The Wilmington Waterfront Development Project seeks to improve the quality of life of residents living near the Port of Los Angeles by eliminating urban blight and bringing in economic opportunities to the community. The proposed Waterfront Development project includes land that is directly adjacent to the Wilmington community. The major elements of the proposed project include open spaces, such as a waterfront park and promenade, and a buffer area to provide a physical space between the Wilmington Community and the LA Port. Additionally, the project seeks commercial/industrial and retail development along the Avalon Boulevard Corridor, and transportation linkages and improvements. There is also a regulation to use 20% of the funds towards affordable housing.

The project is being carried out through The Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA), which serves as catalyst for community growth. Community members are given a voice by participating in the monthly Wilmington CRA/LA meetings, where they discuss plans for development including design aesthetics, functional uses of spaces, and zoning regulations. It is unfortunate that not many community members attend the meetings. Besides the members on the Steering committee, there were only about 10 people at the last meeting.

I believe this project is a great opportunity to use urban planning to improve health outcomes in our low-income polluted city by reducing environmental hazards, if it is carried out with the interests of Wilmington community members. It can also turn into a gentrification project, if the project attracts big investors and more affluent homeowners who may drive out low-income residents.

While at the last meeting, I began to question the motives of some of the members of the steering committee. It seems to me as if some members on the steering committee are concerned with attracting tourists and an affluent middle class, and not looking critically at businesses they want to bring in. Some members even want to restrict bright colored affordable housing, in order discourage our Latin flare. The reality of our low-income community is that we are mostly people of color living with terrible health problems caused by our surrounding industry pollution. I think that members of the steering committee and community members should push for a project that seeks to improve the quality of life for those that are already here. We can strive to create green jobs by bringing in businesses and industries that are socially conscious. In addition to improve aesthetics, we can promote active lifestyles with soccer fields and much needed park/plaza space. We can decrease our dependence on cars by making public transportation more efficient and safe. We can have affordable housing that is LEED certified by being energy efficient. It is vital that community members start becoming active in the planning process of this project so that their best interests are not disregarded.

We will be posting the date of the next meeting on facebook in the next few weeks.