The NELA River Collaborative project builds upon the growing momentum of efforts already underway to transform the Los Angeles River into a "riverfront district" and to create a focal point of community revitalization. For more information visit www.mylariver.org
The Northeast Los Angeles Riverfront Collaborative is comprised of a diverse group of partners from nonprofits and educational institutes, to private and public agencies from the city, county and federal government. However, the inner workings of this complex collaborative can easily be misunderstood as roles overlap and approaches conflict. With agencies and organizations that are at times so different from one another, it's a wonder how these partners have been matched.
New methods for urban planning are taking form through collaboration in community workshops, evaluations of land use and workforce, placemaking, and business surveys, to name a few. Partners are utilizing each others' strengths and supporting each other through shared resources. Community engagement has been embraced as key to the process, providing otherwise unattainable data about the communities within the study.
Below, each of the partners share what they bring to the table, objectives for study, and the insights gathered through the collaborative process:
The USC Metamorphosis project researches the transformation of urban community under the forces of globalization, new communication technologies, and population diversity in order to inform practice and policy.
George Villanueva, USC Metamorphosis
The City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department has been improving the quality of life for City residents for nearly 30 years.
Gerardo Ruvalcaba, City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department
Tierra West Advisors Inc. is an economic and real estate advisory firm. As part of the collaborative, Tierra West will identify economic and implementation strategies to develop sustainability in the NELA river area.
John Yonai, Tierra West Advisors
The Los Angeles Department of City Planning will conduct a targeted Community Plan update that will consider zoning refinements for multiple land uses, neighborhood stabilization, urban design standards, River access points, and mobility linkages.
Christine Saponara, City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning
KCET Departures is a multimedia oral history project exploring the neighborhoods of Los Angeles through community engagement and digital literacy youth programs. KCET Departures will create an online platform to publish stories and ideas.
Juan Devis, KCETLink
The L.A. River Revitalization Corporation is a non-profit organization that works to catalyze sustainable land use development along the L.A. River.
Omar Brownson, Los Angeles River Revitalization Corporation
Bruce Saito, Los Angeles Conservation Corps
The mission of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation is to attract, retain and grow businesses and jobs in L.A. County through business assistance programs, economic and policy analysis, and public policy leadership.
Christine Cooper, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
Occidental College's Urban and Environmental Policy Institute functions as a social change-ori- ented academic center with strong community ties, and as a community-based organization with research and policy development capacity.
Sharon Cech, Occidental College Urban Environmental Policy Institute
National Park Service will primarily work with communities and local government organizations to identify recreational opportunities and sources to develop placemaking proposals.
Anne Dove, United States National Park Service
