Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles

Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles
Name	Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles
Native name	CRA/LA
Formation	1948
Dissolved	2012 (reconstituted in successor forms)
Type	Redevelopment agency
Headquarters	Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles
Region served	Los Angeles County
Leader title	Executive Director

Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles was a municipal redevelopment agency created in 1948 to address urban blight, plan neighborhood redevelopment, and implement land use projects in Los Angeles. The agency operated across multiple project areas including Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, South Los Angeles, and the San Fernando Valley until its dissolution amid legal and fiscal challenges in 2012. Its programs intersected with agencies and institutions such as the Los Angeles City Council, California Legislature, and the California Redevelopment Association.

History

Formed after enactment of the California Community Redevelopment Law and influenced by post‑World War II planning trends exemplified by Robert Moses, William Mulholland, and the Federal Housing Administration, the agency initially focused on slum clearance and housing replacement in neighborhoods such as Skid Row, Bunker Hill, and Chinatown. During the mid‑20th century the agency coordinated projects alongside Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Southern Pacific Railroad, and developers like Walt Disney‑related entities for projects near Union Station. In the 1970s and 1980s, redevelopment shifted toward mixed‑use initiatives in Westwood, Hollywood, and Belmont Shore, engaging stakeholders including Annenberg Foundation, J. Paul Getty Trust, and the Los Angeles Conservancy. The 1990s and 2000s saw large downtown investment tied to the Staples Center, Los Angeles Convention Center, and LA Live, while debates involved actors such as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor James K. Hahn, and Mayor Richard Riordan before statewide legal challenges culminated during the governorship of Jerry Brown.

Organization and Governance

CRA/LA operated under oversight by the Los Angeles City Council and a five‑member commission appointed by the mayor and citywide officials, interfacing with entities like California Department of Finance and State Controller of California. Internal leadership included Executive Directors and legal counsel who coordinated with professional firms such as AECOM, Gensler, and legal practices linked to municipal law and eminent domain litigation involving parties like Kaiser Permanente and University of Southern California. Its governance structure involved project area committees, staff planners trained in paradigms from APA‑affiliated programs, and interagency cooperation with Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and federal bodies like the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Redevelopment Projects and Initiatives

Major projects included revitalization of Bunker Hill with high‑rise development adjacent to Walt Disney Concert Hall, transformation of Skid Row parcels, adaptive reuse initiatives in Downtown Los Angeles lofts near Angels Flight, and commercial corridors in Hollywood Boulevard. The agency funded affordable housing projects with partners such as Meta Housing, Enterprise Community Partners, and Mercy Housing, and promoted transit‑oriented development near Pershing Square station, 7th Street/Metro Center station, and the Expo Line. CRA/LA supported cultural institutions including Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Music Center, and Grand Park, and assisted private developments tied to corporations like AEG and Herbalife. Neighborhood stabilization programs engaged community groups such as United Way of Greater Los Angeles, LA Housing Partnership, and neighborhood councils established under Los Angeles charter reforms.

Controversies and Legal Challenges

The agency faced controversies over eminent domain cases reminiscent of those in Kelo v. City of New London debates, conflicts with preservationists like the Los Angeles Conservancy, and scrutiny from fiscal watchdogs such as the California State Auditor. Legal challenges included scrutiny under the California Supreme Court's interpretations and litigation involving the California Redevelopment Dissolution Law and actions by the California Legislature during the tenure of Governor Jerry Brown. Accusations involved allegations of cronyism linked to developers, disputes over tax increment financing with Los Angeles Unified School District and Los Angeles County Office of Education, and civil suits brought by neighborhood activists and public interest groups such as the ACLU and Public Counsel.

Financial Structure and Funding

CRA/LA relied primarily on tax increment financing mechanisms established by the California Community Redevelopment Law, capturing increases in property tax revenue from jurisdictions including Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector and redirecting funds to project areas. Revenues were supplemented by federal grants from HUD, Low Income Housing Tax Credits administered under the Internal Revenue Service, municipal bonds underwritten by firms linked to Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs, and private developer contributions through development agreements with corporations like Wells Fargo and Bank of America. The dissolution process required wind‑down of obligations, asset transfers to successor agencies such as the Successor Agency to the Community Redevelopment Agency, and negotiations with bondholders, creditors, and taxing entities including the Los Angeles County Auditor‑Controller.

Legacy and Impact on Urban Development

The agency's imprint can be seen in the reconfiguration of Downtown Los Angeles skyline, the adaptive reuse of historic structures near Olvera Street, and the expansion of mixed‑use districts around Staples Center and L.A. Live. Its policies influenced planning discourse alongside figures like Jane Jacobs and institutions such as UCLA and USC planning schools, contributing to debates on gentrification, affordable housing, and transit‑oriented development linked to projects like the Purple Line. Scholars and commentators from outlets like Los Angeles Times and researchers at RAND Corporation have evaluated CRA/LA outcomes in studies of urban renewal, socioeconomics, and spatial justice, informing contemporary practice in redevelopment, community advocacy, and municipal finance.

Category:Organizations based in Los Angeles