Various groups join to fight gentrification
A coalition including the National Resources Defense Council, FoLAR, Clockshop, the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council, the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council, the Elysian Valley Riverside Neighborhood Council, and hundreds of local residents and representatives of other local organizations hold public listening sessions, submit hundreds of public comment letters and lobby in opposition to the proposed Casitas Lofts project.
This development of upscale riverfront housing in Glassell Park would have been situated at the north end of what is now known as the 100 Acre Partnership, a complex of public lands including the G2 and Bowtie Parcels along the L.A. River, limiting access to this public green space and accelerating the gentrification of adjacent neighborhoods.
RELATED STORIES
The Nannies of Glen Park
Under the trees at Glenhurst Park in Atwater Village, you might find a group of 20 nannies who have been gathering there for years. They socialize, let the children play on the playsets, and celebrate many, many birthdays. Each nanny has a different story about how they found both the park and the group. This…
Building Los Angeles State Historic Park (LASHP)
The 32-acre plot that now houses the Los Angeles State Historic Park (LASHP) is a testament to the power of community activism. Throughout hundreds of “hearing sessions” hosted by California State Parks, nearby residents voiced their wants and needs for the land — and, by doing so, saved it from becoming the “River Station Business…
A Glassell Park Story
A more than twenty-year resident of Glassell Park, Helene Schpak understands that civic engagement is an essential part of healthy community living. “It’s giving back. It’s being part of a society, part of a community. If you care, sitting back isn’t going to accomplish anything. Pace yourself and volunteer, put in some effort, and sometimes…
Parks and Gentrification
During the 80s, Downey Recreation Center — one of the few public parks in Lincoln Heights — was inaccessible and uninviting. Still, as the only park in the area, neighborhood kids like Lazaro Arvizu found themselves there often. Located in between the Swiss Dairy Company Plant (now home to the newly built Albion Riverside Park),…