I'm a huge advocate of community involvement in, well, community. I like it when a group of citizens comes together to improve their block, their neighborhood, or their greater community. Sitting around someone's living room or in the back of a coffee shop with others who also want to see good things happen is a sight I applaud.Now, I was awed by the huge, community-placed billboard at Exposition offramp of the 110 South announcing Stop University Gateway. (I didn't have my camera at the time, but it was there.) It has this website listed and not much else: www.stopgateway.com. It worked, though, because I went home and checked it out. I got a little excited at the fact that a coalition of neighborhood people (who happen to include folks from the Shrine Auditorium to Pete's Burgers on Hoover) put this effort together. Here is a community really coming together as a coalition, and is often the case with unification, it took an issue that made them upset to do it.
I am not judging the merits of the project. But if it is as big a deal as they say it is, this could codify a community that would lead to the furthering of the community. For instance, one of the strongest neighborhood groups in the City, the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, formed because of one large issue: the 405 coming through the Valley. That one issue was the impetus for over 40 years of community activism. (Again, I'm not saying that the positions they've taken over the years or their methods are the best, but they do still achieve their goals.)
Here is a community coming together against something; my hope is that, regardless of the outcome, they stay connected to do something for the University Park community.
What's the status on this issue, though? I can't seem to find information on it anywhere except the website and it's news links to The Daily Trojan.
What does this really mean for Los Angeles, though?
4 comments:
University Gateway is a mixed-use project proposed by Urban Partners, the well-connected firm founded by Ira Levin. It is comprised of hundreds of "luxury" apartments for USC students, a University Bookstore, and a health club.
In looking at the "Stop University Gateway" Web site, I don't necessarily buy that this is an "organic" coalition of neighborhood groups. It takes a lot of money to design a sophisticated Web Site and pay for an extremely visible billboard. The Web site was made by the "University Park Community Association," which strangely enough, doesn't seem to have its own Web site (I tried Google). Hmmm...
I strongly suspect that the opposition group is actually led by two wealthy and powerful organizations completely unrelated to neighborhood residents: Conquest Housing and the Shrine Auditorium. Conquest has built several "luxury" student apartment complexes and doesn't want competition; furthermore, it doesn't want Urban Partners to get zoning exceptions it wasn't able to get. The Shrine would have its operations impacted by the development, including its long-standing practice of blocking local streets to set up events.
I feel that University Gateway is a worthwhile project. The need for student housing is acute; placing it close to campus makes sense. The Figueroa Corridor is dominated by unsightly auto-oriented businesses and is an appropriate location for mixed-use development. The Expo Line will serve the area by 2010, with a station a block away at Jefferson and Flower. Along with the nearby Galen Center arena, University Gateway will create a new activity hub that will start a trend of revitalization along Figueroa that will benefit the neighborhood by creating a walkable urban core.
However, there are many issues with University Gateway. The fact that it provides homes and services only to USC students and affiliates is troubling; new development should provide housing and job opportunities for everyone. In addition, Urban Partners is seeking numerous zoning concessions (increased height, increased density, and reduced parking) that may cause the project to have negative impacts. The City's attempt to have the project approved without a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was short-sighted.
Whatever its constituency or true agenda, the opposition has raised many meaningful points. The debate over University Gateway is a harbinger of "site fights" to come, as the Mayor and new City Planning Director Gail Goldberg push for denser, transit-oriented development in neighborhoods across Los Angeles. The common complaints of density, height, and parking will confront the City's attempt to evolve into a new urban form more relevant to the 21st century.
The success or failure of University Gateway will have lasting impacts on real estate development throughout the City. We need to ask what kind of City do we want to have, who will benefit, who will bear the costs, and what value do our zoning regulations have?
Mitch glaser made some good points on this ongoing debate.
I'd like to add my 2 cents...
University Gateway near the University Park Campus will do 2 things: reduce commuter traffic and increase the supply of student housing.
When more students are nearby the campus, they will more likely not need parking as they will be biking,walking and taking the USC tram to campus. This is obvious to anyone who has been to the North University Park Campus area. Parking is a minor issue, and the bldg is at blueprint stage now. Surely the developer can increase parking, but this is no reason to stop such a beneficial project.
Also, an increase in the student housing will allow the community to keep more of the housing in the area for themselves. It is simple supply and demand. With more supply, prices go down. Perhaps this is the point of contention for Conquest housing. Conquest opposes University gateway, because they fear a drop in prices (and thus their profits). This greed will continue to choke the community if UG is stopped. (Read this weeks article on university gateway on the la downtown news website)
And lastly, what benefit does a used car dealership have for the community? Think about it. University Gateway is a mixed use project that will help the community and the University. Thanks for reading!
Conquest Student Housing
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