CITY PLANNING ARTS DISTRICT

http://cityplanning.lacity.org/complan/pdf/ccncptxt.pdf


The Alameda Corridor has traditionally been a center of commercial and
transit activity in this planning area, with rail lines extending from Union
Station to the harbor area. Cottage and light industry have adjoined the
corridor, with limited residential areas to accommodate the work force. In
recent years the area has seen an increase in the conversion of industrial
buildings to artists-in-residence and studios.


Artists-in-Residence
District
Artists-in-Residence occupy a large area of Central City North between the
Santa Ana Freeway and the Santa Monica Freeway and between Alameda
Street and the Los Angeles River. The largest concentration of artists is
located in the area between First Street and Palmetto Street and Alameda
Street and the Los Angeles River identified as the Artist-in-Residence
District. The purpose of the boundaries is to identify the presence of the
artists as a distinct and integral part of the Central City North Community.
Although a large population of artists are located within these boundaries,
they are not restricted to the boundary.


Artists-in-Residence District is bounded by First Street, the Los
Angeles River, Sixth Street, and Alameda Street. This area located
just outside Little Tokyo boundaries, is primarily made up of old
warehouses now converted to artists lofts and studios. An MTA Red
Line Station is also planned for this area at Santa Fe and Third Street
and is part of the Angels Walk Pedestrian District Plan. The Central
City North Community plan encourages the continued and expanded
development of a thriving artists-in-residence community in the plan
and proposed redevelopment areas.


Artists-in-Residence occupy a large area of Central City North between the
Santa Ana Freeway and the Santa Monica Freeway and between Alameda
Street and the Los Angeles River. The largest concentration of artists is
located in the area between First Street and Palmetto Street and Alameda
Street and the Los Angeles River identified as the Artist-in-Residence
District. The purpose of the boundaries is to identify the presence of the
artists as a distinct and integral part of the Central City North Community.
Although a large population of artists are located within these boundaries,
they are not restricted to the boundary.

OPPORTUNITIES

Potential for artists-in-residence buildings to locate within industrially
zoned areas of the plan.

The Community Redevelopment Agency is working to adopt the
Alameda East Redevelopment Project which will promote artist-inresidence
opportunities to an area north of Sixth Street within the
proposed project area.

TRANSPORTATION
Potential to incorporate needed facilities conveniently near station
stops such as child care, senior housing, and the artists-in-residence
district.


Provide incentives for artists-in-residence to locate into the Central City
North area and develop an artists enclave.

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LAND USE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS

The residential community of Central City North is predominately
concentrated in the area west of Chinatown. Of the 2005 acres that
comprise Central City North, approximately 93 acres or 5% is currently
zoned and planned for residential uses. All of the residential is planned for
multi-family dwelling units although single family residences can be found
in a few scattered locations. There are approximately 4,043 dwelling units
and nearly all of the housing is low-rise multi-family at a net density of 39
units per acre. The residential areas are located west of the Pasadena
Freeway and just southeast of the Hollywood-Pasadena Freeway
Interchange. The William Mead Housing Project, operated by the City
Housing Authority, is also located in Central City North with over 400 units
located just east of Chinatown and north of Union Station. Central City
North is also home to a large concentration of artists-in-residence who
occupy the industrial warehouses and lofts just east of Alameda Street and
Little Tokyo.


OBJECTIVE 3-2
Encourage the continued development and maintenance of the artists-inresidence
community in industrial areas of the proposed redevelopment plan
areas and of the plan, as appropriate.

POLICIES
3-2.1 Support the existing artists-in-residence in Central City North as a
cultural resource for the community.
Program: Support applications to the office of Zoning
Administration for joint living and work quarters for artists and
artisans in commercial and industrial buildings if all the necessary
findings can be made.


OBJECTIVE 15-1
To initiate neighborhood based traffic and parking mitigation plans in each
of the Community Plan’s neighborhoods and artist-in-residence districts.
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HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES


The Central City North Plan area encompasses Chinatown, parts of Little
Tokyo and El Pueblo (beginning just east of Olvera Street), symbolic cultural
centers of three prominent ethnic groups in the city, and the birthplace of
Los Angeles. A large artists community also resides in the plan area just
east of Alameda Street along the Los Angeles River. Central City North was
historically the major industrial center of Los Angeles and today is a major
center for railroad yards and point of distribution for goods received by the
Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.


POLICIES
18-1.1 Support the existing artists community in Central City North as a
cultural resource for the community.
Program: The Plan’s policies and programs encourage the
development of the artists-in residence community in Central City
North.
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HOUSING
5. Encourage new and alternative housing concepts, such as artist-inresidence
facilities, as well as alternative materials and methods of
construction, which are found to be compatible with City Codes.



A sense of entry should be created into the Chinatown community from
adjacent neighborhoods that serve to define the boundaries and the edges
of the community and its uniqueness. This same type of entryway should
also occur for the artists-in-residence quarters but to a lesser degree.
Public spaces and rights-of-way should capitalize on existing physical
access to differentiate the communities as a unique place in the city.