e FIGURE 4 27 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 27 | P a g e FIGURE 5 28 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 28 | P a g e Geospatial Analysis: Los Angeles County Due to the large population and high percentage of low income residents, an abundance of services for youth and families exist and are administered by various county agencies. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health manages county funded SPA’s or Service Planning Area’s (SPA), with a specific focus on addressing public health disparities in low income communities. SPA’s are co-defined as “Health Districts” in Los Angeles County and stretch to the boundaries of each political or supervisorial district. There are a total of eight countywide SPA’s or Service Planning Areas. All locations are required to provide clinical services targeted to the health needs of specific populations within their given service area. SPA areas exist to meet a local need and are therefore of extreme importance in determining the health related risks of low income families. Los Angeles County, through their Department of Mental Health, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Public Social Services and Department of Public Health, provide a variety of publicly funded programs, services, and other resources within local SPA’s. The above noted are some of the largest departments of their type in the United States of America and, require substantial funding and operational support to achieve their stated missions. This is due to current population density and many demographic forecasts highlighting the growing needs of low income families residing in this geography within Southern California. SPA 1: Antelope Valley Service Planning Area 1, or SPA 1, serves the communities of Acton, Agua Dulce, Gorman, Lake Hughes, Lake Los Angeles, Lancaster, Littlerock, Palmdale, Quartz Hill, and others. SPA 2: San Fernando Valley Service Planning Area 2, or SPA 2, serves the communities of Burbank, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Canyon Country, Encino, Glendale, La Cañada-Flintridge, San Fernando, Sherman Oaks, Sun Valley, Van Nuys, Woodland Hills, and others. FIGURE 6 29 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 29 | P a g e While SPA’s exist to meet health related risks, the overall environment these families reside in is equally important, in terms of health and urban community development. The county of Los Angeles is addressing the social challenges which required the creation of SPA’s (human services) by continuing to implement programs and provide services. But, many poor families unknowingly live within neighborhoods built on top of or in close proximity to environmental hazards and toxic substances. During this study, publicly funded databases pertinent to community health and urban development are examined and presented in the form of vector maps. The maps juxt-a-pose pollution and population score with geographic locations throughout all SPA areas in Los Angeles County. The State of California Environmental Protection Agency (CAEPA) successfully developed, launched, and implemented a tool named the California EnviroScreen 2.0. The database for the screening tool captures and stores the proportion of toxic substance heavy census tracts within Los Angeles county SPA areas and was used as the foundation for community and census tract level data gathering. In addition to geographic reference confirmation for locations associated with the City of Los Angeles and HACLA public housing sites. FIGURE 7 SPA 3: San Gabriel Service Planning Area 3, or SPA 3, serves the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Claremont, Covina, Diamond Bar, Duarte, El Monte, Glendora, Irwindale, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Pomona, San Dimas, San Gabriel, San Marino, Temple City, Walnut, West Covina, and others. SPA 4: Metropolitan Los Angeles Service Planning Area 4, or SPA 4, serves the communities of Boyle Heights, Central City, Downtown LA, Echo Park, El Sereno, Hollywood, Mid-City Wilshire, Monterey Hills, Mount Washington, Silverlake, West Hollywood, and Westlake. 30 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 30 | P a g e Methodology Crime analysis research in lower income neighborhoods is not entirely unique. Many non-profit organizations in Southern California argued in favor of the creation of a new measurement tool within public health evaluation criteria that includes area safety as a major mental health determinant. In order to capture the data for this purpose, a county-wide repository of public safety information is required. For purposes related to this study, the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department was selected. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department is the largest sheriff's department in the world. The Department is divided into four main operations. Within the main operations of Custody Operations, Patrol Operations, Countywide Services and Administrative & Professional Standards there is an additional subgroup of thirteen divisions, each is headed by a Division Chief. From within these divisions are bureaus and specialized units that provide specific services to the county, the county residents, other county, state and federal agencies. xxi Due to the size and demographic composition of Los Angeles County, it is important to utilize a data collection tool that captures data by census tract. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is the lead state agency for the assessment of health risks posed by environmental contaminants. OEHHA’s mission is to protect human health and the environment through scientific evaluation of risks posed by hazardous substances. The Office is one of five state departments within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA). OEHHA implements the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, commonly known as Proposition 65 and compiles the state’s list of substances that cause cancer or reproductive harm. The Office also develops health-protective exposure levels for contaminants in air, water, and soil as guidance for regulatory agencies and the public. These include public health goals for contaminants in drinking water and both cancer potency factors and non-cancer reference exposure levels for the Air Toxics Hot Spots Program. xxii 31 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 31 | P a g e Figure 8 GIS data compilation and gathering data source related information for: Health, Safety, and Urban Community Development was conducted by reviewing media sources such as the Los Angeles Times, City of Los Angeles website, State of California agency websites, County of Los Angeles websites and policy case studies. Additionally, by viewing websites for regulatory and supportive services agencies, in order to become familiar with the acronyms, data collection methods, data construction methods, and overall construct of socio-economic and toxic substance measurement tools created for the California EnviroScreen 2.0 tool. During the data collection phase, shape files and geodatabase files were gathered using the following sources: State of California Geoportal, Los Angeles County Geoportal, State of California Environmental Protection Agency ,Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department, United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, and Los Angeles County Department of Public and Social Services. Data Management Due to the vast size of the geodatabase for Los Angeles county funded locations, in addition to the amount of records within the Part I and Part II crime excel file, the datasets were combined and reduced to a single database, which was used as a new layer within the map projections. GIS professionals perform what is called a “spatial join” to both condense and conform data to meet the agreed upon standards developed in the map design (schema) process. For this purpose, a spatial join, or connection of data points is provided in two separate tables by using a shared attribute “CITY”. All crimes occurring in specific cities were extracted from the Part I and Part II.csv crime excel file retrieved from the Los Angeles County SPA 5: West Service Planning Area 5, or SPA 5, serves the communities of Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Culver City, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Playa del Rey, Santa Monica, and Venice. SPA 6: South Los Angeles Service Planning Area 6, or SPA 6, serves the communities of Athens, Compton, Crenshaw, Florence, Hyde Park, Lynwood, Paramount, and Watts. 32 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 32 | P a g e Sheriff’s Department and joined to the EGIS_LMS_file polygon database (area map) retrieved from the County of Los Angeles. Next, the CalEnviroscreen2.0 database that includes pollution scores and socio-economic indicators for census tracts throughout the state of California was reorganized and displayed by creating a choropleth map projection. The study area is Los Angeles County therefore the databases in reference were adjusted by using a spatial join, isolating feature attributes based on the category “CITY” in order to better classify crimes that occurred in the County of Los Angeles (by city). Data Analysis Publications provided by the State of California Environmental Protection Agency were used to determine the methodology and scoring criteria used for the attribute feature category “Pollution Score” and “Population Score”. Limitations The CalEnviroscreen2.0 tool is referred to as a “comprehensive” and is used to highlight hazardous, toxic waste percentages in communities throughout California- by census tract. In addition, it was designed to bring attention to (socio- economic) communities where toxicity and exposure to hazardous materials is found in abundance. While, the OEHHA, highlight the tool as “a pioneering environmental health screening tool that can be used to put together a comprehensive picture of the burdens California communities face from pollutants and their vulnerability to health and economic impacts” it has received criticism. xxiii Industries and trade organizations representing water districts throughout the State of California take exception with how the tool measures water treatment scores, in addition to how the design framework isolates specific categories of ethnic groups. xxiv 33 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 33 | P a g e FIGURE 9 Public Health and Safety Data Public safety organizations sometimes record the first available address of reported crimes when responding to calls for service. Due to the proportion, size, and visual representation of Los Angeles county SPA area (see Figure A), it may prove unlikely that incidents can be represented visually without the creation of an additional graduated color map (choropleth). There are over 62,000 recorded locations for county funded facilities. This information cannot be presented as a series of points due to the amount of points required in order to represent an accurate figure. There are too many locations within the existing dataset and they must be reduced based on relevance. Next, the observed flaws in datasets do not support an accurate representation of any data that correlates crime to county funded location. There is no single classification for crimes by address that is consistent with the exact location of county funded facilities for health and community well-being. Health and human services data is part of a statewide database developed for Los Angeles County. The list includes locations funded by the following departments: DFCS, DMH, DPH, and Community partners (sub-contractors). Therefore, location and proximity to facility cannot determined using this list, unless all 62,000 locations are joined to the spatial location of each reported crime and evaluated based on common factors. The goal of this study is not to criminalize poverty and the above noted approach must be refined to answer a better question and with better organized available data. SPA 7: East Service Planning Area 7, or SPA 7, serves the communities of Artesia, Bell, Bellflower, Bell Gardens, Cerritos, City of Commerce, City Terrace, Cudahy, Downey, East Los Angeles, Hawaiian Gardens, Huntington Park, La Habra Heights, Lakewood, La Mirada, Los Nietos, Maywood, Montebello, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, Signal Hill, South Gate, Vernon, Walnut Park, Whittier, and others. SPA 8: South Bay Service Planning Area 8, or SPA 8, serves the communities of Athens, Avalon, Carson, Catalina Island, El Segundo, Gardena, Harbor City, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lennox, Long Beach*, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Dominguez, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, San Pedro, Wilmington, and others. 34 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 34 | P a g e CalEnviro Screen Data There are many issues with the use of a one to 10-point scale in order to determine an overall score of “10” for environmental health and safety. Such issues came up during the public comment period for CaliforniaEnviroScreen 2.0. The office of OEHHA acknowledged the need for an adjustment in the use and framework for the socio-economic indicator described as “isolation language” as well, due to contentions pertinent to double counting ethnic minorities and improper classification of dominant ethnic groups (Latino/Hispanic). Due to the flexible nature of database construction, agencies do not have uniform standards for address and location information. This information has to be re-organized through spatial analysis functions and the reassignment of feature classes within attribute tables. Spatial Analysis Results Health Los Angeles County SPA 5, SPA 6 and SPA 4 have the most locations (cities) scoring within highest and lowest percentiles according to the OEHHA. Communities with the lowest CalEnviroscreen 2.0 (5 points or less on a 10-point scale) are located in SPA 5 and are the cities of Manhattan Beach, Agoura Hills, Santa Clarita, Stevenson Ranch and Hermosa Beach. These communities have an average income that is higher than the median income in SPA 4 and SPA 6. Communities with the highest CalEnviroscreen 2.0 scores (5 points or more on a 10-point scale) are located in SPA 6 and are in the zip code areas that represent the community of Watts and South East Los Angeles. These communities have the largest amount of public housing sites that are targeted for redevelopment projects that may utilize CNI in order to provide funds for land use and community revitalization activities managed by HACLA. These communities have an average income which is lower than the median income of populations within their SPA area and has a resident population with higher rates of unemployment and larger percentages of renters. 35 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 35 | P a g e Eight census tracts out of 8,035 (statewide) received a CalEnviroscreen2.02.0 score of 5 points or less, while 630 (statewide) received 5 points or more. 98 out of 630 are within the City of Los Angeles. Additionally, four out of 26 Health Districts (SPA) are in the southernmost portion of the County of Los Angeles. These communities are labeled in the database as Compton, South, South East and South West and are located in SPA 6. In the area labeled North East or Metro area in SPA 4 there is one Health District and, in the area labeled West LA or SPA 5 there is one Health District. Safety: Part I and Part II Crime Trends The cities with the highest crime are Los Angeles (proper), Lancaster, Palmdale, and Compton. LASD recorded approximately 2,000 criminal events occurring during the month of July 2014. The above noted cities represent over 20%, of reported crimes and are located in first, fifth, and second supervisorial districts. The communities in reference are in the 80 th percentile, for CalEnviroscreen 2.0 “Population Score”, meaning the communities within the SPA areas in reference have neighborhoods that are extremely disadvantaged in terms of education, income level and employment. Name Part I and Part II Crimes Los Angeles 285 Lancaster 180 Palmdale 104 Compton 75 Carson 64 Pico Rivera 62 Norwalk 58 Bellflower 51 Lynwood 42 Rosemead 39 Lakewood 36 Malibu 35 Paramount 34 Castaic 31 Industry 24 East LA 22 FIGURE 10 36 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 36 | P a g e Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Section 9 (Sen. Robert Menendez, 2013) Off-site replacement housing.--Off-site replacement housing, outside the immediate neighborhood, shall not be located in areas of minority concentration, defined in relation to the metropolitan area or rural county in which the Choice Neighborhoods project is located, or in areas of extreme poverty. Affordability requirement.--The owner of a property assisted with funding under this Act shall agree to a period of affordability for the property which shall be not less than the period of affordability to which the property is already subject and remains subject, or 30 years, whichever is greater. Environmental review.--For purposes of environmental review, assistance and projects under this Act shall be treated as assistance for special projects that are subject to section 305(c) of the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994, and shall be subject to the regulations issued by the Secretary to implement such section. Number of units.--For one hundred percent of all such dwelling units in existence, as of the date of the application for the grant, that are to be demolished or disposed, the transformation plan shall provide for replacement of the dwelling unit Replacement housing units shall be developed--in the neighborhood being revitalized; and within the metropolitan area,up to 25 miles from the original project site, as necessary to comply with fair housing requirements;deconcentrate poverty; redevelop on site with appropriate densities; or meet other factors, as determined by the Secretary in order to further the purposes of this Act. 37 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 37 | P a g e CHAPTER 3 Housing Authority City of Los Angeles HUD requirements for CNI funding are vast and require the regional cooperation of a broad category of partners and government agencies. In Southern California, the communities in need of holistic community development strategies like those supported by programs like (countywide) CNI are located in environmentally hazardous neighborhoods. The SPA areas in reference are created in and around all 9 identified CNI candidate housing sites listed in the HACLA Agency Draft Plan 2010- 2014 and 2014-2019. Therefore, not only are these areas contaminated by pollutants, they are also located in government funded “Health Districts”, meaning there may be an overabundance of residents and families in these communities that need a range of supportive services and are, unfortunately, in high crime areas compared to other cities of the County of Los Angeles. The locations identified by the Housing Authority City of Los Angeles are located in high crime and high poverty zip codes. In the HUD funded spatial analysis report completed by Portland State University, CNI area profiles are provided to demonstrate the demographic, socio-economic and community development related data points that may benefit when used as evidence based justification for local decision. Data can be used to determine the highest best use, in addition to the most appropriate candidate properties on the basis of criteria set forth in CNI. Profiles were generated for all zip codes areas where public housing is located in the City of Los Angeles. These facilities are located in Los Angeles proper therefore they are all within the County of Los Angeles. Health and Urban Community Development Score Online community health measurement tools often grade local government based on the following criteria: 1) Community Health & Civic Life, 2) Economy and 3) Education. The spatial analysis in this study was conducted by county census tract and uses the criteria 1) Health, 2) Safety, and 3) Urban Community Development (economy, education, open space). The primary tool used for this purpose was the CalEnviroscreen 2.0 tool database, created by the State of California Environmental Protection Agency OEHHA. Therefore, the data collected via the OEHHA is very different from the data retrieved from the other online indices in the following ways: 38 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 38 | P a g e 1. The data sets used for spatial analysis were developed using independent collection methods, assembly, and coding 2. The OEHHA data provides results classified and operationally defined as “Population Score” and “Pollution Score” 3. OEHHA data was utilized to provide a data driven content display using census data and pollution by census tract The American Factfinder section of the United States Census online tools were utilized to locate cities within Los Angeles County that have the lowest poverty rate and educational attainment. Additionally, the section was used to determine and confirm census tract areas in the City of Los Angeles and to provide statistical details pertinent to area demographics and housing availability. MapQuest and Google Maps were used to determine the proximity of potential relocation cities (within 25 miles) from the public housing site. This method was used to identify the estimated distance from the HACLA public housing candidate sites to supportive services facilities located nearby and to determine the measured distance from urban parks and recreation centers. The utilization of this method provided more accurate details regarding the location of community based organizations (real property), urban impact parks, recreation centers and open spaces, mental health facilities funded by the county of Los Angeles, public health facilities funded by the county of Los Angeles, area crime patterns and potential relocation cities for residents that move due to the renovation of housing developments. The CNI legislation requires that municipalities and other CNI candidate developers adhere to the mandated provision of affordable replacement housing in the event of displacement due to the planned revitalization of public housing. 39 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 39 | P a g e Relocation Cities Though CNI requires that such housing be located no more than 25 miles from the selected public housing site, the County of Los Angeles does not appear to have the appropriate matching of community characteristics or census tracts and zip code areas within 25 miles that provide for the same or similar living conditions for families using Housing Choice Vouchers. Rather, potential relocation cities are within a 30-mile radius of the HACLA candidate properties. American Fact Finder was then used to retrieve zip code area profiles for such cities in addition to the communities within the city of Los Angeles where CNI candidate properties are located. The Los Angeles Times Mapping LA Project was used to retrieve map details confirming the district boundaries of specific locations retrieved by using American Fact Finder, in addition to the Planning Department City of Los Angeles website. The Planning Department City of Los Angeles website was used to re- confirm the boundaries of zip code areas located in the City of Los Angeles and where CNI candidate properties are located. Relocation cities associated with the zip code areas where public housing in the City of Los Angeles is located are listed below and were determined based on comparable demographics limited to race and ethnic composition, zip code area unemployment, zip code area population size and zip code area poverty level:  Downey, CA  Carson, CA  Norwalk, CA  Commerce, CA  Covina, CA  Irwindale, CA  La Puente, CA  Lakewood, CA  Pico-Rivera, CA  Walnut, CA  Santa Fe Springs, CA  San Gabriel, CA  San Pedro, CA 40 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 40 | P a g e The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles manages 6,528 public housing units overall. CNI requires regional transportation, education, and workforce development strategies in order to be effective. Measuring the capacity of the current public administrators, programs, educators, and community based professionals is a necessary component of CNI. Choice Neighborhoods Candidate Area Profiles Ramona Gardens Ramona Gardens is located in North East Los Angeles, within the Council District 14 (City of Los Angeles) in Los Angeles County Service Planning Area 4. The physical address is 2830 Lancaster Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033. The major commercial corridors near this complex are North Soto Street and Indiana Street, which are less than one mile from Ramona Gardens. Surrounding public streets that allow for entry and exit into the property are located within 1,000 feet of the development and are Vanegas Lane (South West) and Lancaster Avenue (North and North East). FIGURE 11 Neighborhood Median Income Commercial Corridor(s) Interstate/Freeway Area Neighborhood Council Boyle Heights $33,235 East Olympic Blvd. Lorena St Cesar Chavez Ave Mission Rd Whittier Blvd. I-5 http://www.bhnc.net/ Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council El Sereno $45,866 Soto St Valley Blvd Huntington Dr./Main St I-110 I-10 http://www.la32nc.org/ LA-32 Neighborhood Council Downtown LA $15,003 See Appendix I-101 I-110 I-10 I-5 http://www.dlanc.org/ Downtown LA NC Mount Washington $57,725 San Fernando Rd Figueroa St Avenue 50 I-110 I-2 I-5 http://www.asnc.us/ Arroyo Seco NC Echo Park $37,708 Sunset Blvd. /Temple St. Stadium Way Alvarado St. Glendale Blvd. Hyperion Ave. I-5 I-101 http://www.gepenc.org/ Greater Echo Park Elysian NC 41 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 41 | P a g e These streets are interconnected with shorter travel paths or private streets that allow residents to travel by car or walk, from one building to another and from within the housing site. These are private streets with public access points because they are accessible and useful to residents and visitors traveling around and within Ramona Gardens. These residential travel paths are Vanegas Lane and North Evergreen/Lancaster Avenue. The aforementioned streets are public residential streets that share boundaries or access points with the housing development and provide commercial corridor access points for residents with the ability to walk, drive, use a bicycle or a form of public transportation to access the nearest major transit and commercial corridors North Soto Street and Indiana Street. The total number of residential units is listed as 498 by HACLA therefore this is a medium size private community (per residential unit) within a densely populated census tract. Neighborhood Planning Profile Surrounding the complex are limited neighborhood serving amenities. There are very few small businesses within the area surrounding Ramona Gardens. The majority of business are located on transit corridors and are small to medium sized auto repair, light manufacturing and recycling centers. Additionally, the Hazard Park, open space or urban park, is located at 1364 North Soto Street within the 90033 zip code. Community based cultural organizations and churches are located in close proximity to the development and nearby. For example, Legacy LA, a neighborhood serving non-profit organization is located less than one mile from Ramona Gardens. According to their website, they were founded in 2007, as an organization that is focused on youth development. Their mission is to make positive interventions in the lives of young people by offering alternatives to gangs and violence and are located in the East Los Angeles community of Boyle Heights; serving youth living in Ramona Gardens and the surrounding neighborhoods. (Legacy LA, 2015 ) Some of the housing in this community is in poor condition and increased maintenance in terms of paint, lighting fixtures, and building preservation (aesthetic) can be provided by property owners or tenants. 42 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 42 | P a g e Furthermore, while Indiana Street and North Soto Street are major transit and commercial corridors located in close proximity to the development, area community plans completed by the City of Los Angeles Planning Department reference the major east/west arterial highways: 1) Marengo Avenue, 2) Avenida Cesar Chavez, 3) First Street, 4) Fourth Street, 5) Whittier Boulevard, 6) Olympic Boulevard and 7) Washington Boulevard. According to the Boyle Heights Community Plan provided by the City of Los Angeles, “these streets provide through regional access from downtown to the outlying communities beyond East Los Angeles such as Monterey Park, Whittier, Montebello, Commerce, and Vernon. The major north/south arterials are Soto Street, Lorena Street and Indiana Street. Evergreen Avenue also provides north/south access but is narrow at the southern portion of Boyle Heights and ends at the northern border of Boyle Heights.” ( Boyle Heights Community Planners City of Los Angeles , 2015) Additionally, during the completion of the Boyle Heights Community Plan, stakeholders determined that a “1.6-mile stretch of East First Street between Boyle Avenue and Lorena Avenue will be targeted for revitalization. Also, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has received approval from the Federal Government for the Metro Rail Red Line extension from Union Station to the unincorporated community of East Los Angeles. The Red-Line extension includes three station stops in Boyle Heights at First Street and Boyle Avenue, Avenida Cesar Chavez and Soto Street, and First Street and Lorena Avenue.” These activities demonstrate the intended outcome of economic development activities focused on the creation of accessible transit options for area residents and capacity to spur local tourism to decrease leakage. (Planning Department City of Los Angeles, 1998) People and Housing Ramona Gardens is located in zip code 90033 within United States census tract area 2031. The geographical location of this development is within the City of Los Angeles though abutting East Los Angeles which is an unincorporated portion of the County of Los Angeles. Technically, East Los Angeles includes the area east of Boyle Heights, before one reaches the city of Monterey Park (north) or Montebello (further south). The estimated boundary of East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights relative to Ramona Gardens is South Indiana Street (west) and I-10 or San Bernardino freeway (south). Therefore, Ramona Gardens is located in closest 43 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 43 | P a g e proximity to East Los Angeles. There are approximately 48,852 people living is this community. The United States Census Bureau noted that there is a total of 13,690 housing units (of all types) located in this area. The home owner housing population is 18.3% while the rental housing population is 81.7% of occupied units. Within both groups, the average household size is 4. There are 423 vacant housing units comprising 5.6% of the total number of available units in this neighborhood. Over 94% or 12,924 households are documented as occupied housing units. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Within the citizen population, 91% of area inhabitants are Hispanic or Latino. Mexican Americans comprise 77% of the entire citizen population declaring Hispanic or Latino as their ethnic group of choice on census population surveys and living within the 90033 zip code and census tract area. Other ethnic groups include the following: 1) Asian Americans (4.3%), 2) American Black or African American (1.9%), and White or Caucasian (46%). The percentage of the White or Caucasian citizen population reflects the federal census data documentation of race as a single category in addition to reflecting the percentage of the Latino or Hispanic citizen population declaring more than one race as the preferred culture of choice or ancestry. Less than two percent of the population is American Indian. Approximately 29% of the population is between age 25 and 44 years and the median age is 29. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Over 9% of the community within this zip code is over age 65. Households within the area have a larger percentage of non-same sex unions than same sex unions as population surveys document 41% of households as “husband and wife” with 25% of noted households comprised of couples with children under age 18. (United States Census Bureau , n.d.) Older adults or senior citizens (over 65) make up 25% of residential households within this zip code and single female headed households are 25% of the population. Such households where children under 18 reside and no “husband” is present are 14% of single female headed households overall. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) 44 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 44 | P a g e Health and Urban Community Development Parks and open spaces are in close proximity (less than one mile) to Ramona Gardens in addition to churches and other community serving organizations and facilities that service local area residents. Hazard Park and Recreation Center are located in the Fourteenth Council District and are less than one mile from Estrada Courts. An auditorium, baseball diamond (lighted), basketball courts (unlighted/outdoor), children’s play area, community room, picnic tables and skate park (lighted) are available for public use. (City of Los Angeles, 2015). Children and families are able to participate in activities and after school programs at the recreation center. The housing development is located in Los Angeles County “SPA” Service Planning Area 4 as this area includes the community of Boyle Heights. East Los Angeles is located in SPA Area 7, as there appears to be a shared SPA designation with the local communities within and beyond the Fourteenth District and within Los Angeles County unincorporated and incorporated cities. The closest publicly funded health center is Central Health Center and is located over 4 miles from Estrada Courts at 241 North Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The location is in the downtown area and is accessible by public transit lines operated by Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority and Los Angeles city. Besides the facility in reference, the public health facilities located in closest proximity to the housing development are located in the city of Los Angeles at 5205 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038. This location is the Hollywood/Wilshire Health Center in Hollywood, which is North West of Boyle Heights. The second SPA facility, Tuberculosis Satellite Clinic at the Leavey Center, is located in the Skid Row community at 522 South San Pedro Street in the City of Los Angeles. Both facilities in reference are approximately three miles from the Estrada Courts area. According to their website” Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health provides an array of mental health and supportive services for clients, between the ages of 26 and 59, who live with serious mental illness and co- occurring substance use disorders. Mental health services are available through directly operated and contract agencies throughout the County.” (County of Los Angeles, 2015) Agencies providing assessment, therapy, medication, case management/brokerage, crisis intervention, and supportive services aligned with housing and education are included in service area clusters aligned by SPA area. 45 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 45 | P a g e While, the Estrada Courts development is located in the city of Los Angeles and is under the jurisdiction of HACLA, the citizen population of low income or poor residents in need of publicly subsidized residing in this housing project and in need of services such as this, must receive such services from the County of Los Angeles. Mental Health facilities for low income adults within the 90034, 90031, 90012 and 90033 zip code area in reference are provided at 13 locations within North East and Downtown Los Angeles. The USC-University Hospital- Patient Care Review located at 1500 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033 and the VIP CHMC INC-LAC/USC Child Psychiatry facility located at 2010 Zonal Avenue in zip code 90089 are closest to Ramona Gardens. The facilities listed are for clients (children and adults) that are not high risk but instead are “in stable” recovery and looking to continue to improve their mental health outcomes. (County of Los Angeles, 2015) Community Safety Hollenbeck Community Police Station provides protection and service to residents in the 90032, 90033 and 90023 zip code. A division of the Los Angeles Police Department “LAPD”, their station services the Aliso Village, Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Estrada Court, Hermon, Hillside Village, Lincoln Heights, Montecito Heights, Monterey Hills, Pico Gardens, Ramona Gardens, Rose Hills Courts and University Hill communities. Between September 15, 2015 and November 15, 2015, over 800 crimes occurred in the LAPD service area associated with Ramona Gardens (two-mile radius). (Los Angeles Police Department , 2015). Crime classification narrowed to a six-month time period from May 11, 2015 to November 8, 2015 documents the occurrence of 1,274 criminal activities taking place in the 90033 LAPD and zip code area specifically. See the figure below for a description of these items by location, type, rate, distance from Ramona Gardens and over a six-month time interval (May 2015- December 2015). 46 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 46 | P a g e Violent crimes (294) Property crimes (980) FIGURE 12 (Los Angeles Times, 2015) Education Institutions Within the East Los Angeles area where Estrada Courts is located there are several education institutions. 5% of residents in this area that are 25 years of age or older have a four-year college degree. The majority of residents with a baccalaureate degree live in Boyle Heights, while those with the least amount of higher education live in East Los Angeles. (Los Angeles Times, 2015) California State University, Los Angeles is located nearby in East Los Angeles, near the I-710 and I-10 freeways. Occidental College is located in the Eagle Rock community near the I-5 and I-2 freeways. East Los Angeles Community College is located near the I-60 and I-5 freeways. All locations are less than ten miles from Ramona Gardens. Location Crime Type # of Activities Distance from Estrada Courts 90023 Assault (spousal/other) 191 Within 2 miles 90023 Burglary (or attempted) 95 Within 2 miles 90023 Homicide 1 Within 2 miles 90023 Theft (general and vehicle) 262 Within 2 miles 90023 Robbery 89 Within 2 miles 90023 Theft (petty and grand) 262 Within 2 miles 90023 Burglary or Theft from a vehicle 623 Within 2 miles 47 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 47 | P a g e William Mead Homes The William Mead Homes public housing development is located near the cultural district Chinatown in Downtown Los Angeles, within the Council District 1 (City of Los Angeles) in Los Angeles County Service Planning Area 4. The physical address is 1300 North Cardinal Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The major commercial corridor near this complex is North Main Street (West) and the development is less than 1,000 feet from the Los Angeles River (East). Surrounding public streets that allow for entry and exit into the property are located within 500 feet of the development and are East Ann Street (South West), Bloom Street (North West), Leroy Street (North West), Bolero Lane (South East), Magdalena Street (West) and Elmyra/Cardinal Street (West). These streets are interconnected with shorter travel paths or private streets that allow residents to travel by car or walk, from one building to another and from within the housing site. These are semi-private streets with public access points because they are accessible and useful to residents and visitors traveling around and within William Mead Homes. These residential travel paths are Bolero Lane, Ann Street and Cardinal Street. The aforementioned streets are public residential streets that share boundaries or access points with the housing development private streets listed above and provide commercial corridor access points for residents with the ability to walk, drive, use a bicycle or a form of public transportation to access the nearest major transit and commercial corridors, North Spring Street and North Main Street. The total number of residential units is listed as 415 by HACLA therefore this is a medium size private community (per residential unit) within a densely populated census tract. 48 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 48 | P a g e Neighborhood Planning Profile There is no Neighborhood Council assigned to this community. Surrounding the complex are limited neighborhood serving amenities. There are several small businesses within the area surrounding William Mead Homes due to the development’s proximity to Chinatown. The majority of business are located on transit corridors and range between small to large sized restaurants, home goods, cultural artifacts, auto repair, industrial, public facilities, light manufacturing and recycling centers in addition to other businesses. The Los Angeles State Historic Park, is located on Spring Street and community based cultural organizations and churches are located in close proximity to the development and nearby, including Homeboy Industries and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (less than one mile). Some of the housing in this community is in poor condition and increased maintenance in terms of paint, lighting fixtures, and building preservation (aesthetic) can be provided by property owners or tenants. However, more recent developments (multi-family) were constructed over the last five (2010-2015) years and provide additional retail establishments (Starbucks), fast casual dining options and other area wide improvements. Therefore, the multifamily housing stock in this community is very diverse, compared to the location of other HACLA CNI candidate property neighborhoods. People and Housing William Mead Homes is located in zip code 90012 within United States census tract area 2060. The geographical location of this development is adjacent to the Chinatown cultural district of Los Angeles’ downtown metropolitan area, abutting Lincoln Heights and the North East Los Angeles community. The estimated boundary of Chinatown is Ord Street (South), I-110 freeway on the West, Bernard Street (North) and Alameda Street/ Main Street to the East. William Mead Homes is located in closest proximity to Los Angeles. There are approximately 31,103 people living is this community. The United States Census Bureau noted that there is a total of 11,370 housing units (of all types) located in this area. The home owner housing population is 11% while the rental housing population’s is 88%. There are 2,605 owner occupied housing units and 19,329 renter occupied units (32,008 residents). Within both groups, the average household size is 2. There are 1,043 vacant 49 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 49 | P a g e housing units comprising 9% of the total number of available units in this neighborhood. Over 90% or 10,327 households are documented as occupied housing units. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Within the citizen population, 27% of area inhabitants are Hispanic or Latino. Mexican Americans comprise 20% of the entire citizen population declaring Hispanic or Latino as their ethnic group of choice on census population surveys and living within the 90012 zip code and census tract area. Other ethnic groups include the following: 1) Asian Americans (44%), 2) American Black or African American (14%), and White or Caucasian (27%). The percentage of the White or Caucasian citizen population reflects the federal census data documentation of race as a single category in addition to reflecting the percentage of the Latino or Hispanic citizen population declaring more than one race as the preferred culture of choice or ancestry. Less than two percent of the population is American Indian. In this community, there is almost an equal proportion of Asian Americans of Chinese decent (25%) and both Caucasian/White and Hispanic/Latino residents. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Approximately 39.9 % of the population is between age 25 and 44 years and the median age is 36. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Over 14% of the community within this zip code is over age 65. Households within the area have a larger percentage of non-same sex unions than same sex unions as population surveys document 30% of households as “husband and wife” with close to 15% of noted households comprised of couples with children under age 18. (United States Census Bureau , n.d.) Older adults or senior citizens (over 65) make up 32% of residential households within this zip code and single female headed households are 10% of the population. Such households where children under 18 reside and no “husband” is present are 4% of single female headed households overall. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) 50 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 50 | P a g e Health and Urban Community Development Parks and open spaces are in close proximity (less than 1,000 feet) to William Mead Homes in addition to churches, businesses and community serving organizations and facilities that service local area residents. Los Angeles State Historic Park, referred to as “Cornfields” is located in the First Council District and less than 1,000 feet from Estrada Courts. The facilities provide area residents with the ability to enjoy park amenities from 9:00am to sunset. These activities include the use of Bike, Hiking and Horseback Riding trails, along with available day time activities such as exhibits, family programs, wildlife viewing and the use of this location as a staging area for outdoor activities and family programs at a certified cultural historical site. (Los Angeles State Historic Park, 2015) The housing development is located in Los Angeles County “SPA” Service Planning Area 4 as this area includes the Central City and Downtown Los Angeles communities. The closest publicly funded health center is Central Health Center and is less than two miles from William Mead Homes and is located at 241 North Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The location is in the downtown area and is accessible by public transit lines operated by Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority and Los Angeles city. Besides the facility in reference, the public health facilities located in closest proximity to the housing development are located in the city of Los Angeles at the Tuberculosis Satellite Clinic in the Skid Row community at 522 South San Pedro Street in the City of Los Angeles. The facility in in reference are approximately two miles from the William Meads Home area. According to their website” Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health provides an array of mental health and supportive services for clients, between the ages of 26 and 59, who live with serious mental illness and co- occurring substance use disorders. Mental health services are available through directly operated and contract agencies throughout the County.” (County of Los Angeles, 2015) Agencies providing assessment, therapy, medication, case management/brokerage, crisis intervention, and supportive services aligned with housing and education are included in service area clusters aligned by SPA area. While, the William Mead Homes development is located in the city of Los Angeles and is under the jurisdiction of HACLA, the citizen population of low income or poor residents in need of publicly subsidized residing in this housing project and in need of services such as this, must receive such services from the County of Los 51 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 51 | P a g e Angeles. Mental Health facilities for low income adults within the area in reference are located at the SSG-Chinatown Service Center located at 767 North Hills Street, Los Angeles 90057. This location is less than one mile from the housing development. In addition, Exodus Recovery Inc. Eastside located at 1920 Marengo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033. This facility is approximately slightly over two miles from the housing development in reference. The facilities listed are for clients that are not high risk but instead are “in stable” recovery and looking to continue to improve their mental health outcomes. (County of Los Angeles, 2015) Community Safety Central Community Police Station provides protection and service to residents in the 90012 zip code. A division of the Los Angeles Police Department “LAPD”, their station services the Bunker Hill/Historic Core, Central City East, Chinatown, Civic Center, Downtown Los Angeles, Fashion District, Jewelry District, Little Tokyo, Old Bank District, Solano Canyon, South Park- Entertainment, and Toy District. (Los Angeles Police Department , 2015) Between September 15, 2015 and November 15, 2015, over 800 crimes occurred in the LAPD service area associated with 1300 Cardinal Street (William Mead Homes) and within a two-mile radius. (Los Angeles Police Department , 2015) Crime classification expanded to a time period of six months documents the occurrence of criminal activities taking place in the LAPD area and zip code specifically. See the figure below for a description of these items by location, type, rate, distance from William Mead Homes and over a six-month time interval (May 2015- December 2015). Location Crime Type # of Activities Distance from William Mead Homes 90012 Assault (spousal/other) 216 Within 2 miles 90012 Burglary (or attempted) 15 Within 2 miles 90012 Homicide 1 Within 2 miles 90012 Theft (general and vehicle) 78 Within 2 miles 90012 Robbery 27 Within 2 miles 90012 Theft (petty and grand) 19 Within 2 miles 90023 Burglary or Theft from a vehicle 46 Within 2 miles 52 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 52 | P a g e Violent crimes (78) Property crimes (152) FIGURE 13 (Los Angeles Times, 2015) Education Institutions Within the East Los Angeles area where William Mead Homes is located there are several education institutions. 2.5% of residents in this area that are 25 years of age or older have a four-year college degree. The majority of residents with a baccalaureate degree live in Boyle Heights, while those with the least amount of higher education live in East Los Angeles. (Los Angeles Times, 2015) California State University, Los Angeles is located nearby in East Los Angeles, near the I-710 and I-10 freeways. Occidental College is located in the Eagle Rock community near the I-5 and I-2 freeways. East Los Angeles Community College is located near the I-60 and I-5 freeways. All locations are less than ten miles from Ramona Gardens. 53 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 53 | P a g e Rose Hills Courts Rose Hills Courts is located in North East Los Angeles, within the Fourteenth Council District (City of Los Angeles) in Los Angeles County Service Planning Area 4. The physical address is 4466 Florizel Street Los Angeles, CA 90032. The major commercial corridor abutting this complex is Huntington Drive, which is approximately 1,243 feet from the southernmost point within Rose Hills Courts. Surrounding public streets that allow for entry and exit into the property are located within 1,000 feet of the development and are Browne Avenue (South East), Mercury Avenue (South), Boundary Avenue (North and North East) and Armour Avenue (North East). FIGURE 14 Neighborhood Median Income Commercial Corridor(s) Interstate Area Neighborhood Council Atwater Village $53,872 San Fernando Rd. Fletcher Dr. Glendale Blvd. Los Feliz Blvd. I-5 freeway http://www.atwater village.org/ Atwater Village Neighborhood Council Glassell Park $50,098 San Fernando Rd. Fletcher Dr. York/Eagle Rock Blvd. I-5 freeway I-2/Glendale Blvd. http://glassellparkn c.org/ Glassell Park Neighborhood Council Eagle Rock $67,253 York Blvd. Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock Blvd. Figueroa Dr/St I-134 I-2/Glendale Blvd. https://www.facebo ok.com/EagleRock NeighborhoodCoun cil/ Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council Lincoln Heights $30, 579 Soto Street Broadway Avenue Figueroa Dr/St I-5 freeway I-110 freeway I-10 freeway http://lincolnheights nc.org/lhnc/about/ Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council Arroyo Seco (Montecito Heights) $55,901 Huntington Dr. Figueroa St. Soto St/Huntington Dr York Blvd/Pasadena Ave I-110 freeway http://www.asnc.us/ Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council Historic Highland Park $45,478 York Blvd. Figueroa St. I-110 http://www.highlan dparknc.com/site/ab out-us-2/what-is-a- neighborhood- council/ 54 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 54 | P a g e These streets are interconnected with shorter travel paths or private streets that allow residents to travel by car or walk, from one building to another and from within the housing site. These are private streets due to the fact that they are only accessible and useful to residents and visitors traveling through Rose Hills Courts. These residential travel paths are McKenzie Avenue and Victorine Street. The aforementioned streets are public residential streets that share boundaries and access points with the housing development private streets listed above and provide commercial corridor access points for residents with the ability to walk, drive, use a bicycle or a form of public transportation to access the nearest major transit and commercial corridor Huntington Drive. The total number of residential units is listed as 100 by HACLA therefore this is a small, private community (per residential unit) within a densely populated census tract. Neighborhood Planning Profile Surrounding the complex are a variety of neighborhood serving amenities like Rose Hills Park. Rose Hills Park is an Urban Impact park and facility that includes a cultural heritage preservation site named the Ernest E. Debbs Regional Park and Native American Terraced Gardens, located at 3500 North Boundary Avenue. There are churches and small businesses near this development and located very close to and on Huntington Drive. For example, Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent and Church community facilities are located near Rose Hills Courts and within close proximity to private multifamily housing facilities located on 4543 to 3501 Browne Avenue. Some housing sites are in poor condition and appear to need increased maintenance in terms of paint, lighting fixtures, and building preservation (aesthetic). Highland Park Neighborhood Council Greater Cypress Park $42,615 San Fernando Rd. N. Figueroa St. I-5 freeway I-10 freeway http://www.cypress parknc.com/about- 1.html Cypress Park Neighborhood Council LA-32 $45,866 Mission Rd. Soto St. Huntington Dr/Main St. Valley Blvd. I-10 I-110 http://www.la32nc. org/what-is-la-32/ LA-32 Neighborhood Council 55 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 55 | P a g e Furthermore, while Huntington Drive is a major transit and commercial corridor located in close proximity to the development, area community plans completed by the City of Los Angeles Planning Department reference Avenue 57 as the location of enhanced economic development activities and local planning efforts used to update existing community plans and prepare for the mixed-use development of this major corridor. Avenue 57 is located 1.52 miles from Rose Hills Courts and extends into the Highland Park community. (Planning Department City of Los Angeles, 2002) Rose Hills Courts is adjacent to or within the Montecito Heights community and is located North of El Sereno and Lincoln Heights. People and Housing Rose Hills Courts is located in zip code 90032 within United States census tract area 201301. The geographical location of this development is North East Los Angeles which includes 7 small communities or residential neighborhoods. They are Atwater Village, Cypress Park, Glassel Park, Eagle Rock, Montecito Heights, Lincoln Heights, Arroyo Seco and Highland Park. Rose Hills Courts is located in closest proximity to Montecito Heights. There is a total of 13,882 housing units located in this area. The home owner housing population is 49% while the rate of rental housing population’s is 51%. There are 6,259 owner occupied housing units (22,476 residents) and 6,506 renter occupied units (22,515 residents). Within both groups, the average household size is 4. There are 756 vacant housing units comprising 5.6% of the total number of available units in this neighborhood. Over 93% or 12,756 households are documented as occupied housing units. Within the citizen population, 81% of area inhabitants are Hispanic or Latino. Mexican Americans comprise 71% of the entire citizen population declaring Hispanic or Latino as their ethnic group of choice on census population surveys and living within the 90032 zip code and census tract area. Other ethnic groups are the remaining 19% of the citizen population and include the following: 1) Asian Americans (11%), 2) American Black or African American (1.9%), and White or Caucasian (56.2%). The percentage of the White or Caucasian citizen population reflects the federal census data documentation of race as a single category in addition to reflecting the percentage of the Latino or Hispanic citizen population declaring more than one race as the preferred culture of choice or location of ancestry. 56 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 56 | P a g e Approximately 29% of the population is between age 25 and 44 years and the median age is 32.6. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Ten percent of the community within this zip code is over age 65. Less than one percent of the population is American Indian. Households within the area have a larger percentage of non-same sex unions than same sex unions as population surveys document 46% of households as “husband and wife” with 23% of noted households comprised of couples with children under age 18. (United States Census Bureau , n.d.) Older adults or senior citizens (over 65) make up 28.5% of residential households within this zip code and single female headed households are 22% of the population. Such households where no “husband” is present are 10% of single female headed households overall. Health and Urban Community Development Parks and open spaces are in close proximity (less than 150 feet) to Rose Hills Courts in addition to local churches and other community serving organizations and facilities that service area residents. Rose Hills Park and Recreation Center are located in the Fourteenth Council District and are less than 150 feet from the Rose Hills Courts development. The facilities provide area residents with the ability to enjoy park amenities from dawn to dusk and include a community garden, baseball field, children's play area, auditorium, after school programs, holiday programs, exercise classes, parking lots and restrooms. (City of Los Angeles, 2015). There are eight hospitals and approximately 10 health center locations in close proximity (driving distance) to the housing project. The housing development is located in Los Angeles County “SPA” Service Planning Area 4 (in part) as this area includes the communities of Monterey Hills, Mount Washington and El Sereno and, in SPA Area 7, as there appears to be a shared SPA designation with the local communities within and beyond the Fourteenth District and within Los Angeles County cities. The closest publicly funded health center, named Central Health Center is located over 3 miles from Rose Hills Courts at 241 North Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The location is in the downtown area and is accessible by public transit lines operated by Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority and Los Angeles city. Besides the facility in reference, the public health facilities located in closest proximity to the housing development are located in the city of Whittier at 7643 S. Painter Avenue, Suite 210 Whittier, CA 90602. The city and 57 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 57 | P a g e facility in reference is approximately 11.5 miles from the Rose Hills Courts community. Following this facility, the closest publicly subsidized health facility servicing residents in need is located in the Los Angeles County city of Monrovia, at 330 W. Maple Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016. xxv According to the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health website the agency provides an array of mental health and supportive services for clients, between the ages of 26 and 59, who live with serious mental illness and co- occurring substance use disorders. Mental health services are available through directly operated and contract agencies throughout the County.” (County of Los Angeles, 2015) Agencies providing assessment, therapy, medication, case management/brokerage, crisis intervention, and supportive services aligned with housing and education are included in service area clusters aligned by SPA area. While, the Rose Hills Courts development is located in the city of Los Angeles and is under the jurisdiction of HACLA, the citizen population of low income or poor residents in need of publicly subsidized health services residing in this housing project and in need of services such as this, must receive services from the County of Los Angeles. Mental Health facilities for low income adults within the area in reference are provided at the North East Mental Health Center located at 5321 Via Marisol, Los Angeles 90042. This facility is approximately 1.24 miles from the housing development in reference. The facilities listed are for clients that are not high risk but instead are “in stable” recovery and looking to continue to improve their mental health outcomes. (County of Los Angeles, 2015) Community Safety Hollenbeck Community Police Station provides protection and service to residents in the 90032 zip code. A division of the Los Angeles Police Department “LAPD”, their station services the Aliso Village, Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Estrada Court, Hermon, Hillside Village, Lincoln Heights, Montecito Heights, Monterey Hills, Pico Gardens, Ramona Gardens, Rose Hills Courts and University Hill communities. Between September 15, 2015 and November 15, 2015 356 crimes occurred in the service area associated with 4466 Florizel Street or Rose Hills Courts. (Los Angeles Police Department , 2015). Crime classification narrowed to a time period from October 11, 2015 to November 7, 2015 (less than 30 days) documents the occurrence of 178 criminal activities taking place in the LAPD area 58 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 58 | P a g e specifically. See the figure below for a description of these items by location, type, rate, and distance from Rose Hills Courts. FIGURE 15 Location Crime Type # of Activities Distance from Rose Hills Courts 90032 Assault (spousal/other) 17 Within 2 miles 90032 Burglary (or attempted) 22 Within 2 miles 90032 Homicide 2 Within 2 miles 90032 Theft (general and vehicle) 49 Within 2 miles 90032 Robbery 11 Within 2 miles 90032 Theft (petty and grand) 24 Within 2 miles 90032 Burglary or Theft from a vehicle 48 Within 2 miles Violent crimes (29) Property crimes (147) (Los Angeles Times, 2015) Education Institutions Within the North East Los Angeles area where Rose Hills Courts is located there are several education institutions. 20.8% of residents in this area that are 25 years of age or older have a four-year college degree. The majority of residents with a baccalaureate degree live in Eagle Rock, while those with the least amount of higher education live in Cypress Park. (Los Angeles Times, 2015) California State University, Los Angeles is located nearby in East Los Angeles, near the I-710 and I-10 freeways. Occidental College is located in the Eagle Rock community near the I-5 and I-X freeways. East Los Angeles Community College is located near the I-60 and I-5 freeways. All locations are within close proximity to Rose Hills Courts. Art Center College of Design is located within ten miles from the 59 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 59 | P a g e development. Pinnacle College, Southern California Institute of Architecture, Los Angeles Community College, Office Skills Center, Mashdots College and Glendale Community College- Garfield Campus are located within ten miles from the development. Estrada Courts Estrada Courts is located in North East Los Angeles, within the Council District 14 (City of Los Angeles) in Los Angeles County Service Planning Area 4. The physical address is 3232 Estrada Street, Los Angeles, CA 90032. The major commercial corridor abutting this complex is East Olympic Boulevard, which is less than one mile from Estrada Courts. Surrounding public streets that allow for entry and exit into the property are located within 1,000 feet of the development and are South Concord Street (South East), Glenn Avenue (South), Estrada Street (North and North East) and South Grande Vista Avenue (West). FIGURE 16 Neighborhood Median Income Commercial Corridor(s) Interstate/Freeway Area Neighborhood Council Boyle Heights $33,235 East Olympic Blvd. Lorena St Cesar Chavez Ave Mission Rd Whittier Blvd. I-5 http://www.bhnc.net/ Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council El Sereno $45,866 Soto St Valley Blvd Huntington Dr./Main St I-110 I-10 http://www.la32nc.org/ LA-32 Neighborhood Council Downtown LA $15,003 See Appendix I-101 I-110 I-10 I-5 http://www.dlanc.org/ Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Mount Washington $57,725 San Fernando Rd Figueroa St Avenue 50 I-110 I-2 I-5 http://www.asnc.us/ Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council Echo Park $37,708 Sunset Blvd. /Temple St. Stadium Way Alvarado St. Glendale Blvd. Hyperion Ave. I-5 I-101 http://www.gepenc.org/ Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council 60 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 60 | P a g e These streets are interconnected with shorter travel paths or private streets that allow residents to travel by car or walk, from one building to another and from within the housing site. These are private streets with public access points because they are accessible and useful to residents and visitors traveling around and within Estrada Courts. These residential travel paths are Glenncross Court, Hunter Street and Glennview Court. The aforementioned streets are public residential streets that share boundaries or access points with the housing development private streets listed above and provide commercial corridor access points for residents with the ability to walk, drive, use a bicycle or a form of public transportation to access the nearest major transit and commercial corridors East Olympic Boulevard and East 8 th Street. The total number of residential units is listed as 414 by HACLA therefore this is a medium size private community (per residential unit) within a densely populated census tract. Neighborhood Planning Profile Surrounding the complex are limited neighborhood serving amenities. There are several small businesses and light manufacturing facilities located on the East Olympic Boulevard corridor within the area surrounding Estrada Courts. The majority of business located on East Olympic Boulevard are small to medium sized wholesale distribution companies, fashion and home goods show rooms and mixture of both fast food and sit down restaurants. Additionally, the Lou Costello Jr. Recreation Center, an open space or urban park, is located at 3141 East Olympic Boulevard within the 90032 zip code. Community based cultural organizations and churches are located in close proximity to the development and nearby. For example, Resurrection Catholic Church and school are located at 3324 Opal Street, less than one mile from Estrada Court. These community amenities are near Estrada Courts and within close proximity to private multifamily housing facilities located on Opal Street and East 8 th Street. Some of the housing in this community is in poor condition and increased maintenance in terms of paint, lighting fixtures, and building preservation (aesthetic) can be provided by property owners or tenants. 61 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 61 | P a g e Furthermore, while East Olympic Boulevard is a major transit and commercial corridor located in close proximity to the development, area community plans completed by the City of Los Angeles Planning Department reference the major east/west arterial highways: 1) Marengo Avenue, 2) Avenida Cesar Chavez, 3) First Street, 4) Fourth Street, 5) Whittier Boulevard, 6) Olympic Boulevard and 7) Washington Boulevard. According to the Boyle Heights Community Plan provided by the City of Los Angeles, “these streets provide through regional access from downtown to the outlying communities beyond East Los Angeles such as Monterey Park, Whittier, Montebello, Commerce, and Vernon. The major north/south arterials are Soto Street, Lorena Street and Indiana Street. Evergreen Avenue also provides north/south access but is narrow at the southern portion of Boyle Heights and ends at the northern border of Boyle Heights.” ( Boyle Heights Community Planners City of Los Angeles , 2015) People and Housing Estrada Courts is located in zip code 90023 within United States census tract area 2051. The geographical location of this development is within the City of Los Angeles though abutting East Los Angeles which is an unincorporated portion of the County of Los Angeles. Technically, East Los Angeles includes the area east of Boyle Heights, before one reaches the city of Monterey Park (north) or Montebello (further south). The estimated boundary of East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights relative to Estrada Courts is South Indiana Street (west) and East Olympic Boulevard (south). Therefore, Estrada Courts is located in closest proximity to East Los Angeles. There are approximately 45,903 people living is this community. The United States Census Bureau noted that there is a total of 11,259 housing units (of all types) located in this area. The home owner housing population is 28.9% while the rental housing population’s is 71%. There are 3,102 owner occupied housing units (13,714 residents) and 7,625 renter occupied units (32,008 residents). Within both groups, the average household size is 4. There are 532 vacant housing units comprising 4.7% of the total number of available units in this neighborhood. Over 95% or 10,727 households are documented as occupied housing units. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) 62 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 62 | P a g e Within the citizen population, 97% of area inhabitants are Hispanic or Latino. Mexican Americans comprise 86% of the entire citizen population declaring Hispanic or Latino as their ethnic group of choice on census population surveys and living within the 90023 zip code and census tract area. Other ethnic groups are the remaining 3% of the citizen population and include the following: 1) Asian Americans (.6%), 2) American Black or African American (.7%), and White or Caucasian (49.6%). The percentage of the White or Caucasian citizen population reflects the federal census data documentation of race as a single category in addition to reflecting the percentage of the Latino or Hispanic citizen population declaring more than one race as the preferred culture of choice or ancestry. Less than two percent of the population is American Indian. Approximately 30% of the population is between age 25 and 44 years and the median age is 29. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Over 7% of the community within this zip code is over age 65. Households within the area have a larger percentage of non-same sex unions than same sex unions as population surveys document 51% of households as “husband and wife” with 31% of noted households comprised of couples with children under age 18. (United States Census Bureau , n.d.) Older adults or senior citizens (over 65) make up 24% of residential households within this zip code and single female headed households are 23% of the population. Such households where children under 18 reside and no “husband” is present are 12% of single female headed households overall. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Health and Urban Community Development Parks and open spaces are in close proximity (less than 1,000 feet) to Rose Hills Courts in addition to churches and other community serving organizations and facilities that service local area residents. Lou Costello Jr. Park and Recreation Center are located in the Fourteenth Council District and are less than 1,000 feet from Estrada Courts. The facilities provide area residents with the ability to enjoy park amenities from dawn to dusk. An auditorium, baseball diamond (lighted), basketball courts (unlighted/outdoor), children’s play area, community room, indoor gym (without weights), picnic tables and soccer field (lighted) are available for public use. (City of Los Angeles, 2015). Children and families are able to participate in activities like piano lessons and after school programs at the recreation center. Additionally, community members are able to access public 63 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 63 | P a g e safety resources at this location since it is an official Los Angeles Police Department Drop-In center. (City of Los Angeles, 2015) The housing development is located in Los Angeles County “SPA” Service Planning Area 4 as this area includes the community of Boyle Heights. East Los Angeles is located in SPA Area 7, as there appears to be a shared SPA designation with the local communities within and beyond the Fourteenth District and within Los Angeles County unincorporated and incorporated cities. The closest publicly funded health center is Central Health Center and is located over 4 miles from Estrada Courts at 241 North Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The location is in the downtown area and is accessible by public transit lines operated by Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority and Los Angeles city. Besides the facility in reference, the public health facilities located in closest proximity to the housing development are located in the city of Los Angeles at 5205 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038. This location is the Hollywood/Wilshire Health Center in Hollywood, which is North West of Boyle Heights. The second SPA facility, Tuberculosis Satellite Clinic at the Leavey Center, is located in the Skid Row community at 522 South San Pedro Street in the City of Los Angeles. Both facilities in reference are approximately 3.4 miles from the Estrada Courts area. According to their website” Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health provides an array of mental health and supportive services for clients, between the ages of 26 and 59, who live with serious mental illness and co- occurring substance use disorders. Mental health services are available through directly operated and contract agencies throughout the County.” (County of Los Angeles, 2015) Agencies providing assessment, therapy, medication, case management/brokerage, crisis intervention, and supportive services aligned with housing and education are included in service area clusters aligned by SPA area. While, the Estrada Courts development is located in the city of Los Angeles and is under the jurisdiction of HACLA, the citizen population of low income or poor residents in need of publicly subsidized residing in this housing project and in need of services such as this, must receive such services from the County of Los Angeles. Mental Health facilities for low income adults within the area in reference are provided at the (CRC) Special Services for Groups, located at 2120 W. 8th St., # 210, Los Angeles 90057. This location is approximately 7 miles from the housing development. In addition to North East Mental Health Center located at 5321 Via Marisol, Los Angeles 90042. This facility is approximately 9 miles from the 64 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 64 | P a g e housing development in reference. The facilities listed are for clients that are not high risk but instead are “in stable” recovery and looking to continue to improve their mental health outcomes. (County of Los Angeles, 2015) Community Safety Hollenbeck Community Police Station provides protection and service to residents in the 90032 and 90023 zip code. A division of the Los Angeles Police Department “LAPD”, their station services the Aliso Village, Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Estrada Court, Hermon, Hillside Village, Lincoln Heights, Montecito Heights, Monterey Hills, Pico Gardens, Ramona Gardens, Rose Hills Courts and University Hill communities. Between September 15, 2015 and November 15, 2015, 157 crimes occurred in the LAPD service area associated with 3232 Estrada Street (Estrada Court). (Los Angeles Police Department , 2015). Crime classification narrowed to a time period from November 15, 2015 to November 7, 2015 (less than 30 days) documents the occurrence of 178 criminal activities taking place in the LAPD area specifically. See the figure below for a description of these items by location, type, rate, distance from Estrada Courts and over a six-month time interval (Jul 2015- December 2015). Location Crime Type # of Activities Distance from Estrada Courts 90023 Assault (spousal/other) 191 Within 2 miles 90023 Burglary (or attempted) 95 Within 2 miles 90023 Homicide 1 Within 2 miles 90023 Theft (general and vehicle) 262 Within 2 miles 90023 Robbery 89 Within 2 miles 90023 Theft (petty and grand) 262 Within 2 miles 90023 Burglary or Theft from a vehicle 623 Within 2 miles 65 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 65 | P a g e Violent crimes (294) Property crimes (980) (Los Angeles Times, 2015) FIGURE 17 Education Institutions Within the East Los Angeles area where Estrada Courts is located there are several education institutions. 11.5% of residents in this area that are 25 years of age or older have a four-year college degree. The majority of residents with a baccalaureate degree live in Boyle Heights, while those with the least amount of higher education live in East Los Angeles. (Los Angeles Times, 2015) California State University, Los Angeles is located nearby in East Los Angeles, near the I-710 and I-10 freeways. Occidental College is located in the Eagle Rock community near the I-5 and I-2 freeways. East Los Angeles Community College is located near the I-60 and I-5 freeways. All locations are less than ten miles from Estrada Courts. 66 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 66 | P a g e Mar Vista Gardens Mar Vista Gardens is located in West Los Angeles, within the Council District 11 (City of Los Angeles) in Los Angeles County Service Planning Area 5. The housing development is located in census tract 2755 and the physical address is 11965 Allin St, Los Angeles, CA 90230. The major corridors abutting this complex are Inglewood Boulevard and Allin Street. Surrounding public streets in close proximity to the property are located within 1,000 feet and are Marshall Street (West), Havelock Avenue (East), and Allin Street (West). FIGURE 18 (Los Angeles Times, 2015) There are no interconnected shorter travel paths or private streets that allow residents to travel by car or walk, from one building to another and from within the housing site. The residential travel paths (non-interior) are Inglewood Boulevard and Allin Street. The aforementioned streets are not public residential streets that share boundaries or access points with the housing development private streets listed above nor do they provide direct commercial corridor access points for residents with the ability to walk, drive, use a bicycle or a form of public transportation to access the nearest major transit and commercial corridor Inglewood Boulevard. The total number of residential units is listed as 601 by HACLA therefore this is a medium to large size private community (per residential unit). Neighborhood Median Income Commercial Corridor(s) Interstate/Freeway Area Neighborhood Council Del Rey $62,259 I-405 I-90 http://www.delreync.org/ Del Rey Neighborhood Council Culver City $70,744 I-405 I-10 I-90 http://culvercrestna.org/about/mission- statement/ http://palmsla.org/ http://delreync.org Culver City Crest Neighborhood Association Palms Neighborhood Council Del Rey Neighborhood Council Mar Vista $62,611 I-10 I-405 http://www.marvista.org/ Mar Vista Neighborhood Council Marina del Rey $92,753 I-90 I-405 I-10 http://www.delreync.org/ Del Rey Neighborhood Council 67 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 67 | P a g e Neighborhood Planning Profile Surrounding the complex are limited neighborhood serving amenities. There are single family residences and multifamily housing complexes surrounding Mar Vista Gardens. The majority of area business are located on Venice Boulevard, Jefferson Boulevard, Washington Boulevard, Centinela Avenue and Culver Boulevard. On the listed major commercial corridors there are small to medium sized companies and a mixture of both fast food and sit down restaurants. This area has a larger proportion of high end retail shopping centers in close proximity to the public housing development, in addition to the increased availability of dining options at sit down restaurants and healthy food access at area grocery stores. Mar Vista Gardens Recreation Center, Culver/Slauson Park and Kenneth Hahn Recreation Center and Park are located within two miles of the public housing site. Community based cultural organizations and churches are located in close proximity to the development and nearby. These community amenities are near Mar Vista Gardens and within close proximity to private multifamily housing facilities located on surrounding streets. Some of the housing in this community is in poor condition and increased maintenance in terms of paint, lighting fixtures, and building preservation (aesthetic) can be provided by property owners or tenants. Furthermore, while Inglewood Boulevard is a major transit and commercial corridor located in close proximity to the development, area community plans completed by the City of Los Angeles Planning Department reference the major arterial highways: 1) National Boulevard, 2) Barrington Boulevard, 3) Motor Avenue, 4) Washington Boulevard, 5) Palms Boulevard and 6) Venice Boulevard. According to the Palms-Del Rey-Mar Vista Community Plan provided by the City of Los Angeles, “Commercial land use in the Palms-Mar Vista-Del Rey Community Plan area is primarily small-scale and neighborhood-oriented. An exception is the Marina Place shopping complex located at the western edge of the community which attracts people from the entire region. There are movie theaters, a variety of restaurants, up-scale retail uses and residents are in proximity to Marina Del Rey and the beach. This type of access with amenities has created a vibrant commercial center. A majority of the remaining commercial uses are generally nodal (occurring at intersections or within defined centers) or linear along the major streets in the community” (Planning Department City of Los Angeles, 1997) 68 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 68 | P a g e People and Housing Mar Vista Gardens is located in zip code 90230 within United States census tract area 2755. The geographical location of this development is within the City of Los Angeles in what is referred to as the Del Rey neighborhood in “Westside” of Los Angeles. There are approximately 23 neighborhoods that comprise the Westside communities of Los Angeles County. The majority of these neighborhoods are part of the City of Los Angeles, except for Culver City and Santa Monica. Culver City and Santa Monica are incorporated cities that share municipal boundaries with Los Angeles’ Westside neighborhoods. Therefore, the Del Rey neighborhood is adjacent to Culver City and Santa Monica and is located within the municipal boundaries of the city of Los Angeles in close proximity to both incorporated and unincorporated portions of the County of Los Angeles. Open source descriptions of the area were derived from the Mapping L.A. feature created by the Los Angeles Times and note “the location of the neighborhood is Beverly Glen to Sepulveda and Santa Monica to Pico Blvd. It abuts the [sic] Sawtelle neighborhood to the west and Century City to the east. Westwood to the north and Rancho Park to the south”. (Westside Los Angeles, 2015) There are approximately 32,976 people living in the Del Rey community. The United States Census Bureau noted that there is a total of 13,334 housing units (of all types) located in this area. The home owner occupied housing population is 57.9% while the renter occupied housing population is 42%. There are 7,453 owner occupied housing units (17,482 residents) and 5,430 renter occupied units (14,139 residents). Within both groups, the average household size is 2. There are 461 vacant housing units comprising 3.5% of the total number of available units in this neighborhood. Over 96% or 12,883 households are occupied housing units. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Within the citizen population, 32% of area inhabitants are Hispanic or Latino. Mexican Americans comprise 23% of the entire citizen population declaring Hispanic or Latino as their ethnic group of choice on census population surveys and living within the 90230 zip code and census tract area. Other ethnic groups within this community are: 1) Asian Americans 14.7%, 2) American Black or African American 10.4%, 3) and White or Caucasian (54%). The percentage of the White or Caucasian citizen population reflects the federal census data documentation of race as a single category in addition to reflecting the percentage 69 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 69 | P a g e of the Latino or Hispanic citizen population declaring more than one race as the preferred culture of choice or ancestry. However, in this census tract within the City of Los Angeles, there is a larger proportion of White or Caucasian residents in the Del Rey community than in other census tracts where public housing is located. Less than one percent of the population is American Indian. Approximately 30% of the population is between age 25 and 44 years and the median age is 29. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Over 14% of residents in the community within this zip code are over age 65. Households within the area have a larger percentage of non-same sex unions than same sex unions as population surveys document 41% of households as “husband and wife” with 18% of noted households (2,415) comprised of couples with children under age 18. (United States Census Bureau , n.d.) Older adults or senior citizens (over 65) make up 27% of residential households within this zip code and single female headed households are 13% of the population. Such households where children under 18 reside and no “husband” is present are slightly over 6% (819) of single female headed households overall. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Health and Urban Community Development Parks and open spaces are in close proximity (less than 1,000 feet) to Mar Vista Gardens in addition to churches and other community serving organizations and facilities that service local area residents. Mar Vista Gardens Park and Recreation Center are located in the Eleventh Council District and are less than 1,000 feet from Estrada Courts. The facilities provide area residents with the ability to enjoy park amenities from dawn to dusk. (City of Los Angeles, 2015). Children and families are able to participate in activities like table tennis, Badminton, Volleyball, Basketball and after school programs at the recreation center. However, many programs and classes at this location require advance registration for along with a payment by Visa, MasterCard or Check. Program costs range from $2 to $180 and range from Easter Egg Hunting (lowest cost) to Winter Day Camp for Kids (high cost). Additionally, community members are not able to access public safety resources at this location since it is not an official Los Angeles Police Department Drop-In center. (City of Los Angeles, 2015) 70 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 70 | P a g e The housing development is located in Los Angeles County “SPA” Service Planning Area 5 as this area includes the community of Culver City. The closest publicly funded health center is the Simms/Mann Center 2509 Pico Boulevard, in the city of Santa Monica; zip code 90405. The health center is located on a major corridor and is accessible by public transit lines operated by Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority and Los Angeles city. Simms/Mann Center is approximately 6 miles from Mar Vista Gardens Public Housing. According to their website” Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health provides an array of mental health and supportive services for clients, between the ages of 26 and 59, who live with serious mental illness and co- occurring substance use disorders. Mental health services are available through directly operated and contract agencies throughout the County.” (County of Los Angeles, 2015) Agencies providing assessment, therapy, medication, case management/brokerage, crisis intervention, and supportive services aligned with housing and education are included in service area clusters aligned by SPA area. While, the Mar Vista Gardens development is located in the city of Los Angeles and is under the jurisdiction of HACLA, the citizen population of low income or poor residents residing in this housing project and in need of health related services such as this, must receive such services from the County of Los Angeles if they do not have health insurance. Mental Health facilities for low income adults within the area in reference are provided at 18 locations servicing residents within the 90230, 90064, 90291, 90405, 90045, 90232 and 90066 zip code. The location that is closest to Mar Vista Gardens (less than one mile), is the Help-Group West Outpatient Center located at 12099 Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles,90066. The facilities listed are for clients that are not high risk but instead are “in stable” recovery and looking to continue to improve their mental health outcomes. (County of Los Angeles, 2015) Community Safety Pacific Community Police Station provides protection and service to residents in the 90230 zip code. A division of the Los Angeles Police Department “LAPD”, their station services the Del Rey, Manchester Square, Mar Vista, Oakwood, Palms, Playa Del Rey, Playa Vista, Venice and Westchester communities. (Los Angeles Police Department , 2015) Between September 15, 2015 and November 15, 2015, 525 crimes occurred in and around (two miles) the 71 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 71 | P a g e LAPD service area associated with 11965 Allin Street, Los Angeles, CA 90230. (Los Angeles Police Department , 2015). 90 crimes occurred within a one-mile radius. Crime classification narrowed to a time period from May 11, 2015 to November 8, 2015 (six months) documents the occurrence of 362 criminal activities taking place in the LAPD area specifically. See the figure below for a description of these items by location, type, rate, and distance from Mar Vista Gardens. FIGURE 19 Violent crimes (36) Property crimes (326) (Los Angeles Times, 2015) Location Crime Type # of Activities Distance from Mar Vista Gardens 90230 Assault (spousal/other) 19 Within 2 miles 90230 Burglary (or attempted) 76 Within 2 miles 90230 Homicide 0 Within 2 miles 90230 Theft (general) 116 Within 2 miles 90230 Robbery 13 Within 2 miles 90230 Theft (grand) 45 Within 2 miles 90230 Burglary or Theft from a vehicle 89 Within 2 miles 72 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 72 | P a g e Education Institutions Within the Westside Los Angeles area where Mar Vista Gardens is located there are several education institutions. 27.9% of residents in this area that are 25 years of age or older have a four-year college degree. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) The majority of residents with a baccalaureate degree live in the Venice/Playa Vista community, while those with the least amount of higher education live in Manchester Square. (Los Angeles Times, 2015) Loyola Marymount University is located in this community and near the I-405 and I-90 freeways. University of California Los Angeles is located in the Brentwood community near the I-405 and I-10 freeways. American Intercontinental University and University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies are located within two miles of the public housing location in reference. All locations are less than 5 miles from Mar Vista Gardens. Pueblo Del Rio Pueblo Del Rio housing projects are located in South Los Angeles, within Council District 9 (City of Los Angeles) in Los Angeles County Service Planning Area. The housing development is located in census tract 2288 and the physical address is 1801 East 53 rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90058. The major streets abutting this complex are East 53 rd Street (South), South Alameda Street (East), East 51 st Street (North) and Long Beach Avenue (West). Surrounding public streets in close proximity to the property are located within 1,000 feet and are Duarte Street (South West), Holmes Avenue (South West), Bandera Street (South East) and Alba Street (South East). FIGURE 20 (Los Angeles Times, 2015) Neighborhood Median Income Commercial Corridor(s) Interstate/Freeway Area Neighborhood Council Central Alameda $31,559 Slauson Ave. Long Beach Blvd. Alameda 51 st St 53 rd St I-710 I-110 1-10 https://empowerla.or g/canc/ Central-Alameda Neighborhood Council 73 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 73 | P a g e There are interconnected shorter travel paths or private streets that allow residents to travel by car or walk, from one building to another and from within the housing site. The residential travel path (non-interior) appears to be Holmes Avenue. The aforementioned streets are public residential streets that share boundaries or access points with the housing development private streets listed above or provide direct commercial corridor access points for residents with the ability to walk, drive, use a bicycle or a form of public transportation to access the nearest major transit and commercial corridor Slauson Avenue. The total number of residential units is listed as 660 by HACLA therefore this is a medium to large size private community (per residential unit). Neighborhood Planning Profile Surrounding the complex there are neighborhood serving amenities. There are single family residences and multifamily housing complexes. The majority of area business are located on major corridors surrounding the area where Pueblo del Rio is located. These are Central Avenue, Long Beach Boulevard. Alameda and Boulevard. The travel paths listed appear to be have regional and local employment centers in various places (North to South and East to West). In terms of the commercial and economic development activities along these corridors, the City of Los Angeles Planning Department confirmed the agreed upon boundaries of the South East Community Plan. Their reports state that” the Southeast Los Angeles Community Plan area located approximately 2 miles southeast of Downtown Los Angeles contains approximately 9,884 acres or approximately 14.8 square miles of land area. It is bounded on the north by the Santa Monica Freeway, on the east by Figueroa Street and Broadway. The Century Freeway and 120th Street form the southern boundary and the Alameda Corridor forms the boundary of the Community on the west.” (Planning Department City of Los Angeles, 2003). This area is in close proximity to Downtown Los Angeles where all major interstates servicing Los Angeles County mobile travelers or commuters, converge at several points where freeway access points exist. Major employment centers, like the University of Southern California and associated facilities, Keck Hospital and School of Medicine, the City of Los Angeles’ municipal offices, state of California, county of Los Angeles, federal district offices, major financial services organizations, and arts, culture and education institutions are located here. 74 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 74 | P a g e On the listed major commercial corridors there are small to medium sized and large companies and a mixture of both fast food and sit down restaurants. This area has a larger proportion of commercial “strip” malls and manufacturing and industrial centers in close proximity to the public housing development. Land use related documents retrieved from the City of Los Angeles archives suggest that many parcels of this type (industrial or manufacturing) are vacant or underutilized. Augusts Hawkins Wetlands are located within two miles of the public housing site. Community based cultural organizations and churches are located in close proximity to the development and nearby. These community amenities are near Pueblo del Rio and within close proximity to private multifamily housing facilities located on surrounding streets. Some of the housing in this community is in poor condition and increased maintenance in terms of paint, lighting fixtures, and building preservation (aesthetic) can be provided by property owners or tenants. East 53 rd Street and Slauson Boulevard are corridors located in the development area and community plans completed by the City of Los Angeles Planning Department reference the major arterial highways: 1) Slauson Boulevard, 2) Alameda Corridor, 3) Central Avenue, 4) Gage Industrial Area and 5) Watts Cultural Crescent (Lanzit Avenue). According to the South East Community Plan provided by the City of Los Angeles, the goal of both communities based stakeholders and local planning authorities is to “encourage economic revitalization and reuse of older industrial properties for industrial uses and assist through City, State, and Federal programs”. In addition to, assisting “in the aggregation of smaller, older sites to facilitate revitalization or reuse, where appropriate.” (Planning Department City of Los Angeles, 2003) People and Housing Pueblo del Rio housing is located in zip code 90058 within United States census tract area 2288. The geographical location of this development is within the City of Los Angeles in what is referred to as the Central-Alameda neighborhood within historic South Central Los Angeles (now South Los Angeles). Central- Alameda is adjacent to downtown Los Angeles and is located within the municipal boundaries of the city of Los Angeles in close proximity to both incorporated and unincorporated portions of the County of Los Angeles. Open source descriptions of the area were derived from the Mapping L.A. feature created by the Los Angeles Times and show the boundaries of this community starting at Central Avenue 75 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 75 | P a g e (West), East Slauson Boulevard (South), Alameda Street (East) and Washington Boulevard (North). (Los Angeles Times, 2015) There are approximately 3,223 people living in the 90058 zip code area of Central-Alameda and slightly over 43,600 residents in the greater community. The United States Census Bureau noted that there is a total of 13,334 housing units (of all types) located in this area. The home owner occupied housing population is 57.9% while the renter occupied housing population is 42%. There are 7,453 owner occupied housing units (17,482 residents) and 5,430 renter occupied units (14,139 residents). Within both groups, the average household size is 2. There are 461 vacant housing units comprising 3.5% of the total number of available units in this neighborhood. Over 96% or 12,883 households are occupied housing units. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Within the citizen population, 81% of area inhabitants are Hispanic or Latino. Mexican Americans comprise 64% of the entire citizen population declaring Hispanic or Latino as their ethnic group of choice on census population surveys and living within the 90058 zip code and census tract area. Other ethnic groups within this community are: 1) Asian Americans 4.4%, 2) American Black or African American 9.3%, 3) and White or Caucasian 35.7. The percentage of the White or Caucasian citizen population reflects the federal census data documentation of race as a single category in addition to reflecting the percentage of the Latino or Hispanic citizen population declaring more than one race as the preferred culture of choice or ancestry. 2.5% of the population is American Indian. Approximately 26.9% of the population is between age 25 and 44 years and the median age is 26. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Over 5.4% of residents in the community within this zip code are over age 65. Households within the area have a larger percentage of non-same sex unions than same sex unions as population surveys document 36% of households as “husband and wife” with 24% of noted households (214) comprised of couples with children under age 18. (United States Census Bureau , n.d.) Older adults or senior citizens (over 65) make up 17% of residential households within this zip code and single female headed households are 33% of the population. Such households where children under 18 reside and no “husband” is present are slightly over 21% (819) of single female headed households overall. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) 76 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 76 | P a g e Health and Urban Community Development Parks and open spaces are in close proximity (less than 1,000 feet) to Pueblo del Rio in addition to churches and other community serving organizations and facilities that service local area residents. Pueblo del Rio Recreation Center is located on site and residents can utilize facilities for events, Basketball programs, and can take self-improvement classes. Slauson Multipurpose Center and Augustus Hawkins Nature Park and Recreation Center are located nearby on Compton Avenue between Slauson Avenue and East 53 rd Street. These facilities are less than one mile from Pueblo del Rio housing. The facilities provide area residents with the ability to enjoy park amenities from dawn to dusk. (City of Los Angeles, 2015). At Slauson Multipurpose Center, children and families are able to participate in activities taking place at this location. Additionally, this park space is a Los Angeles Police Department Drop-In Center. (City of Los Angeles, 2015). Augusts Hawkins Nature Park is an urban impact park that is open from 9:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday and 9:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday’s. According to the city of Los Angeles, there are “picnic tables, 8.5 acres, ADA accessible, amphitheater, drinking water, Evan Frankel discovery center, gardening boxes, native drought tolerant vegetation, permeable parking lot, restroom, walking paths and wetlands.” (City of Los Angeles, 2015) The housing development is located in Los Angeles County “SPA” Service Planning Area 6. This area includes the South East communities such as Watts/Willowbrook, Compton, Athens, Crenshaw, Florence, Hyde Park, Paramount and Lynwood. The closest publicly funded health center is the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Public Health located at 11833 S. Wilmington Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90059. The health center is located on a major corridor and is accessible by public transit lines operated by Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority and Los Angeles city. Simms/Mann Center is approximately 6 miles from Pueblo del Rio Public Housing. According to their website” Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health provides an array of mental health and supportive services for clients, between the ages of 26 and 59, who live with serious mental illness and co- occurring substance use disorders. Mental health services are available through directly operated and contract agencies throughout the County.” (County of Los Angeles, 2015) Agencies providing assessment, therapy, medication, case 77 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 77 | P a g e management/brokerage, crisis intervention, and supportive services aligned with housing and education are included in service area clusters aligned by SPA area. While, the Mar Vista Gardens development is located in the city of Los Angeles and is under the jurisdiction of HACLA, the citizen population of low income or poor residents residing in this housing project and in need of health related services such as this, must receive such services from the County of Los Angeles if they do not have health insurance. Mental Health facilities for low income adults within the area in reference are provided at 15 locations servicing residents within the 90255, 90001, 90003, 90011, 90058, 90021, 90037, 90013, 90034, 90007 and 90015 zip codes. The location that is closest to Pueblo del Rio housing (less than one mile) is San Antonio Mental Health Center 2629 Clarendon Avenue, Huntington Park, CA 90255. The facilities listed are for clients that are not high risk but instead are “in stable” recovery and looking to continue to improve their mental health outcomes. (County of Los Angeles, 2015) Community Safety Newton Community Police Station provides protection and service to residents in the 90058 zip code. A division of the Los Angeles Police Department “LAPD”, their station services the Los Angeles Fashion District, Pueblo Del Rio and the South Park-Entertainment (Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment District) communities. (Los Angeles Police Department , 2015) Between September 15, 2015 and November 15, 2015 a confirmed total of 456 crimes occurred in and around (two miles) the LAPD service area associated with 11965 Allin Street, Los Angeles, CA 90230. (Los Angeles Police Department , 2015). 93 crimes occurred within a one-mile radius. Crime classification narrowed to a time period from May 11, 2015 to November 8, 2015 (six months) documents the occurrence of 626 criminal activities taking place in the LAPD area specifically. See the figure below for a description of these items by location, type, rate, and distance from Pueblo del Rio Housing. 78 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 78 | P a g e Violent crimes (245) Property crimes (381) (Los Angeles Times, 2015) Figure 21 Education Institutions Within the South East Los Angeles area where Pueblo del Rio is located there are several education institutions. Less than four percent of residents in this area that are 25 years of age or older have a four-year college degree. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Within the 90058 and 90011 zip code, less than 40% of area residents have a high school diploma. (Los Angeles Times, 2015) The University of Southern California, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising- Los Angeles and Los Angeles Trade Technical College are located in and adjacent to this community and near the I-110 freeway. All locations are less than 5 miles from Pueblo del Rio Housing. Location Crime Type # of Activities Distance from Pueblo del Rio Housing 90058 Assault (spousal/other) 139 Within 2 miles 90058 Burglary (or attempted) 38 Within 2 miles 90058 Homicide 5 Within 2 miles 90058 Theft (general) 113 Within 2 miles 90058 Robbery 93 Within 2 miles 90058 Theft (grand) 109 Within 2 miles 90058 Burglary or Theft from a vehicle 121 Within 2 miles 90058 Rape/Sexual Assault 8 Within 2 miles 79 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 79 | P a g e Historic South Central and Watts The Avalon Gardens, Jordan Downs, Gonzaque Village, Imperial Courts and Nickerson Gardens housing projects are located in South Los Angeles within City Council District 9 and City Council District 15 in Los Angeles County Service Planning Area 6. The locations in reference are in the Historic South Central and Watts communities. The housing developments are located at:  Avalon Gardens: 701 East 88 th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90002  Jordan Downs: 9800 Grape Street, Los Angeles, CA 90002  Gonzaque Village: 1515 East 105 th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90002  Imperial Courts: 11541 Croesus Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059  Nickerson Gardens: 590 114 th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059 The Avalon Gardens public housing development is located in census tract 240010. The major streets abutting this complex are East 88 th Place (South), McKinley Avenue (East), East 87 th Place (North) and Avalon Boulevard (West). Historic Central Avenue, a South East Los Angeles “Main Street” is located slightly less than one mile (East) from the development. Surrounding public streets in close proximity to the property are located within 1,000 feet and are East Manchester Avenue (North) and Stanford Avenue (South). The Jordan Downs public housing development is located in census tract 242100. The major streets abutting this complex are East Century Boulevard (South), Compton Avenue (West) and South Alameda Street (East). Historic Central Avenue, a South East Los Angeles “Main Street” is located slightly over one mile (West) from the development. Surrounding public streets in close proximity to the property are Project Street (South), Anzac Avenue (West), East 99 th Place (East), East 97 th Street (North) and 101 st Street (South East). The Gonzaque Village public housing development is located in census tract 242000. The major street abutting this complex is Compton Avenue. Historic Central Avenue, a South East Los Angeles “Main Street”, is located less than one mile (West) from the development. Surrounding public streets in close proximity to the property are located within 500 feet and are East 105 th Street (South West), South Antwerp Street (West), Fifth Avenue (West), East 106 th Street (South) and East 104 th Street (North). Compton Boulevard is directly East of the development is located within 500 feet. 80 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 80 | P a g e Imperial Courts public housing is located in census tract 243100. The major streets abutting this complex are Imperial Highway (South), Wilmington Avenue/Willowbrook Avenue (West), Santa Ana Boulevard (North East) and South Alameda Street (East). Historic Central Avenue, a South East Los Angeles “Main Street” is located slightly over one mile (West) from the development. Surrounding public streets in close proximity to the property and located within 500 feet are East 114 th Street (South), Croesus Avenue (West), Gorman Avenue (East), East 113 th Street (North). Nickerson Gardens public housing development is located in census tract 241001. The major streets abutting this complex are Imperial Highway (South) and Avalon Boulevard (West). Historic Central Avenue, a South East Los Angeles “Main Street” is located less than one mile (East) from the development. Surrounding public streets in close proximity to the property and located within 500 feet are East 115 th Street (South), Wadsworth Avenue (West), Clovis Avenue (East) and East 113 th Street (North). FIGURE 22 Neighborhood Median Income Commercial Corridor(s) Interstate/Freeway Area Neighborhood Council Green Meadows Historic South Central East $31,347 Century Boulevard San Pedro Street Vermont Avenue Hoover Street Figueroa Street Main Street Manchester Avenue Broadway Avenue Central Avenue Florence Avenue Alameda Street Central Avenue Avalon Boulevard I-110 https://empowerla.org/ECSEAND C/ Empowerment Congress South East Area Neighborhood Council Watts $25,161 Wilmington Avenue I-110 Imperial Highway I-105 https://empowerla.org/watts/ Watts Neighborhood Council 81 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 81 | P a g e (Los Angeles Times, 2015) There are interconnected shorter travel paths or private streets that allow residents to travel by car or walk from one building to another and from within these public housing sites. The aforementioned are public residential streets that share boundaries or access points with the housing development or provide direct commercial corridor access points for residents with the ability to walk, drive, use a bicycle or a form of public transportation to access the nearest major transit and commercial corridors. The total number of residential units at each location is listed here: 1) Avalon Gardens (164), 2) Jordan Downs (714), 3) Gonzaque Village (184), 4) Imperial Courts (490), and 5) Nickerson Gardens (1,066). Avalon Gardens and Gonzaque Village are smaller than most of the CNI candidate properties except for Rose Hills Courts. Both properties are slightly larger than Rose Hills Courts, which has 100 residential units. Imperial Courts is a medium sized development, for the purposes outlined in this report and is comparable in size to Estrada Courts (401 units). Jordan Downs is one of the largest sized private community’s (per residential unit) and Nickerson Gardens is the largest CNI candidate property identified by the HACLA. Neighborhood Planning Profile Surrounding all locations in reference are limited neighborhood serving amenities. There are single family residences and multifamily housing complexes. The majority of area business are located on major corridors surrounding the area where the housing developments are located. These are Central Avenue, Century Boulevard, Compton Avenue, Avalon Boulevard, Imperial Highway, Alameda Street and Manchester Boulevard. The travel paths listed appear to be have regional and local employment centers in various places (North to South and East to West). In terms of the commercial and economic development activities along these corridors, the City of Los Angeles Planning Department confirmed the agreed upon boundaries of the South East Community Plan. Compton Avenue Central Avenue Century Boulevard East 103 rd Street https://empowerla.org/HGNNC/ Harbor Gateway Neighborhood Council 82 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 82 | P a g e Their reports state that” The Southeast Los Angeles Community Plan area located approximately 2 miles southeast of Downtown Los Angeles contains approximately 9,884 acres or approximately 14.8 square miles of land area. It is bounded on the north by the Santa Monica Freeway, on the east by Figueroa Street and Broadway. The Century Freeway and 120th Street form the southern boundary and the Alameda Corridor forms the boundary of the Community on the west.” (Planning Department City of Los Angeles, 2003). This area is in close proximity to Downtown Los Angeles where all major interstates servicing Los Angeles County mobile travelers or commuters, converge at several points where freeway access points exist. Major employment centers, like the University of Southern California and associated facilities, Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital and Medical Center, Charles Drew School of Medicine, the City of Los Angeles’ municipal offices, state of California, county of Los Angeles, federal district offices, a limited amount of financial services organizations, and arts, culture and other education institutions are located here. On the listed major commercial corridors there are small to medium sized and large companies and a mixture of both fast food and sit down restaurants. Similar to some of the other candidate property communities, this area has a larger proportion of commercial “strip” malls and manufacturing and industrial centers in close proximity to the public housing development. Land use related documents retrieved from the City of Los Angeles archives suggest that many parcels of this type (industrial or manufacturing) are vacant or underutilized. A significant proportion of both multi-family and single family housing stock within both of the neighborhoods profiled in this section are in poor condition and increased maintenance in terms of paint, lighting fixtures, and building preservation (aesthetic) can be provided by property owners or tenants. Central Avenue and the Watts Cultural Crescent corridors are located in the neighborhoods where these candidate properties are located and community plans completed by the City of Los Angeles Planning Department reference the major arterial highways: 1) Slauson Boulevard, 2) Alameda Corridor, 3) Central Avenue, 4) Gage Industrial Area and 5) Watts Cultural Crescent (Lanzit Avenue). According to the South East Community Plan provided by the City of Los Angeles, the goal of both community based stakeholders and local planning authorities is to “encourage economic revitalization and reuse of older industrial properties for industrial uses and assist through City, State, and Federal programs”. 83 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 83 | P a g e In addition to, assisting “in the aggregation of smaller, older sites to facilitate revitalization or reuse, where appropriate.” (Planning Department City of Los Angeles, 2003) People and Housing Avalon Gardens, Jordan Downs and Gonzaque Village are located in zip code 90002. The geographical locations of these properties are within the City of Los Angeles in what is referred to as the Green Meadows neighborhood in Historic South Central Los Angeles (or South East Los Angeles). This area is adjacent to Watts (East) and downtown Los Angeles (North) and is located within the municipal boundaries of Los Angeles in close proximity to both incorporated and unincorporated portions of the County of Los Angeles (Huntington Park and Compton). Open source descriptions of the area were derived from the Mapping L.A. feature created by the Los Angeles Times and show the boundaries of this community starting at San Pedro Street (West), Imperial Highway (South), Central Avenue (East) and Manchester Boulevard (North). (Los Angeles Times, 2015) There are approximately 51,223 people living in the 90002 zip code area. The United States Census Bureau noted that there are 12,671 housing units (of all types) located in this area. The home owner occupied housing population is 40% while the renter occupied housing population is 60% of the total number of housing units. There are 4,484 owner occupied housing units (22,498 residents) and 7,047 renter occupied units (28,593 residents). Within both groups, the average household size is 4. There are 867 vacant housing units comprising 7% of the total number of available units in this neighborhood. Over 93% or 11,731 households are occupied housing units. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Within the citizen population, 73% of area inhabitants are Hispanic or Latino. Mexican Americans comprise 56% of the entire citizen population declaring Hispanic or Latino as their ethnic group of choice on census population surveys and living within the 90002 zip code and census tract area. Other ethnic groups within this community are: 1) American Black or African American comprise 25%, 3) White or Caucasian are 28%. The percentage of the White or Caucasian citizen population reflects the federal census data documentation of race as a single category in addition to reflecting the percentage of the Latino or Hispanic citizen population declaring more than one race as the preferred culture 84 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 84 | P a g e of choice or ancestry. Less than one percent of the population is Asian American and less than one percent is American Indian. Approximately 27.4% of the population is between age 25 and 44 years and the median age is 25. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Over 5% of residents in the community within this zip code are over age 65. Households within the area have a larger percentage of non-same sex unions than same sex unions as population surveys document 40% of households as “husband and wife” with 27% of noted households (214) comprised of couples with children under age 18. (United States Census Bureau , n.d.) Older adults or senior citizens (over 65) make up 20% of residential households within this zip code and single female headed households are 32% of the population responding to census survey requests for data. Such households where children under 18 reside and no “husband” is present are slightly over 19% (2,281) of single female headed households overall. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Imperial Courts and Nickerson Gardens are located in zip code 90059. The geographical locations of these properties are within the City of Los Angeles in what is referred to as the community of Watts. Watts is adjacent to the Green Meadows neighborhood (West) in Historic South Central Los Angeles (or South East Los Angeles) and downtown Los Angeles (North) and is located within the municipal boundaries of Los Angeles in close proximity to both incorporated and unincorporated portions of the County of Los Angeles (Huntington Park and Compton). Open source descriptions of the area were derived from the Mapping L.A. feature created by the Los Angeles Times and show the boundaries of this community starting at Central Avenue (West), Imperial Highway (South), Alameda Street (East) and East 97 th Street (North). (Los Angeles Times, 2015) There are approximately 40,952 people living in the 90059 zip code area. The United States Census Bureau noted that there are 10,617 housing units (of all types) located in this area. The home owner occupied housing population is 43% while the renter occupied housing population is 56% of the total number of housing units. There are 4,163 owner occupied housing units (18,681 residents) and 5,433 renter occupied units (21,593 residents). Within both groups, the average household size is 4. There are 1,021 vacant housing units comprising 9% of the total number of available units in this neighborhood. Over 90% or 9,596 households are occupied housing units. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) 85 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 85 | P a g e Within the citizen population, 64% of area inhabitants are Hispanic or Latino. Mexican Americans comprise 48% of the entire citizen population declaring Hispanic or Latino as their ethnic group of choice on census population surveys and living within the 90059 zip code and census tract area. Other ethnic groups within this community are: 1) American Black or African American comprising 34%, 2) White or Caucasian are 21%. The percentage of the White or Caucasian citizen population reflects the federal census data documentation of race as a single category in addition to reflecting the percentage of the Latino or Hispanic citizen population declaring more than one race as the preferred culture of choice or ancestry. Less than one percent of the population is Asian American and less than one percent is American Indian. Approximately 27% of the population is between age 25 and 44 years and the median age is 25. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Over 5% of residents in the community within this zip code are over age 65. Households within the area have a larger percentage of non-same sex unions than same sex unions as population surveys document 38% of households as “husband and wife” with 25% of noted households (2,360) comprised of couples with children under age 18. (United States Census Bureau , n.d.) Older adults or senior citizens (over 65) make up 20% of residential households within this zip code and single female headed households are 36% of the population responding to census survey requests for data. Such households where children under 18 reside and no “husband” is present are 22% (2,281) of single female headed households overall. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Health and Urban Community Development Parks and open spaces are in close proximity (less than 1,000 feet) to Avalon Gardens, Jordan Downs, Gonzaque Village, Imperial Courts and Nickerson Gardens in addition to churches and other community serving organizations and facilities that service local area residents. Green Meadows Recreation Center is less than one mile from Avalon Gardens and residents can utilize facilities for events, sports programs, and self-improvement classes. The recreation center has a baseball diamond (lighted), basketball courts (lighted/indoor), children’s play area, football field (lighted), indoor gym (without weights), picnic tables, tennis courts (lighted). Green Meadows is an official Los Angeles Police Department Drop-In center residents can access to seek support and protection from local law 86 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 86 | P a g e enforcement. The Jordan Downs Recreation Center is located less than one mile from Jordan Downs public housing. The facility is an official Los Angeles Police Department Drop-In Center and has barbecue pits, baseball diamond (unlighted), basketball courts (unlighted/outdoor), children’s play area, football field (unlighted), indoor gym (without weights) and picnic tables. Unlike the recreation facilities near public housing developments in North East Los Angeles, these two facilities are not open from dawn to dusk during the weekdays and variable weekend days. The hours of operation for these two facilities are more similar to standard business hours (Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm) and sometimes facilities open after 12:00pm on some days. Gonzaque Village public housing residents are able to walk, bike or take public transportation to Ted Watkins Memorial Park. This urban park and the associated open space facilities are open from sunrise to sunset every day of the week. Ted Watkins Memorial Park is a 28-acre facility that is named after the founder of the Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC). The property is managed by the County of Los Angeles and hosts activities like baseball, flag football, basketball and soccer year-round. The park has a swimming pool, Skate Park, walking path, fitness zones and a Farmer’s Market. (County of Los Angeles , 2015) Imperial Courts residents have the most limited access to urban parks and open space. 109 th Street Recreation Center is approximately one mile from the housing development and is one of few urban parks located in this area. There are parks in this zip code area, but, in proportion to the rest of the city and county of Los Angeles there are very few. In response to the lack of parks and recreation facilities in this low income area, Watts Serenity Park was developed by the Trust for Public Land. Formerly named “Monitor Avenue Park”, the facility opened in January 2015 and local residents are able to use play equipment installed for children, access exercise areas for adults and skate parks. Nickerson Gardens is located less than one mile away from Imperial Courts and is immediately west of Watts Serenity Park. Both of the housing developments are located south of the 109 th Street Recreation Center. (City of Los Angeles, 2015). 87 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 87 | P a g e The housing development is located in Los Angeles County “SPA” Service Planning Area 6. This area includes the South East communities such as Watts/Willowbrook, Compton, Athens, Crenshaw, Florence, Hyde Park, Paramount and Lynwood. The closest publicly funded health center is the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Public Health located at 11833 S. Wilmington Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90059. The health center is located on a major corridor and is accessible by public transit lines operated by Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority and Los Angeles city. There is one other center of this type that services the SPA 6 community. According to their website” Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health provides an array of mental health and supportive services for clients, between the ages of 26 and 59, who live with serious mental illness and co- occurring substance use disorders. Mental health services are available through directly operated and contract agencies throughout the County.” (County of Los Angeles, 2015) Agencies providing assessment, therapy, medication, case management/brokerage, crisis intervention, and supportive services aligned with housing and education are included in service area clusters aligned by SPA area. While, all of the housing developments in reference are located in the city of Los Angeles and are under the jurisdiction of HACLA, the citizen population of low income or poor residents residing in this housing project and in need of health related services such as this, must receive such services from the County of Los Angeles if they do not have health insurance. Mental Health facilities for low income adults within the area in reference are provided at 13 locations servicing residents within the 90061, 90001, 90003, 90022, 90262, 90002, 90222 and 90059 zip codes. The location that is closest to Nickerson Gardens (less than one mile) is Shields for Families, located at 1721 East 120 th Street, Trailer #6, Los Angeles, CA 90059. The facilities listed are for clients that are not high risk but instead are “in stable” recovery and looking to continue to improve their mental health outcomes. (County of Los Angeles, 2015) 88 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 88 | P a g e Community Safety South East Community Police Station provides protection and service to residents in the 90059 and 90002 zip code areas. A division of the Los Angeles Police Department “LAPD”, their station services Avalon Gardens, Gardena Boulevard, Hacienda Village, Imperial Courts, Jordan Downs, Nickerson Gardens, Parkside Manor and Watts. (Los Angeles Police Department , 2015) Between September 15, 2015 and November 15, 2015 a confirmed total of 800 crimes occurred in and around (two miles) the LAPD service area associated with the aforementioned public housing developments. (Los Angeles Police Department , 2015). 749 crimes occurred within a two-mile radius. Crime classification expanded to a time period from May 11, 2015 to November 8, 2015 (six months) documents the occurrence of criminal activities taking place in the LAPD area specifically. See the figure below for a description of these items by location, type, rate, and distance from Pueblo del Rio Housing. GREEN MEADOWS/ HISTORIC SOUTH CENTRAL Location Crime Type # of Activities Distance from Public Housing 90002 Assault (spousal/other) 165 Within 2 miles 90002 Burglary (or attempted) 116 Within 2 miles 90002 Homicide 1 Within 2 miles 90002 Theft (general) 154 Within 2 miles 90002 Robbery 181 Within 2 miles 90002 Theft (grand) 175 Within 2 miles 90002 Burglary or Theft from a vehicle 141 Within 2 miles 90002 Rape/Sexual Assault 13 Within 2 miles 89 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 89 | P a g e Violent crimes (360) Property crimes (586) (Los Angeles Times, 2015) FIGURE 23 FIGURE 24 WATTS Location Crime Type # of Activities Distance from Public Housing 90059 Assault (spousal/other) 158 Within 2 miles 90059 Burglary (or attempted) 115 Within 2 miles 90059 Homicide 4 Within 2 miles 90059 Theft (general) 140 Within 2 miles 90059 Robbery 154 Within 2 miles 90059 Theft (grand) 166 Within 2 miles 90059 Burglary or Theft from a vehicle 132 Within 2 miles 90059 Rape/Sexual Assault 13 Within 2 miles Violent crimes (329) Property crimes (553) 90 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 90 | P a g e (Los Angeles Times, 2015) Education Institutions Within and nearby the Watts and South East Los Angeles area where Avalon Gardens, Jordan Downs, Gonzaque Village, Imperial Courts and Nickerson Gardens are located there are several education institutions. Only 2.9% of Watts residents that are 25 years of age or older have a four-year college degree. (United States Census Bureau , 2015) Within the 90059 zip code (Watts) 55% of area residents have a high school diploma or higher. In the 90002 zip code (Historic South Central), 50% of area residents have a high school diploma and only 4% have a four-year college degree. (Los Angeles Times, 2015) The University of Southern California (University Park Campus), Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising- Los Angeles, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles Southwest College, California State University Dominguez Hills and El Camino College Compton Center are located within two miles. These education institutions are located in and adjacent and are within 15 miles of the housing developments. Such institutions can be accessed by residents traveling from the Watts and Historic South Central communities via the I-110 and I-105 freeways and major travel corridors like Avalon Boulevard and Figueroa Street. 91 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 91 | P a g e CHAPTER 4 Relational Database Management Systems This study provides area profiles of the 9 sites named by HACLA as potential CNI candidate properties and how these candidate properties must be assessed for alignment with the provisions set forth by HUD with respect to implementation of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative funding program. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development administers programs on behalf of the federal government, for purposes related to housing and community and economic development. In 2013, the United States Senate introduced legislation authorizing the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative “CNI”, which was later ratified by Congress. CNI replaced HOPE VI, in that it requires not just the redevelopment of public housing-alone. It further mandates the rehabilitation and redevelopment of communities surrounding publicly subsidized housing or “housing projects”. The legislation requires comprehensive analysis and regional cooperation amongst municipal authorities and the inclusion of education institutions and community development corporations in long range strategic planning efforts undertaken by local development authorities and municipal agencies. The Housing Authority City of Los Angeles “HACLA” attempted to compete for CNI funds on three occasions and, if successful, funds would have been used to plan for the positive transition of Jordan Downs Public Housing development from a residential complex surrounded by various health and public safety challenges, into a livable, walkable, economically mobile community in historic South Central Los Angeles. Jordan Downs may have been the first demonstration project undertaken by HACLA, working in collaboration with public and private partners used to facilitate the real estate development process. Prior to 2016, HACLA was unable to secure funds for this purpose, though their entity competed to participate in the short list of potential applicants twice. One of the challenges identified in the exploratory analysis created for this purpose, is the HACLA’s lack of access to a comprehensive screening tool that addresses key components required to compete for and receive CNI funds. 92 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 92 | P a g e In addition to requiring the use of such tool to further inform policy makers and regional public administration agencies in geographies where CNI projects can be implemented, but the highest and best use of candidate property development areas is not yet determined or must be revised based on demographic shifts which change community needs. The tool described is a decision making tool and a method that can be utilized to determine the “highest and best use” of public resources used for community and economic development, while ranking and scaling local the “standard of living” and capacity for economic development in public health and safety challenged neighborhoods. Health Los Angeles County may benefit from more comprehensive and spatial analysis software sensitive data classification methods. The proportion of county funded health facilities within SPA areas and for purposes related to crime analysis mapping, community needs assessment (data based), and policy formation can be more informed by first adjusting the CalEnviroscreen2.0 2.0 tool to include Part I crime as a measurement criterion. Part I crimes are highly violent offenses including, rape, murder, and aggravated robbery and assault. These activities may have an overall impact on the mental health and well-being of area residents (witnesses) and victims. Urban Community Development Expanding the view of urban community development (economy, education, open space and supportive services) in communities where violence and crime prevail is important. Higher income communities appear to be closer to water and natural resources (forests, lakes, and wilderness) and this has a direct connection to theories pertinent to environmental justice and social equity. The most populous and urbanized centers received the highest CalEnviroscreen2.0 scores. The CalEnviroscreen2.0 tool currently does and can continue to improve and adapt the following items: 1) socio-economic groupings, 2) location of environmental contaminants and 3) the location of mental health services. The relation of environmental data to criminal events proved inconclusive and is discussed in the next section. The spatial presentation of the data collected from this tool is confirmed with regard to health hazards and exposure to toxic substances in local communities and at the census tract level. SPA areas with characteristics 93 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 93 | P a g e captured by the tool are apparent in maps representing shape files containing this data. Public Safety Next, most events recorded as part of the spatial join had addresses in reference within close proximity (1 to 15 minutes) to Los Angeles County funded health and human services sites. But, it cannot be determined (at this stage of analysis) whether or not crimes occurred at the location in reference within available data sets, if criminal activities came from or originated at any given site and filtered into the community and, finally, there is no causal connection between socio-economic status and propensity for violent, criminal activities that can be based on spatial analysis alone. In essence, the goal of this study is not to criminalize poverty, nor the impoverished. Rather, it is presented as a stepping stone for future research in crime analysis and mental health, using spatial justification for a greater examination and clarification of community urban community development. Particularly, when critically examining the conditions surrounding the provision of health, safety, and community supportive services within disadvantaged neighborhoods. Database Development Due to the vast size of the geodatabase for Los Angeles County mental health, publicly and subsidized housing locations, in addition to the amount of records within the Part I and Part II crime excel file, during the first iteration of this process, datasets were combined and reduced to a single database, which was used as a new layer within the map projections. By using a spatial join, based on the shared category “CITY”, all crimes occurring in specific cities were extracted from the Part I and Part II.csv crime database and joined to the county of Los Angeles’ EGIS_LMS_file (polygon database). The CalEnviroscreen2.0 database includes pollution scores and socio-economic indicators for census tracts throughout the state of California. This database information was displayed by creating a choropleth (graduated color) map projection. 94 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 94 | P a g e The study area is Los Angeles County therefore the database in reference was adjusted by using a spatial join and isolating feature attributes based on the category “CITY” in order to better classify crimes by city. 1 The non-spatial data set was sufficient to meet the need to understand more clearly how criminal activities are organized by agency and geography, however, too may records are included and the demonstration of data was flawed. This section must be re- organized to provide a clearer demonstration of the intended schematic design and by using the appropriate cartographic elements and symbology. Therefore, it was omitted from the file geodatabase constructed for this report. During fall 2015, the Los Angeles Sherriff’s Department created an open data portal that includes heat maps and crime activity in spatial format. Therefore, the information and concepts related to the construction of a multi-dimensional decision making tool must be adjusted based on crime reports by location. Data organization principles and integrity further require that address information is consistent with the boundaries of the city and county of Los Angeles as updated by the county of Los Angeles, and data must be reorganized for alignment with standardization provided within the open data portal. xxvi Key Feature Attributes Population Score or “PopCharSco”- xxvii Scientific research indicates that the relationship between pollutant exposure, stress, and health outcomes can vary based on the race and ethnicity of a population Pollution Score or “CESSco” - Pollution burden by census tracts; Ozone concentrations; PM2.5 concentrations; Diesel PM emissions; Pesticide use; Drinking water contaminants; Toxic releases from facilities; Traffic density; Cleanup sites (½); Groundwater threats (½); Hazardous waste (½); Impaired water bodies (½); Solid waste sites and facilities (½) xxviii 95 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 95 | P a g e Geodatabase Design: Health and Safety Data Public safety organizations sometimes record the first available address of reported crimes when responding to calls for service. Due to the proportion, size, and visual representation of Los Angeles county SPA area, it may prove unlikely that incidents can be represented visually without the creation of an additional graduated color map (choropleth). There are over 62,000 recorded locations for county funded facilities. This information cannot be presented as a series of points due to the amount of points required in order to represent an accurate figure. There are too many locations within the existing dataset and they must be reduced based on relevance. For this reason, the Arc Diagrammer (data organization) display should be limited to the contents of the foundational geodatabase design framework and organized by County, Census Tract, Pollution Score and Population Score. An additional layer created to demonstrate the location of voting districts and by elected representative are not connected to the layer including the above described feature classes. Next, the observed flaws in existing datasets do not support an accurate representation of any data that correlates crime to county funded location. There is no single classification for crimes by address that is consistent with the exact location of county funded facilities for health and community well-being. Health and human services data is part of a statewide database developed for Los Angeles County. The list includes locations funded by the following departments: DFCS, DMH, DPH, and Community partners (sub-contractors). Therefore, location and proximity to facility cannot determined using this list, unless all 62,000 locations are joined to the spatial location of each reported crime and evaluated based on common factors. The goal of this study is not to criminalize poverty and the above noted approach must be refined to answer a better question and with better organized available data. Database relationship classes (both many-to-many and one-to-many) The database relationships used for the construction of the decision making tool under discussion, requires the assembly of data sets that include multiple levels of complex data. For example, a nascent design attempt used to develop the foundational framework for the Relational Database Management System “RDBMS” includes statewide relationship classes organized or normalized on the 96 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 96 | P a g e basis of attributes and identifiers that capture census tract level data. The Cal EnviroScreen 2.0 data captures a one-to-many relationship between the state of California and various counties within it. The data is organized by the state of California and is designed to categorize pollution and poverty level by census tract and cities within local counties. The county level data retrieved from the CalEnviroscreen2.02.0 tool includes a listing of various counties that have one-to- many relationship categories with local municipalities or cities. While, the street level or census tract level data highlighting features and phenomena within cities includes a combination of one-to-many relationships, with regard to area parks, local law enforcement agencies and voting district representatives. Many-to-many relationships exist in the data CalEnviroscreen 2.0 data due to the number of records, categories, and feature identification classes noting different types of environmental pollutants impacting soil or land, water sources and air quality by region. Such pollutants are not object oriented and are not location specific in the same way a physical structure, like a public housing development is. Instead, such classifications represent the complexity of a many- to-many relationship based on terrain. There are many forms of pollution in many places throughout Los Angeles County and the State of California and these locations are not limited by geography or land. Some are airborne, or are most often identified by testing soil and water from various parts of the state and the counties within it. While, the Los Angeles City Council data is organized by the city of Los Angeles and is designed to categorize Council Districts within the city and by elected representative with no items to relate directly with CalEnviroscreen 2.0. Topology The topological considerations for this RDBMS concept pertain to the location of public housing sites listed by the Housing Authority City of Los Angeles as potential candidates for the agency’s application for Choice Neighborhoods Initiative funding. The topology of poverty and pollution score are representations based on percentage and score, or integer and are objects that do not change. They are physical locations and must be defined using point references within polygon demonstrations by census tract. 97 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 97 | P a g e Domain and Subtype The sample data used requires re-organization due to the complexity and amount of many-to-many, one-to-many and many-to-one relationships that must be clarified by developing an appropriate schema. In order to create a geodatabase demonstration that can serve as the foundation for a larger RDBMS used as a decision making tool, data integrity is key. First, the dataset for CalEnviroscreen2.02.0 includes more than 70 feature identification columns and thousands of recorded entries, for numerous fields. Due to the size of the dataset, information specific to Los Angeles County must be extracted and reorganized into a separate table, while not altering the very important table organization created by the state of California. The reorganized data was then organized using the appropriate SQL formulas along with an understanding of the basic geography of Los Angeles County. After Los Angeles county data was extracted from the CalEnviroscreen2.02.0 dataset, the appropriate subtypes and domains were applied. The subtypes were created based on pollution score or “CESSco” and poverty level or “PopCharSco”. The data or table used to demonstrate the proportion of pollution by Los Angeles City voting district was not adjusted, except for use during an attempted spatial join, which resulted in the display of an overabundance of records related to crime, health, urban community development and area geography. Los Angeles County may benefit from more comprehensive and spatial analysis software sensitive data classification methods. The proportion of county funded sites within SPA areas, and or purposes related to this examination, crime analysis mapping, community needs assessment (data based), and policy formation can be more informed by first adjusting the CalEnviroscreen2.0 2.0 tool to include Part I crime as measurement criteria. Part I crimes are highly violent offenses including, rape, murder, and aggravated robbery and assault. These activities may have an overall impact on the mental health and well-being of area residents (witnesses) and victims. xxix 98 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 98 | P a g e Related Concepts Local Initiative Support Corporation conducted a similar effort by creating the nationwide Sustainable Communities Initiative. This initiative identified community characteristics based on, crime, health, urban community development, and safety but with an emphasis on the potential for land use related investments resulting in the evolution of “Main Streets” in low income areas. The database component included in this work, related to the identification of crime patterns by zip code. The goal was to identify street blocks and census tracts with a large presence of gang “sets” and proportion of gang activity surrounding “Main Streets” in distressed communities. (Local Initiatives Support Corporation, 2008) The federal department of Housing and Urban Development proposed the construction of a screening tool that can be used by public housing agencies throughout the United States. (United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , 2009) The agency encouraged the creation of a comprehensive screening tool used to document and categorize energy use in multi- family housing developments. Finally, Portland State University performed a geo- spatial analysis of all Notice of Funding Availability cycles for applicants pursuing Choice Neighborhoods funding for community improvements over a three-year time span. The study itemized general community characteristics based on socio- economic status, race and ethnicity, and proportion of unemployment in the identified study areas. Their findings revealed a disproportionate composition of poverty and low income status surrounding public housing developments based on categories like race or ethnic group and unemployment. (Gebhardt, Spatial Analysis of Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Planning Grant Applicant Neighborhoods (June 2014), 2014) 99 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 99 | P a g e Summary Results In the county of Los Angeles, voting districts located in the South, South East, North East and East have the largest proportion of environmental pollution and area poverty than many other locations in the city and county of Los Angeles. Eight out of nine city Los Angeles public housing sites identified by HACLA as potential redevelopment areas are located in the most environmentally distressed, income and public safety challenged communities in the county of Los Angeles. Information regarding such challenges is based on data retrieved from the OEHHA CalEnviroScreen2.0 database. The 90002 (SPA 6), 90032 (SPA 4), 90033 (SPA 4), 90012 (SPA 4), 90058 (SPA 6) and 90059 (SPA 6) zip code areas in the City of Los Angeles are located in census tracts that scored in the 96 th percentile ranking. This means that all of the housing developments identified for purposes related to rehabilitation and enhancement using Choice Neighborhoods funding are in highly polluted census tracts where local communities are in need of environmental mitigation planning and activities in addition to increased area safety and employment. 100 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 100 | P a g e REFERENCES 1. Boyle Heights Community Planners City of Los Angeles . (2015). Boyle Heights New Community Plan. Los Angeles : Planning Department. 2. Abromowitz, D. M. (2014). As More Households Rent, How Can We Encourage Them to Save? Washington D.C.: Center for American Progress. 3. Brandy N. Chappell, M. D. (2014). 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Retrieved from Los Angeles Times Local Montecito Heights: http://maps.latimes.com/neighborhoods/neighborhood/montecito- heights/crime/?q=4466+Florizel+St%2C+Los+Angeles%2C+CA+90032%2C+USA&lat=34.08700 98&lng=-118.1917769&g=Geocodify 21. Los Angeles Times. (2015, December 8). Mapping LA Westside. Retrieved from Los Angeles Times : http://maps.latimes.com/neighborhoods/neighborhood/marina-del- rey/?q=Marina+Del+Rey%2C+CA%2C+USA&lat=33.9802893&lng=- 118.4517449&g=Geocodify 101 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 101 | P a g e 22. Los Angeles Times. (2015, November 29). Northeast LA Mapping . Los Angeles, CA, United States of America . 23. National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing. (1992). National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing: A report to Congress and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Washington D.C.: United States Congress. 24. National Home Builder's Association . (2014, December 11). Multi-Family Housing. Retrieved from National Home Builder's Association: http://www.nahb.org/page.aspx/category/sectionID=1921 25. Planning Department City of Los Angeles. (1997). Palms-Mar Vista-Del Rey Community Plan. Los Angeles: City of Los Angeles. 26. Planning Department City of Los Angeles. (1998). Planning Department. Los Angeles: City of Los Angeles. Retrieved from Boyle Heights Community Plan. 27. Planning Department City of Los Angeles. (2002, August 18). Avenue 57 Transit Oriented District Plan. Los Angeles: Planning Department City of Los Angeles . Retrieved from http://planning.lacity.org/complan/specplan/pdf/AVE57TOD.PDF 28. Planning Department City of Los Angeles. (2003). South East Community Plan. Los Angeles: Planning Department City of Los Angeles. 29. Planning Department City of Los Angeles. (2003). Southeast Community Plan . Los Angeles: City of Los Angeles. 30. Rothstein, R. (2012, December 17). Race and Public Housing: Revisiting the Federal Role. Retrieved from Economic Policy Institute: http://www.epi.org/publication/race-public-housing-revisiting- federal-role/ 31. Sen. Robert Menendez, D.-N. (2013, March 4). Library of Congress. Retrieved from Congress.gov: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate- bill/437/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Choice+Neighborhoods%22%5D%7D 32. Twiss, P. C. (June 1999). Conventional and Military Public Housing for Families. Social Service Review, Vol. 73, No. 2 , 240-260. 33. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2014, December 14). Public Housing . Retrieved from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph 34. United States Census Bureau . (2015, November 15). http://factfinder.census.gov/. Retrieved from U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 5-Year American Community Survey: http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=CF 35. United States Census Bureau . (n.d.). State & County Quick Facts. Retrieved from United States Census Bureau: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06037.html 36. United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory . (2009). HUD CHP Guide #2 Feasibility Screening For Combined Heat and Power in Multifamily Housing . Washington D.C. : United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. 37. United States Department of Housing and Urban Development . (2014, December 15). Housing Choice Voucher Fact Sheet. Retrieved from United States Department of Housing and Urban Development : http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/housing_choice_voucher_program_section_8 38. United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2007). HOPE VI Program Authority and Funding History. Washington D.C.: United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. 39. Westside Los Angeles. (2015, December 15). Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westside_(Los_Angeles_County) 40. Supervisorial_District_Boundaries_2011 (2011) [downloaded file]. Mark Greninger, Los Angeles County Chief Information Office. URL: http://egis3.lacounty.gov/dataportal/2011/09/28/2011- supervisorial-district-boundaries-approved-september-27-2011/ [August, 2014] 41. Part I and Part II Crime (2014) [downloaded file]. Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department Crime Stats. URL: http://shq.lasdnews.net/CrimeStats/LASDCrimeInfo.html [July, 2014] 42. CalEnviroscreen2.0Draft2.0 (2013) [downloaded file]. John Faust. URL: http://oehha.ca.gov/ej/ces042313.html [July, 2014] 43. Service_Planning_Areas 2012 (2011) [downloaded file]. Douglas Morales, URL: http://egis3.lacounty.gov/dataportal/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/SPA_2012.zip [August, 2014] 102 Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles Public Housing 102 | P a g e 44. "About DMH." Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health-. County of Los Angeles, n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2014. 45. "DCFS - Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services." DCFS - Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. County of Los Angeles, n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2014. http://dcfs.co.la.ca.us/. 46. "Los Angeles County Online." Lasd-Home. County of Los Angeles, n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2014. <http://sheriff.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/lasd>. 47. "LA County Department of Public Health." LA County Department of Public Health. County of Los Angeles, n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2014. <http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/chs/phcenters.htm>. 48. "OEHHA April 2014 CalEnviroscreen2.0 Webinar and Version 2.0." OEHHA April 2014 CalEnviroscreen2.0 Webinar and Version 2.0. State of California, n.d. Web. July-Aug. 2014. <http://oehha.ca.gov/ej/ces2.html>. 49. "Prevention." United States Department of Health and Human Services. State of California, n.d. Web. July-Aug. 2014. <http://www.hhs.gov/safety/>. i https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/housing/news/2013/11/07/79145/the-challenges-to-homeownership-in-america/ ii Pastor, Manuel iii http://www.nahb.org/reference_list.aspx?sectionID=276 iv https://nmhc.org/Content.aspx?id=10070 v http://nationalfairhousing.org/AboutNFHA/tabid/2549/Default.aspx vi http://nationalfairhousing.org/AboutNFHA/tabid/2549/Default.aspx vii http://www.nationalfairhousing.org/AboutNFHA/tabid/2549/Default.aspx ix https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/housing/report/2014/09/10/96706/as-more-households-rent-how-can-we- encourage-them-to-save/ x United States Department of Housing and Urban Development xi United States Department of Housing and Urban Development xii http://nlihc.org/issues/vouchers xiii http://nlihc.org/issues/vouchers xiv http://nlihc.org/issues/vouchers xv http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/hope6/about xvi http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/hope6/about xvii http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/hope6/about xviii http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/hope6/mfph xix http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/hope6/about#6 xx http://blog.hud.gov/index.php/2012/03/06/project-rebuild-to-continue-revitalizing-neighborhoods-and-creating- jobs#sthash. xxi http://shq.lasdnews.net/pages/PageDetail.aspx?id=2066 xxii http://www.oehha.ca.gov/about/description.html xxiii http://www.oehha.ca.gov/about/description.html xxiv http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/chs/SPAMain/ServicePlanningAreas.htm xxv https://www.google.com/maps/search/health+center+near+4466+Florizel+Street+Los+Angeles,+CA+90032/@34.08708 79,-118.2005318,15z/data=!3m1!4b1 xxvi http://www.la-sheriff.org/s2/page_render.aspx?pagename=info_main xxvii http://oehha.ca.gov/ej/pdf/CES20FinalRaceEthnicity.pdf xxviii http://oehha.ca.gov/ej/pdf/CES20FinalReportUpdateOct2014.pdf xxix Brandy N. Chappell, M. D. (2014). Choice Neighborhoods: A Spatial and Exploratory Analysis of the Housing Authority City of Los Angeles' Public Housing. Los Angeles: University of Southern California.

Abstract (if available)

Abstract This study is a practice based and general spatial analysis exercise and public policy exploration regarding the creation of mixed income villages at 9 public housing developments identified by the Housing Authority City of Los Angeles “HACLA” in their 5-year draft plan 2014-2019. The framework for this project concept is based on an examination of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative policy undertaken by Portland State University on behalf of the federal department of Housing and Urban Development. In addition to the State of California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment CalEnviroscreen2.0 project briefing presentation 2014. The public housing sites identified by HACLA for local government planning and policy implementation under the federal Choice Neighborhoods Initiative ""CNI"" are located in high unemployment and public safety challenged census tracts. CNI funds provide for the redevelopment, rehabilitation and community enhancement within highly distressed neighborhoods. The CNI policy provisions support local government and specifically public housing agencies “PHA” attempting to apply for funds provided for the rehabilitation, reconstruction, or demolition of public housing and for commercial and economic development projects on major corridors or “Main Streets”. State of California environmental mitigation standards and the community development capacity of place-based organizations and education institutions are pertinent considerations applied to planning efforts conducted by the HACLA and City of Los Angeles because of stated requirements in CNI Section 8 and 9. Regional government may benefit from the creation of a local decision making tool housed in a database and used to determine the highest and best use of the identified public housing sites, by using comprehensive community and local market based measurement attributes.

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Asset Metadata

Creator Chappell, Brandy N. (author)

Core Title Choice neighborhoods: a spatial and exploratory analysis of Housing Authority City of Los Angeles public housing

School School of Policy, Planning and Development

Degree Doctor of Policy, Planning & Development

Degree Program Policy, Planning, and Development

Publication Date 12/01/2016

Defense Date 05/25/2016

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag Geographic Information Science,OAI-PMH Harvest,Poverty,Public housing,Public Policy,Public Safety,Race,spatial analysis

Format application/pdf (imt)

Language English

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

Advisor Mitchell, Leonard (committee chair), Banerjee, Tribid (committee member), Perry, Jan C. (committee member)

Creator Email bchappel@usc.edu

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c40-323896

Unique identifier UC11214585

Identifier etd-ChappellBr-4952.pdf (filename),usctheses-c40-323896 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier etd-ChappellBr-4952.pdf

Dmrecord 323896

Document Type Dissertation

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Rights Chappell, Brandy N.

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Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the a...

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