Community Planning: One San Pedro Transformation Plan - Choice Neighborhoods Team
The One San Pedro Transformation Plan, which was adopted February 2020, is the successful product of this community-driven planning project.
LANI, in partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) and EJP Consulting Group, LLC, led an ambitious Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Choice Neighborhoods Initiative that engaged Rancho San Pedro public housing and the surrounding Barton Hill-Downtown San Pedro communities. HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods Initiative helps turn around struggling neighborhoods with distressed public housing through a comprehensive approach to neighborhood revitalization. The Rancho San Pedro public housing community includes 478 units, which sits among a burgeoning market of current and planned investments for San Pedro.
Outreach led by LANI, as a subcontractor to EJP Consulting, occurred throughout a two-year collective planning process encompassing heavy engagement with Rancho San Pedro residents, property management, Community Coaches, a Resident Advisory Council, a Community Advisory Committee, key Neighborhood Council representatives, Chamber of Commerce and Business Improvement District representatives, and the Los Angeles Police Department.
Data was collected from detailed surveys of individual Rancho households, more general surveys of community residents and business owners, one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders, real-time assessment of on-the-ground conditions and review of third-party data (e.g. crime, health trends, land use, transit routes). The Rancho Resident Survey was essential in helping to identify the current needs and challenges of Rancho residents and their feelings about the community. Current Rancho head of households completed an in-depth survey in either English or Spanish with over 60 questions on topics ranging from satisfaction with neighborhood amenities; safety and social issues; employment and income; children and education; and physical and mental health. Through an intensive outreach effort that included survey parties with snow cones, kids activities and a taco truck, door-to-door knocking, and the chance to win one of many gift cards, a total of 319 resident surveys were completed - 116 in English and 203 in Spanish - for a response rate of 68% (319 out of 466 households).
The Community Advisory Council (CAC) had 29 stakeholder and met on a bi-monthly basis throughout the planning process with special meetings as needed. Members weighed in on the housing program as it was developed, provided input on priorities for different strategies, and identified specific troublesome areas within the community. Four public community workshops, two bus tours, and several walk audits were also held to inform and engage the community regarding the various issues the plan sought to address, such as safety, density, neighborhood design principles, and others.
Throughout the planning process, LANI engaged in authentic and meaningful outreach ensuring public housing residents had a voice and a seat at the table when opportunities for decision-making took place. LANI’s model of bridging the gap between the community, government agencies, and businesses allowed for residents to be recognized as experts on their community, who know their neighborhood better than planners, developers, and city officials. Distrust of developers and concern from residents regarding displacement was an ongoing obstacle experienced throughout the engagement process, but by empowering residents through meaningful engagement, better outcomes were reached, along with increased resident pride and trust of the process.
