The document discusses sustainable transportation strategies for downtown Los Angeles. It provides statistics on current transportation patterns that are heavily dominated by automobiles. Barriers to more sustainable options like walking, biking, and transit are also outlined, such as wide streets prioritizing cars over pedestrians. The document then discusses approaches to transition streets to prioritize people through measures like traffic calming, improved pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and better connectivity between modes of transportation.

1. Los Angeles Sustainable
Design Assessment Team
Downtown Neighborhood Sustainability
Los Angeles SDAT

2. Overview
Walter Sedovic
Los Angeles SDAT

3. DLANC!
Los Angeles SDAT

4. E.E.E.E.E!
Los Angeles SDAT

5. E.E.E.E.E!
Los Angeles SDAT

6. E.E.E.E.E!
Los Angeles SDAT

7. Sustainability: Traditionally Defined as 3E’s
Los Angeles SDAT

8. Working with Tradition: LA Polycentric
Pasadena
Santa Monica
Downtown Riverside
Long Beach
Los Angeles SDAT

9. What’s In a Name?
COMMUNITY GREEN
EDUCATION NET ZERO
INFRASTRUCTURE SMART GROWTH
ECONOMICS CARBON FOOTPRINT
ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY
Los Angeles SDAT

10. Empowerment
Expansive Base
All stakeholders
Neighborhood ID
Initiatives
Ground-up (“Organic”)
Complex: Stakeholder-Defined
Advocacy
Data driven
Shared vision
Partnerships
Leverage access to government
Symbiosis
Los Angeles SDAT

11. Equity (Social/Cultural)
Diversity in Neighborhoods &
Housing
Schools
Parks & Playgrounds
Job Creation
Wholesale District
Volunteer
Neighborhood Stability
Los Angeles SDAT

12. Environment
Shade
Vest pocket parks
Indigenous planting
Water retention
Xeriscape
Green roof initiatives
Bike/Pedestrian Friendly
Los Angeles SDAT

13. Economy
Transportation Linkages
Multi-modal
Interspersed with green
space
Ready for the Next Shovel-
Ready Op
Philanthropic/Land Bank
Pedicabs
Art Window Shopping on
Broadway
Los Angeles SDAT

14. Example
Baby Steps/Major Initiatives
Measure success
Data-driven change
Application
City-wide
Regional
Disseminate Success Stories
Paradigms/Recipes
Prepare for a World Stage
Empowerment2
Los Angeles SDAT

15. Empowerment
Jim Diers
Los Angeles SDAT

16. Moving from…
NO
-the city has no money for parks
-we can’t stop the dumping of ex-offenders
-we can’t have children in Skid Row
-we can’t change the streets
-we can’t fight city hall
Los Angeles SDAT

17. To… YES, WE CAN!
Los Angeles SDAT

18. Power of People
Los Angeles SDAT

19. Los Angeles SDAT

20. Los Angeles SDAT

21. Los Angeles SDAT

22. Los Angeles SDAT

23. Los Angeles SDAT

24. Los Angeles SDAT

25. Los Angeles SDAT

26. Los Angeles SDAT

27. Los Angeles SDAT

28. Los Angeles SDAT

29. Los Angeles SDAT

30. Los Angeles SDAT

31. Los Angeles SDAT

32. Los Angeles SDAT

33. Los Angeles SDAT

34. Los Angeles SDAT

35. Los Angeles SDAT

36. Los Angeles SDAT

37. Los Angeles SDAT

38. Los Angeles SDAT

39. Los Angeles SDAT

40. Caring for the Earth
Los Angeles SDAT

41. Los Angeles SDAT

42. Los Angeles SDAT

43. Los Angeles SDAT

44. Los Angeles SDAT

45. Los Angeles SDAT

46. Los Angeles SDAT

47. Los Angeles SDAT

48. Los Angeles SDAT

49. Los Angeles SDAT

50. Los Angeles SDAT

51. Los Angeles SDAT

52. Los Angeles SDAT

53. Los Angeles SDAT

54. Los Angeles SDAT

55. Los Angeles SDAT

56. Los Angeles SDAT

57. Los Angeles SDAT

58. Neighborhood
Matching Fund
Los Angeles SDAT

59. Neighborhood Planning
Los Angeles SDAT

60. Columbia City
Los Angeles SDAT

61. Los Angeles SDAT

62. Los Angeles SDAT

63. Los Angeles SDAT

64. Los Angeles SDAT

65. Los Angeles SDAT

66. Los Angeles SDAT

67. Los Angeles SDAT

68. Los Angeles SDAT

69. Los Angeles SDAT

70. Los Angeles SDAT

71. Los Angeles SDAT

72. Los Angeles SDAT

73. Los Angeles SDAT

74. Los Angeles SDAT

75. Can You Do This?
Los Angeles SDAT

76. Housing Thoughts
Eve Picker
Los Angeles SDAT

77. don’t be developer
driven
say yes to
diversified housing
Los Angeles SDAT

78. did you know these housing
facts? • between 2006 and 2008
less than 1000 of the
7000 units added in
downtown were
affordable
• in 2006 50% of all units
were affordable. in 2008
only 26.5% were
affordable
Los Angeles SDAT

79. did you know these housing
facts?
• in 2006, 67% of all downtown
residents commuted by car and
only 11% by public transit
• in 2008, 33% commuted by car and
33% by public transit.
Los Angeles SDAT

80. did you know these housing
facts?
• The composition of downtown’s residents is
changing rapidly. What do you want it to
become? To be sustainable we think you should
support:
a. affordable housing to ensure a housing
mix that embraces everyone
b. housing options that reflect the new,
transit-friendly population
Los Angeles SDAT

81. how can you make moderate
income housing happen?
Find ways to reduce costs
for developers by eliminating
parking requirements
– 0 parking for downtown units
– shared parking options such as
- overnight parking in garages that are
empty at night
- meter permits for downtown residents
- reduced rate parking in parking
garages for residents by eliminating
taxes for garage operators
Los Angeles SDAT

82. how can you make moderate
income housing happen?
Explore public/private partnerships that
provide incentives to developers AND
residents
– reduced interest rate mortgages & deferred
principal payments to developers
– second mortgages for median income
buyers at 0% interest
– hand money assistance
– special incentives for tenants with no vehicle
Los Angeles SDAT

83. how can you make moderate
income housing happen?
• The CRA knows how to create
public/private partnership. The question
is, who is driving the vision for housing mix
downtown.
• TAKE CONTROL
Los Angeles SDAT

84. Broadway:
change the focus
Los Angeles SDAT

85. the most surprising asset in
downtown Broadway is the most
surprising and energetic
asset in downtown LA. It’s
vibrant community, packed
streets and delightful historic
architecture are all an
unexpected surprise in the
heart of downtown. A short,
and intense but unforgettable
experience, here a visitor
begins to understand the rich
diversity of LA.
Los Angeles SDAT

86. broadway will be different soon
we heard that:
• 50% of the retail tenants want to break
their lease.
• asking rents have dropped to $1.50 per
s.f. with no appetite from potential
tenants.
• businesses are closing at the rate of
one a week.
• neighborhood efforts are focussed on
an existing condition that is no longer
tenable. Broadway is changing rapidly.
• Take control before it’s gone
Los Angeles SDAT

87. rethink the strategy
• instead of chasing elusive
tenants
• create a land bank
• buy properties and mothball them
until the economy turns around
• find developers willing to tackle
small vacant upper floor projects
• build artist housing, startup
commercial space, less amenities
but more historic charm
Los Angeles SDAT

88. rethink the strategy
•instead of chasing elusive tenants
•use broadway to fulfill some the
moderate income housing supply
•don’t require parking
•seek a population that wants to
live without a vehicle
•use broadway for a demonstration
bike lane project
•be flexible - transitional uses may
work
– pop up stores
– free community galleries
Los Angeles SDAT

89. Employment Pathways
for Ex-offenders
Mark McDaniel
Los Angeles SDAT

90. Addressing a Key Workforce
Challenge
1,600 individuals returning from
jail or prison each month
Los Angeles SDAT

91. Employment Barriers
Individual Barriers Labor Market Barriers
•Low educational attainment Reluctance to hire
•Lack of job readiness and soft •Liability
skills •Lack of post-hiring support
•Drug and alcohol addiction •Concern about dependability
•Mental and physical health Arrest •Negative publicity
•Child support and related debt •Statutory restrictions
Jail Prison
Correctional Barriers Community Barriers
Re-Arrest •Lack positive social supports
•Limited educational
opportunities •Fragmented services
•Limited job training •Transportation
•Limited cognitive work •Eligibility criteria for work supports
•Lack of treatment and
rehabilitative services
Los Angeles SDAT

92. What Works?
• Education, vocational training , work release,
and correctional industry programs are
associated with increased attachment to
employment and lower rates of re-offending.
• Substance abuse treatment and cognitive based
programs reduce recidivism
• Immediate attachment to employment upon
release reduces recidivism
• Connection to a mentor or positive support
network increases attachment to work
• A “One Stop” bundling of services and supports
increases job attachment and retention.
Los Angeles SDAT

93. Employment Pathway
Results
Prison Structured Community • Stable Employment
(Behind the fence) Re-entry Re-integration • Reliable Workforce
• Reduced Recidivism
Assessment/ Identification
Employment
Education/Voc Post-release plans
Pathways &
Training & Work Work Release
Support Services
Activities Mentors
Data/tracking
Employer Council
STRATEGIES
Community Outreach & System Engagement
Los Angeles SDAT

94. Understanding the Impact of
Public Policy Choices
• Assess employment restrictions on the formerly
incarcerated
• Engage area employer/business
community/philanthropy
– Public/Private sector Transitional Jobs
• Offer support to emerging entrepreneurs
– Micro-loans
– Technical Assistance
• Assess SRO housing policies on economic
mobility, family and social cohesion
• Assess results “what’s working”
Los Angeles SDAT

95. Partnerships
Jane Jenkins
Los Angeles SDAT

96. Partnerships::
Organizations
• Diverse organizations with mission overlap
– Business
– Neighborhood
– Community redevelopment
– Economic Development
– Social services
Los Angeles SDAT

97. Partnerships::
Government
• What can the City of Los Angeles do?
– Incentives for small business
– Enforcement of existing ordinances
– More favorable zoning for housing and mixed
use.
– Leadership
Los Angeles SDAT

98. Partnerships::
Success
• Facilitate • Represent
• Mediate • Plan
• Advocate • Position
• Communicate • Listen
Los Angeles SDAT

99. Polycentric
City
Los Angeles SDAT

100. Downtown LA::
The Center of Polycentric
• geographic, political, and historic center
• center for local and regional transportation
• cultural attractions
• entertainment venues
• variety of diverse neighborhoods
– modern
– historic
– ethnic
Los Angeles SDAT

101. Los Angeles SDAT

102. Sustainable
Transportation
Paula Reeves
Los Angeles SDAT

103. Sustainable Transportation
Building Blocks
• Transportation & Equity
– placing the people at the center of the discussion
• Transportation & Environment
– connecting transportation modes downtown
• Transportation & Economy
– creating safety, convenience, and supporting
neighborhood identity
Los Angeles SDAT

104. Some Transportation Stats
• 2% of the LA street network includes bicycle
lanes (130 miles of 6,500 miles)
• 80% of City residents commute by auto
• With sizable investment, 10% of the population
commutes by transit
• With relatively small investment, 4% of the
population bikes or walks to work
Source: LADOT
Los Angeles SDAT

105. Transportation Stats (continued)
• 247 pedestrians, many of whom are young or aging,
are hit and killed by cars each year in the LA area.
• One third of the traffic related fatalities in LA are
pedestrians.
• Factors contributing to pedestrian traffic crashes are
failure to yield and hit and run.
Source: LADOT and STPP
Los Angeles SDAT

106. National Sustainability Ranking –
Los Angeles 28th
City Commuting
Metro Transit Ridership
Congestion
Source: 2008 US Cities Ranking - SustainLane
Los Angeles SDAT

107. What are commonly sited
transportation goals?
We heard…
• More walkable and bikable Downtown
• Slower speeds in the Downtown
• Better travel options with more connection
Los Angeles SDAT

108. What are the commonly
cited barriers?
We heard…
• Wide, fast streets without crossings or bike
facilities
• No street hierarchy
• City is a through way for traffic
• Not enough capacity in downtown
• One way streets can’t be changed
• No “DowntownWalks” type advocate group
Los Angeles SDAT

109. Going From Streets for Cars
to Streets for People
Los Angeles SDAT

110. This change is taking place in cities
across the US
Los Angeles SDAT

111. Tr
af
fic
sp
ee
ds
&
vo
lu m
Bi es
Los Angeles SDAT
cy a
cl e llo
fac w
ilit fo
ies rs
af
an e
Ac d tra
c cr ve
ep
ta os l
ble s wa
air lks
qu en
ali co
La ty ur
fo ag
ck rp e
of ed us
ba es e
rri tri
er an
st sa
o nd
bik
W ing cy
ell cl i
co an sts
nn d
ec wa
te lki
d ng
bic
yc
Si le
de an
wa dp
lk ed
Measuring Safer,
ac es
tiv tria
itie n
sa ro
nd ut
es
En re
ga cr
gin ea
g tio
na
vis
ua lu
le se
nv s
iro
More Walkable & Bikable Streets
nm
en
t

112. Providing Better Signage
& Information
 Includes over 100
signs
 Designed to help
visitors and residents
access cultural
destinations in the
downtown area.
 Each sign includes a
local, neighborhood
map and/or glyphic
district map along with
directional information
for destinations
accessible on foot and
by transit.
Los Angeles SDAT

113. Total Person Trip Capacity
vs. Traditional Level of Service
Vehicle Trip Generation Rate (PM peak hour)
X Percent New Trips
X Person Trip Conversion (Average Vehicle
Occupancy & Mode Split)
X Trip Length (miles)
= Person Mile Rate per Unit
X Units of Development
= Person Miles of Travel (Mobility Unit Demand)
Source: City of Redmond, WA
http://www.redmond.gov/connectingredmond/resources/concurrency.asp
Los Angeles SDAT

114. Example - Total Person Trip
Capacity in Downtown
Development Status Land Use Units Mobility Rate Mobility Units
Downtown
Mixed Use New Retail(sq ft) 15,000 3.38 51
New MF(units) 150 1.28 192
Existing Furniture(sq ft) (4,450) 0.33 (1)
Existing Auto(sq ft) (6,450) 4.26 (27)
Warehouse/
Existing Office(sq ft) (3,785) 1.5 (6)
209
Los Angeles SDAT

115. Adding Interest and Innovation
Los Angeles SDAT

116. Broadway Cycle
Track Pilot Project
Los Angeles SDAT

117. One final benefit –
support Downtown housing
• Single-family home with 2 cars
generates 12-14 metric tons
• A household in denser urban
housing with 1 car generates
6-8 metric tons
• A household in denser urban
housing with no car generates
3-5 metric tons
-- Source Climate Trust Portland, OR
Los Angeles SDAT

118. Sustainable
Urban Design
Sara Geddes
Bob Yakas
Los Angeles SDAT

119. Sustainable Urban Design
• “You never change
things by fighting the
existing reality. To
change something,
build a new model that
makes the existing
model obsolete.”
R. Buckminster Fuller
Los Angeles SDAT

120. Sustainable Urban Design
A model design for sustainable urban development
promotes:
• Mixed-use urban neighborhoods
• Served by integrated energy generation and environmental
quality management systems and by
• Residential, commercial and industrial structures that make the
most efficient use of all energy and material resources.
Los Angeles SDAT

121. Sustainable Urban Design
• Walkable, transit-served urbanism integrated
with high-performance buildings and high
performance infrastructure
Los Angeles SDAT

122. Sustainable Urban Design
• Defined Centers and Edge-Neighborhood is the basic unit
• Completeness: Neighborhood meet Daily and life-long Needs
• Connectedness – Integrating transportation and Land use – multiple
opportunities for multi-modal circulation within and without.
Los Angeles SDAT

123. Sustainable Urban Design
• Sustainable Corridors – transit /pedestrian/bike corridors
are the backbone of sustainable urbanism
• Connecting Humans with nature
Los Angeles SDAT

124. Sustainable Urban Design
 High Performance infrastructure – urban heat island,
storm and waste water filtration, remove impervious
surfaces – new approaches through design and
maintenance
Los Angeles SDAT

125. Sustainable Urban Design
 Integrated Design – designing for all human and
natural systems
Los Angeles SDAT

126. Sustainable Urban Design
• Knitting the
Neighborhoods
together
– Interventions on the
seams
– Blurring the edges
while maintaining NH
identity
– Connecting with the
greater community
Los Angeles SDAT

127. Sustainable Urban Design
Strategy at the “Zipper”
Los Angeles SDAT

128. Sustainable Urban Design
Neighborhood Identity
• Neighborhood “Green
Squares”
• Green Connectors
• Using the “Zippers”
for interventions
• Connect to the larger
network
Los Angeles SDAT

129. Sustainable Urban Design
Smart Growth Principles
• Create an array of housing choices and opportunities
• Create walkable neighborhoods
• Encourage stakeholder collaboration and involvement
• Foster distinctive places with strong sense of place
• Make development decisions predictable, fair and cost-effective
• Mix land uses
• Create, Preserve and enhance open space and connections to
nature
• Provide a variety of transportation options
• Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities
• Promote compact building design
Los Angeles SDAT

130. AIA Center for Communities by
Design: Contact Information
www.aia.org/liv_sdat
SDAT@aia.org
AIA National Component
Center for Communities by Design
1735 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20006-5292
Los Angeles SDAT