Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
natural habitat
170
research
natural habitat
171
natural habitat
unlined stretch:
Sepulveda Flood Control Basin
Chavez Ravine
downtown site
iver
geles R
Los An
unlined stretch:
Glendale Narrows
unlined stretch:
Los Angeles River unlined
south of Willow Street,
Los Angeles River channelized Long Beach
debris basin
172 websites:
research
description
The 48 miles of the concrete viaduct that stands in for As the city grew exponentially, the Department of As a result, in the late 1930s local politicians with the
the Los Angeles River was once a thriving natural body Water and Power viewed the river as an insufficient Army Corps of Engineers initiated the bold decision to
of water capable of sustaining a population of 250,000 source and tapped and built the famous aqueducts to control and revise the purpose of the Los Angeles River.
—about 6.25% of the current population. Discovered the High Sierras. It became a flood-control channel, an urban amenity.
and settled by colonists from Mexico in 1781, the river This industrial usage begat similar development along
continued to nurture and feed a growing Los Angeles Additionally, in the 1930s the river flooded, killing 50 its banks, negating any potential for it becoming an eco-
from its early colonial period to its days as an emerg- people and damaging huge swaths of property. It was logically sound and green recreational destination.
ing metropolis. apparent the river had neither the ability to sustain or
control its water capacity.
1880
1900
1815–1825 1825–1889
Rapid urbanization of Los Angeles con-
flicts with the ecology of the river. City
1938 begins to receive water remotely from
200 miles north.
modern flooding
1995
6 project site
2003
0 1 2 4 8 10 miles
1/2
173
websites: website:
research
lalc.k12.ca.us/target/units/river/riverweb.html deliriousla.net/lariver
organizations.oxy.edu/lariver
folar.org
now:
1. lacity.org/councilcmte/lariver
2. Jose Cardenas, “Bureaucratic Shoals Slow River Effort, Multiple Jurisdictions Complicate Efforts to Revitalize the 51-mile Los Angeles River,” Los Angeles Times, January 9, 2003, sec. B.
now
1. A resurging interest in revitalizing the Los Ange- vitalization efforts on our historic river; opportunities 2. Attempts to revitalize the Los Angeles River are ham-
les River as a natural and cultural amenity in the city for parks, trails, recreation, nature, neighborhood pered by too many agencies with jurisdiction, including
has emerged. Various academic and non-profit groups identity, jobs, community development, tourism, civic the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles County
have initiated a grass-roots effort to open discussion pride and much more.” Department of Public Works, Northeast Trees, and the
with policy makers and developers on a viable, eco- The following are the Committee’s case studies: Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. Ironically, these
logical, and economically sound model for the river. Guadalupe River, San Jose, California agencies are not responsible for preventing or clean-
The Los Angeles City Council has formed the Ad Hoc Platte River, Denver, Colorado ing the graffiti and other eyesores that plague the river.
Committee on the L.A. River: Rio Salado, Tempe, Arizona Sound visions may emanate from politicians, but the
“The Ad Hoc River Committee will focus on major re- San Antonio River, San Antonio, Texas river’s immediate needs are maintenance and security.
Chavez Ravine
Los Angeles River watershed downtown site
land coverage: 834 sq. mi.
northern watershed: 360 sq. mi.
(forest or open spaces)
iver
southern watershed: 474 sq. mi.
eles R
(urban development)
g
Los An
200-year flood plain
average
year 0 inches 10 20 30 40
1880
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
174 description:
Ingersoll, Raymond. Bringing Water to Los Angeles: A Guidebook to the Los Angeles Aqueduct and the Sierra Nevada (UCLA, 1996).
now:
1. Louis Sahagun, “Cutback Allows Aqueduct Overhaul,” Los Angeles Times, March 3, 2003, sec. B.
description now
The original aqueduct intercepted the Owens River Aqueduct (completed in 1941), and local groundwater 1. The Colorado River Aqueduct saw its most exten-
within the Owens Valley and brought water, driven sources. Complex ecological and societal consequenc- sive overhaul by the Metropolitan Water District in fifty
only by gravity, 231 miles south to L.A. In 1970, a sec- es have resulted from this human intervention of the years. Today they began refilling the entire system af-
ond L.A. Aqueduct was constructed south of Haiwee landscape. The most obvious include the desertifica- ter shut down and draining.
Reservoir in the Owens Valley; this increased water tion of parts of the Owens Valley, the complete drying- Colorado River Aqueduct performance:
delivery by 50%, so that the combined L.A. Aqueduct up of Owens Lake, the lowering of Mono Lake, and the capacity: 1 billion gallons / day
today supplies approximately 70% of L.A.’s water. The rapid development of the Los Angeles area. population: 10 million people
remainder comes from the California aqueduct (State length: 242 miles
Water Project; completed in 1973), the Colorado River cost: $8.2 million
California Aqueduct
iver
L.A. R
filtration plant
er
Colorado River Aqueduct
Riv
aqueduct
na
ta A
watershed boundary
San
river / creek
groundwater basin / sub-basin
lake
water infrastructure
websites:
lalc.k12.ca.us/target/units/river/riverweb.html
lacity.org/councilcmte/lariver
organizations.oxy.edu/lariver
folar.org
deliriousla.net/lariver
iver
L.A. R
er
Riv
dam
na
ta A
San
river
100-year flood plain
websites:
research
organizations.oxy.edu/lariver
175
deliriousla.net/lariver
now:
1. Tim Quinn, “Plan Alters Water Flow to L.A.,” Los Angeles Times, August 9, 2003, sec. B.
2. Miguel Bustillo, “Giant inflatable rubber dams would create an artificial lake downtown that could serve as a centerpiece for urban renewal,” Los Angeles Times, January 24, 2003, sec. B.
3. George Ramos, “Cleaner Water on Tap at City’s Echo Park Lake,” Los Angeles Times, March 2, 2003, sec. B.
now
1. A 15% drop in water coming from the Colorado 2. A local artist has generated buzz with his idea to 3. Initiated by a search for a missing girl, public
River has resulted in a new proposal to review how create an artificial lake in downtown Los Angeles us- attention focused on the continually stagnant murky
Southern California can receive more water. Part of ing giant inflatable rubber dams strung along the Los quality of the Echo Park lake water. The girl was located
the project involves altering existing infrastructural Angeles River. Politicians are attracted by the notion; but concerns over water quality persisted. To address
systems in Northern California that will free up more it could form the centerpiece for an urban renewal the concern, biofilters will be used to clear the water in
water for Los Angeles and San Diego. The operation plan that would unite neighborhoods currently discon- Echo, Machao, MacArthur, Debs, and Reseda Parks.
is a joint effort by the State Water Project and the nected by rail yards and warehouses. Biofilters utilize live wetlands plants and air pumps
federal Central Valley Project. below the surface to aerate and oxygenate the water.
The lake cleanup will cost $1 million.
1,200 sq. ft.
average size of yard per
x 1,287,679 homes
in City of Los Angeles
= 34,482 acres
single family house (R1 zone)
websites:
research
Central Park, New York City Griffith Park, City of Los Angeles
843 acres 4,217 acre
description
New Yorkers champion Central Park as the cultural found nature rather than a designed piece of land- space per person. As with automobiles and transporta-
heart and physical lung of Manhattan. Its location and scape. Unfortunately, many residents bypass the larg- tion, the individual trumps the collective. Rather than
design serves as the perfect antidote to the hyper- est municipal park in the United States serving instead a collective enterprise, the green spaces are the actual
dense urbanity that envelopes every individual.. It is as a more visual and acoustic backdrop for freeways back and front yards of each resident, their own slice of
everyone’s yard and collective shared space. and the neighborhoods that encircle it. Griffith Park the public park pie.
also suffers from a less exportable mythological iden- In Los Angeles, the average single residential plot is
Los Angeles’s geological response is Griffith Park. tity than its more popular local rival, the beach. 5,000 sq. ft. offering aproximately 1,200 sq. ft. of green
Centrally located and offering a more rugged and hilly landscape to tend, enjoy, and hold dominion over.
exodus from the metropolis, it represents a piece of One has to recalibrate an understanding of green
Las Tunas Topanga Will Rogers
Malibu County Beach Beach State Beach
Point
Santa Monica
State Beach
low tide
high tide
Venice City
Beach
155 feet
average depth
x 45 miles
approx . length of beach
of beach
Dockweiler
State Beach
= 845 acres
total beach surface
Manhattan
Beach
= aproximately
1 Central Park in
New York City Hermosa
Beach
Redondo
Beach
websites:
research
usc.edu/org/seagrant/beach/beach.html
beaches.co.la.ca.us/BandH/Beaches/Main.htm 177
now
city park ratio City of Los Angeles
Los Angeles River Basin 152 sq. ft. per person 382 public parks 28 senior citizen centers
(non-mountain area) 123 recreation centers 13 golf courses
Los Angeles 130 sq. ft. per person
Chicago 115 sq. ft. per person 52 centers 18 child care centers
Boston 166 sq. ft. per person 52 pools 7 camps
New York City 300 sq. ft. per person
Minneapolis 756 sq. ft. per person
97.61 acres total acreage of downtown
parks and open spaces
9
14
10
400
380 7 11
12
360
13
340
4
+400
320 5
300 15
6
280 3
8
260
2 16
240
1
220
+225
parks and open spaces area (approx.)
websites: websites:
research
navigatela.org navigatela.org
laparks.org/info.htm nationalmap.gov
=
178 now:
1. interenvironment.org/pa/trzyna-smmc.ht
2. Martha Groves, “Making Parks Work So People Can Relax,” Los Angeles Times, July 20, 2003, sec. E.
3. Li Fellers, “244-Acre Development Dies,” Los Angeles Times, April 1, 2003, sec. B.
now
1. “Los Angeles has . . . the least accessible park sys- 2. Edwin Schlossberg, disciple of Buckminster Fuller 3. 244 acres of vibrant nature with 2,300 trees were
tem of any major city in America. Only 30 percent of and reknowned advocate of interactive projects, plans slated for a secluded luxury housing development.
Angelenos live within a quarter mile [0.4 km] of a park, a $2.7 billion communal spirit in Playa Vista with “a After 10 years of community and environmental
compared with between 80 percent and 90 percent in number of ceremonial rituals throughout the year.” opposition by a Glendale group, the developer sold the
Boston and New York. Here in Los Angeles more than The project is supported by Steve Soboroff and pro- land for $25 million to the Santa Monica Mountains
700,000 children do not live within walking distance of motes empowering ideas such as competitive gar- Conservancy, City of Glendale, and the State of
a park,” Mayor Villaraigosa, 2005 dening. Schlossberg says, “It’s such a great opportu- California to be converted into a park. The purchase of
nity to create tools for a woven, integrated community. this park came through Governor Davis’s Urban Parks
There’s something epic about it.” Initiative.
parks and open spaces area (approx.)
websites:
research
navigatela.org
laparks.org/info.htm
Los Angeles Almanac, 2001 179
nationalmap.gov
description:
Elysian Park Master Plan. City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks. August 2005. downloadable from laparks.org
description
Elysian Park: Originally part of the Spanish land grant the west. Bisected by narrow neighborhood and park protect the natural resource. According to the Master
from King Carlos III of Spain to El Pueblo de Los An- roads, as well as wide arterial streets including Sta- Plan, “revitalization of Elysian Park is a key component
geles in the late 18th century and officially declared a dium Way, Academy Road, and Elysian Park Avenue, in the city’s strategy to create and maintain a desirable
park in 1886, Elysian Park is the city’s oldest park. The the park is accessible from local neighborhoods and quality of life in Los Angeles.”
park’s 604 acres comprise urban trails, panoramic downtown Los Angeles.
overlooks, picnic spots, and green recreation areas.
In 2005, the Department of Recreation & Parks drafted
Elysian Park is bounded by Dodger Stadium to the a new Master Plan to revitalize the park, based on the
south, the Los Angeles River to the east, the 5 Free- desires of the community and the city to preserve and
way to the north, and residential neighborhoods to
= 1,273 x
water consumption
website:
mwdh2o.com/mwdh2o/pages/yourwater/ywater01.html
lacity.org/ead/EADWeb-WNR/drinking_water.htm
Los Angeles Almanac, 2001
electricity generated
by DWP plants
3 coal 50%
nuclear 12%
7
6
2 hydroelectric 11%
8
green 2%
(solar and landfill gas facilities)
13
4
= 1,270 x
11
5
9
10
now
1. Los Angeles County’s conservative approval process One homeowner in Acton cut his power bills in half 2. The Nature Conservancy hired E. J. Remson three
is at odds with state law that supports backyard wind by installing three windmills on his five acre property. years ago to create a parkway along the Santa Clara
turbines. Many homeowners and builders complain However, it took him nine months to gain approval River in Ventura County. Using money provided by the
of the regulatory difficulties in installing turbines in from the county. Coastal Conservancy, Remson and his team identify and
backyards. County officials defend their approach as acquire the biological and strategically significant land
they regulate the proliferation of turbines relative to the parcels needed to execute the project. The Nature Con-
density of a region’s population. Turbines are banned servancy’s seeks to find a balance between burgeoning
in the City of San Francisco and other environmentally development and preservation concerns, and to suc-
sensitive areas. cessfully combat what it calls “killer sprawl.”
more than 1,000
400–1,000
100–400
air pollution
website:
losangelesalmanac.com
landslides
Michael Dear and Heidi Sommer, eds., Atlas of Southern California, vol. 2
(Los Angeles: Southern California Studies Center, University of Southern California, 1998).
faultlines
Palos Verdes fault zone
natural habitat
websites:
research
geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/fact-sheet/fs110-99
Southern California Earthquake Data Center (scecdc.org)
now:
1. Gary Polakovic, “Smog Fighters Out of Weapons,” Los Angeles Times, July 16, 2003, sec. B. 181
2. Miguel Bustillo, “Californians Are Willing to Pay for Cleaner Air, Poll Finds,” Los Angeles Times, July 10, 2003, sec. B.
3. Usha Lee McFarling, “Major Threat Seen in L.A. Quake Fault,” Los Angeles Times, April 4, 2003, sec. A.
now
1. Supplemental smog-control measures are under 2. Environmental issues and lifestyle preferences have 3. Downtown Los Angeles sits on the Puente Hills
review as California still struggles. Despite vehicular come to a head when it comes to Californians and their system, which has the capacity to be 15 times stronger
regulations controlling smog, other sources emerge attitude toward cleaner air. In a poll taken by the Pub- than the Northridge earthquake. Capable of a 7.5
as culprits. Though vehicular exhaust accounts for lic Policy Institute of California and the Hewlett, Irvine, earthquake, this faultline is more dangerous due to
75% of emissions, household consumer products, and Packard Foundations, Californians will sacrifice the basin’s soft silt and its ability to magnify and orient
including anti-perspirants and perfume, rank sec- for air polllution but not with their vehicles. The big- the energy towards downtown. The ground will thrust
ond. Additional measures range from saving 2 tons of gest culprits are the SUVs owned by smog-concerned upwards between three to eight feet. But the fault can
emissions daily from idling diesel trucks electrically to drivers. remain inert for another 1,000 years.
a 30 cent tax on California processed oil.
47
15 47
29
50
24
32 30 150
50
100
100
145
157
drilling hole
6
182
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
L
L
PL
PL
LL
liquefaction zones LL
183
research
people & culture
184
research
people & culture
185
people and culture
518,296 persons 3,668–10,000 homeless*
500,000
3r
d
ain
201,000 private Skid
M
Row
Alameda
2
nd
400,000
40,000 visitors
50
40
100,000
thousands of people
30
20
40,000
23,894 10
3,668
0
Los Angeles
Zoo
Universal
Citywalk
Sea World
downtown
Disneyland
visitors *
workers
residents
homeless
186
Skid Row, also known as Central City East and “The are deaths by overdose and murder. ultimately failed to obtain the prosperity and good life
Nickel” because it centers on Fifth Street, is a 52- The history of this area began as downtown Los An- that Southern California seemingly promised. This at-
block area that houses some of the city’s most desti- geles segued from a predominantly agricultural to an traction was exasperated during the Great Depression.
tute residents. It is the largest skid row in the nation. industrial based economy. With the advent of the rail- In response to the rising population, the area developed
Each night, thousands sleep on the streets in tents and road on Main Street, a large, mostly male, transient an array of Single Resident Occupancy (SRO) hotels and
cardboard boxes, while others are able to take refuge population began arrivng looking for work and their social services to help those in need. In the 1970s, as
in emergency beds managed by a multitude of social future. The area surrouding the railroad station—the part of the urban renewal process, the city devised a
service organizations. Drug use, prostitution, and oth- main entry point to Los Angeles—quickly became a “policy of containment” that defined the boundaries of
er illicit activities are commonplace on the streets, as place of transition, embracing those who sought but Skid Row and concentrated on improving the SRO hous-
23,894 residents 450,734 workers
15,929 households 249,734 goverment
201,000 private
6 out of 10 residents are men 50%
40%
30%
20%
sex
10%
0%
30
L.A. County
wholesale
fire
service
manufacturing
retail
other
downtown
% of population
20
10 residents occupation
0 distribution of business
0–9
10–19
20–29
30–39
40–49
50–59
age
450450
400400
350350
number of employees
50 300300
thousands of workers
LA County
40 250250
200200
% of population
30
Downtown
150150
20
100
100
5050
0 00
white
black
Asian
Latino
2001
2002
2003
2004
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
0%
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
race / ethnicity private sector government sector
187
ing stock, stabilizing social services, and encouraging unconfirmed reports of police from other jurisdictions
industrial development within the area. doing the same.
The concentration of development has had the adverse As downtown continues to resurge, the problem of
effect of attracting even more people and making Skid what to do with Skid Row and the homeless population
Row a human dumping ground. Recently released remains one of the most difficult and pressing issues
criminals from the county jail just a few blocks away facing developers and the city.
easily make their way to the Nickel. In late 2005, sev-
eral hospitals admitted to dropping off mentally ill pa-
tients in the area and, over the years, there have been
site
Pasadena
San Francisco
20 minute walking distance
New York
census track
persons/sq. mi. 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000
persons/sq. mi.
downtown
1,000
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
population density
The Downtown Los Angeles Market Report & Demographic Survey Of New Downtown Residents, January 2005
research
188
Downtown Los Angeles, like many other downtowns, Vital to the continuous “after hours” activity is a slowly
sees an enormous influx of people during the workday. burgeoning residential population. In 2004 (latest
Nearly half a million workers converge daily; more data), 3,500 units were under construction; almost
than half are government employees. In the evenings 5,000 were permitted or planned. A recent survey con-
the streets are sparse, but that has begun to change. ducted by the DCBID reveals the demographics of the
All neighborhoods throughout downtown are experi- newest residential developments (market rate and af-
encing an explosion of development. fordable). Occupants are generally young, white, pro-
New cultural, commercial, and entertainment venues fessional, and have high incomes—the median house-
attract diverse visitors at all times of day. An estimat- hold income is $90,000; nearly half work downtown.
ed 14.6 million people visit downtown each year.
Burbank
Pasadena
Pasadena
Hollywood Beverly Silver
Hills Lake
Latino population West
10
white population 10
Adams
(17,500 people) m
ileMontebello (10,300 people) Olympic
m
ile
ra Palms ra
di Village diu
us s
Inglewood
Lynwood
Pasadena Glendale
Pasadena
Hollywood
Hollywood
African American population Asian population Monterey
10 10
(6,600 people) Palms m
ile (6,400 people) m
ile
Park
ra ra
diu d iu
Florence s s
Compton
persons/sq. mi.
population density
1,000
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
by ethnicity
The Downtown Los Angeles Market Report & Demographic Survey Of New Downtown Residents, January 2005
research
189
July
0 10 20 30 40
ALSO SWISS Arts Festival
percentage of households
Los Angeles Tofu Festival
household income Pershing Square Summer Concert Series
Grand Performances
August
Grand Performances
Pershing Square Summer Concert Series
Los Angeles County
downtown L.A.
thousands $
September
Grand Performances
October
Feria de Los Ninos Festival, Los Angeles Mariachi Festival
Downtown on Ice, Winter Wonderland Outdoor Skating Rink
November
per capita
income
households
families
downtownla.com downtownla.com
artscenecal.com artscenecal.com
csun.edu csun.edu
usc.edu/dept/geography/losangeles usc.edu/dept/geography/losangeles
people & culture
190
L.A. Live is a 4 million square foot, multi-billion dollar Mayor Villaraigosa has called complex’s four star, 50- Other components of the L.A. Live complex will include
sports and entertainment complex under development story, 1,100-room Convention Center hotel the linch- a 40,000 square foot outdoor plaza; ESPN broadcast
in downtown Los Angeles, adjoining the Staples Center pin of downtown’s revitalization. The city hopes that and restaurant facilities; a 14-screen cineplex; a 2,200
and the Convention Center. Anschutz Entertainment the hotel, estimated at $600 million, will bring signifi- capacity live music venue; a 7,100-seat state-of-the-art
Group (AEG), the company that owns the Staples Cen- cant business to the ailing Convention Center and has live theater; and other entertainment, restaurant, resi-
ter, is developing the complex with additional private offered nearly $300 million in public financing, includ- dential, retail, and office spaces.
partners and public financing. The complex will be ing a loan, tax breaks, and fee waivers.
built on 28 acres of parking lots surrounding Staples
Center. The first phase of the project broke ground in
September 2005, and construction is estimated to be
complete by 2014.
theaters educational institutions
civic centers
cultural institutions
websites:
research
191
20 minute walking distance
1 Dodger Stadium
2 Ahmanson Theater
3 Mark Taper Forum
4 Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
5 Walt Disney Concert Hall
6 Laemmle Grande
7 East-West Players
8 Japanese American Cultural
and Community Center
9 Million Dollar Theater
10 Los Angeles Theatre Center
11 Palace Theater
12 Lowe’s State Theater
13 Orpheum Theater
14 Shrine Auditorium
15 Imax Theater
4
3
6 5
9
10
8
11
12
theaters and concert venues
websites:
research
192
14
15
20 minutes walking distance
9 1
10
11
13 12
14
4
16
19 18
Automobile Club of Southern California Street Map
downtownla.com
artscenecal.com
csun.edu
usc.edu/dept/geography/losangeles
people & culture
193
22
5
6
7
8
1
1 primary
2
2 primary
3 primary
3
4 primary
4
5 primary
5
6 secondary 6
7 primary
8 primary
9 primary 7
10 secondary
11 primary
12 primary
8
13 secondary
14 secondary
15 Evans Community Adult School 9
16 secondary
17 secondary
18 Colburn School of Performing Arts
19 primary
20 primary
21 Golden Gate University
10
22 Los Angeles City College
23 primary
24 primary
11
25 primary 13
12
26 primary
27 SCI-Arc 16 15
14
28 secondary
29 primary 17
30 Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
19
31 Loyola Law School
32 primary
18
33 secondary
34 Mount St. Mary’s College
35 Los Angeles Trade Tech College
20 23
36 University of Southern California
22
37 primary
38 primary
31 21
32
24
educational institutions 30 27
websites:
research
33
194 29
28
36
26
34
35
37
38
20 minute walking distance
17 8
16
15
18
14 9
13
19
23 10
20 12 11
22
24 21
25
26
civic institutions
websites:
research
195
1
10
sports centers 9
website:
research
196
12
11
13
20 min walking distance
9 10
11
8
12
13
14 15
18
16
17
religious institutions
website: 19
research
197