The Pico Triangle: 15 Years in the Making

Typically, the first board meeting of a new year is an opportunity for our team to share updates on programs in process. Last week, instead of holding our regularly scheduled meeting, the Social District board of directors met for a retreat at the Proper Hotel.

Consultants from Public Sphere Projects toured the district earlier in the week and then facilitated a session with directors and our management team. During the day long session, we assessed our 2021 Strategic Plan, reviewed best practices from business improvement districts in Grand Rapids, Boston, and New York, and workshopped how we might align goals, actions, and capacity moving forward to optimize our resources.  A strategic rubric and roadmap will be presented at the next board meeting on April 23rd.

Taking a moment to think collectively about our capacity and development was important and reaffirmed commitments to projects that are aligned with our strategic goals. Even if they take a decade to achieve. The Pico Triangle beautification project is over 15 years in the making, spanning multiple city council administrations and BID leaders. The project envisions the triangle between Olive Street and Pico Boulevard with public art and greenery and serving as a pedestrian friendly gateway into Downtown Los Angeles. Two years ago, in partnership with DLANC, we received funding from CD14 for this project. And last week, final approval was given to move forward, and work should begin in the coming weeks.

We’ve also been given approval for new lighting projects south of Pico on Olive Street and on Hill Street. These projects will add to the enhanced lighting across Pico between Broadway and Figueroa Streets, and the project lighting for Pico Triangle. These enhancements are intended to make pedestrian activity west and east from the Convention Center, and crossing Pico to and from the medical corridor anchored by California Hospital, significantly safer, elevating economic viability of surrounding businesses.

Enhanced lighting and economic activity are ways to improve public safety in the Social District. We are also exploring increases to our ambassador deployment schedule. However, our partnership with LAPD, is our most impactful way of ensuring our neighborhood remains the safest in downtown. I recently joined CEOs of downtown BIDs in a productive meeting with Chief Jim McConnel, and we have a meeting scheduled in the coming days with Councilmember Jurado. We will once again be advocating for additional dedicated resources for LAPD overtime in downtown, and I believe we will once again be successful.

Working with LAPD, we were able to clear out occupied building structures on Hope Street between 12th and Pico. Some reports suggest homelessness accounts for nearly 50% of fire calls in California. These locations had been the sites of multiple fires. Several individuals were arrested with outstanding warrants. Our team provided valuable information and assisted on the periphery, but we rely on our partners at LAPD to enforce the law, and to do so consistently. It’s important that we not only advocate that they have the resources that they need, but that we work with them to use those resources effectively in our community.

It's clear from our board retreat that a safe and economically diverse and vibrant public realm remains a critical area of focus for all of us. Nearly 70% of our budget is dedicated to district safety and maintenance. A significant portion of our remaining budget is used for infrastructure enhancements and to support neighborhood businesses.

Projects like our Pico Triangle shouldn’t take 15 years. And getting blighted buildings cleared to prevent fires has to happen with regularity and urgency. We’re on track, aligned as a management team and board of directors, and excited to not only plan projects that may take some time to deliver, but also to work diligently to deliver urgent resources as quickly as we can. Thankfully building place is rewarding, and even more so when it’s the place you also call home.